Welcome to DaWanda Fashion Week, our annual dive into the Fashion category to bring you the latest looks from the designers who call DaWanda home. DaWanda Fashion Week takes place at the same time as London Fashion Week, but our focus is a little different. Instead of predicting which trends will be all over the high street in a few months time, DaWanda Fashion Week is all about making trends unique and adapting them to suit your individual style. DaWanda designers don’t create vast collections to be shipped to department stores – they create limited-edition and sometimes one of a kind pieces, which are often customisable or made to measure. You don’t just get a dress, a skirt or a top – you get to be part of a story.

Head over to our Fashion Week Special to find out which stories DaWanda designers are telling in 2012. We’ve identified a few key looks to help you find exactly the outfit for you, from citrus shades to mermaid inspired designs via re-imagined classics like contemporary florals and architectural blacks.

So the only question that remains: which story will your look tell?

When it’s THAT cold outside there’s nothing better than getting home and snuggling up with your hot water bottle. Even better when your hottie is also an adorable Monster Plush called ‘Boombawa’!

The DaWanda creator Swiedebie has made this hot water bottle cover from eco-friendly cotton/poly fleece, lined him with cotton jersey knit, and sealed him up with a velcro closure. His arms are made from ‘new’ clean socks, and his shawl is included though can be separated if not required. So spruce up that hot water bottle, and have ‘Boombawah’ welcome you home at the end of a cold day!

We’re excited to interview Celina of Celapiu as her new accessories collection hits DaWanda, a gorgeous and worthy follow-up to her much loved ‘Foks’ stoles, which prove that real chic has nothing to do with real fur. Celina has recently become a mum (congrats!) so we’re delighted she could find the time to chat to us about the inspiration behind her high fashion cold-weather accessories, and the ways in which she makes it all work. We’re sure you’ll love Celapiu as much as we do.

Please tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Celina, I am 31 – well, actually turning 32 this year, arrgh – my counting somehow stopped at 27, still can’t get used to the fact it’s been years since then ;) I come from Poland and I consider myself very lucky to live in Cracow, because I really feel the beauty of this town upgrades the quality of my everyday life. I used to be a cycling fanatic, but have very recently swapped to another role in my life, that of being a mum. I am eagerly looking forward to combining both though – as soon as the snow melts!

How did you discover that you have creative tendencies?
I could hardly say it was a discovery, I honestly can’t remember myself before I was making things.

Which profession did you originally train for?
I graduated from Film & Media, so I was trained to be a film critic, but even though studying film was fun, it didn’t work out for me professionally. Soon after finishing university I decided to take the bull by the horns and follow my true passion. In 2007, after a year spent doing work experience in various London studios, I set up my own accessories label.

Where do you find your inspiration?
Anywhere really. As a child I would become attracted to all sorts of rubbish (perceived as such by others). I could fiercely fall in love with screws, watch parts, fabric scraps, leftovers from a carpenter’s workshop – and I just spent days making things out of it. I guess as far as inspiration is concerned this didn’t change much, I still experiment with both materials and techniques I use – inventive design comes out as a result. The difference is that now I concentrate on making things you can actually wear, like fashion accessories.

Please give us a brief summary of your creative process:
When I get an idea, I first draw it out, so my workshop is always full of paper with scribbles all over it. I also scribble on my diary pages, bills, tissues and even cinema tickets; you never know where the next fit of ingenious ideas will find you. The best ideas enter the sample stage, where I experiment with technique and material; depending on the basis of the design, I can create as many as five different samples. When I am happy with the sample, the model becomes part of a collection. I try to create a new collection for each season and when it’s ready, I choose the idea for the photo shoot, look for a model and take photos.

How much time do you usually spend per week in the creation of your products?
Celapiu has been my full time job from the moment I launched the label in 2007, so needless to say my working hours are countless. 3 months ago however my inner workaholic was tamed by a much more absorbing activity which involves my extremely sweet little boy.

What characterises your products/your style?
My work is pretty heterogenic. I never create with the thought of fitting in a certain style, I always put smart and innovative design first – and the style follows. Sometimes it is minimalistic or urban, sometimes it’s bold textural statement pieces, and after that it could be kitschy stuff in crazy colors. Why limit oneself? ;)

What do you want to achieve in the future as a Designer/Creative?
I could say I am already a fulfilled designer, given I have managed to set up my own label, have been successfully selling my products to people around the world for the past 5 years and even created my own line of accessories for Urban Outfitters last autumn – all this without a professional background as a designer. I really feel so happy to have achieved it all. Now I am very curious what the future holds for me, I honestly don’t have a clue what my next collection will look like, and this is exciting!

Has anything weird or wonderful happened to you on DaWanda?
My Ginger Foks scarf was included in the Winter LoveBook! Thanks so much :)


P.S. If YOU would like to be considered for one of our Monday seller interviews, then please send a filled-out questionnaire to english[at]dawanda[dot]com!

Turn your favourite fabric into something you can wear every day, by making your own Scrunchie! Toska from small-dreamfactory provides easy instructions to get you in the DIY mode. Give it a try and let us know how yours works out!

You will need:

Fabric – min. 50 cm x min. 6 cm
Elastic cord
Sewing thread
Sewing machine
A needle
Scissors

1. Place your strip of fabric right-side down on your work surface. Fold the elastic in half and put the elastic in the middle of your strip of fabric. Fold both sides of the fabric 1 cm to the inside.

2. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, wrong sides facing. Sew together, close to the edge.

3. Take the two ends of the elastic together and pull the fabric down to scrunch the fabric.

4. Tie a knot in the elastic cord and cut the ends off.

5. Hand-stitch the opening closed.

Step back and take a look – as you now have your very own handmade scrunchie!

In today’s interview with a DaWanda designer, we have the pleasure of meeting Ioanna, aka Stories2Wear. Ioanna’s eye for graphic print has resulted in a collection where intricate illustration is the focal point, adding a unique and distinctive element to her colourful, breezy clothing and accessory designs. Check out Stories2Wear and have a read of our interview with the designer herself to find out just how she does it:

Please tell us a bit about yourself:
I was born in Athens, Greece. I left for the UK before I turned 18 to pursue my dream of studying Illustration. Ten years later, I have lived, worked and studied in the UK, Italy, Portugal and Greece. I have worked as a designer and illustrator on various fashion and editorial projects. I illustrated my first children’s book at the age of 22 in Greece. Three more published books have followed since then, whilst still experimenting and studying new things. In 2009, during my Masters in Painting degree at the Rome University of Fine Arts, I discovered a new passion when I took a course of Painting on Fabric, and that was the start of the idea for Stories2Wear. My children’s book work can be found at http://ioannagalanomati.blogspot.com/

How did you discover that you have creative tendencies?
My first memory of art is my classic illustrated picture books from when I was a child. They always made me dream and imagine my own little worlds and stories. My mom took me to museums to paint and draw statues, and I’ve wanted to be a painter since I was 5. I thought there was no better job than putting your imagination on paper and living a life with color. Luckily, it is still the same belief that drives my work.

Where do you find your inspiration?
The inspiration for the Stories2Wear collections is taken from the wider spectrum of art, extended from the works of masters such as Klimt and Van Gogh to the pure forms of Nature. Stimulating creativity every day, I look at the world in wonder, searching for the next idea on my trips, in the music I listen to, in the people I meet. It is very important to be informed, to be in touch with what’s happening to the world to find the right concept to develop for my collections. Being current and offering something new to customers is a great, fun challenge!

Do you have any role models/inspirations in the area of Design? If so, who and why?
Design for me is every aspect of Art. In my opinion, Gustav Klimt is the finest example of timeless design, and his work continues to be so fresh and current, with so many applications in different mediums, from decorative objects to clothes,jewellery etc. I also admire zjr Japanese artist Hiroshige for the simplicity and power of his compositions, as well as his poetic depiction of nature. His essential way of placing objects on the picture plane renders his work totally modern. In the area of contemporary fashion, I adore Mary Katrantzou, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders for their innovative use of print and graphics! They are one step ahead, fusing the lines between print and textures, using new techniques to enhance the female figure. They are a point of reference for any print-based designer.

How did you come up with the ideas for the products in your DaWanda shop?
The fusion of the two disciplines I love the most, painting and fashion, gave me the idea to pursuit a new dream : illustrations to wear. Every illustration by its nature is a story, because it narrates the view of the artist. And that’s how Stories2Wear was born. Transforming art into everyday wear is my dream.

Which materials do you use to create your products?
The designs are hand-printed with silkscreen printing with hypo-allergic water-based inks. They are completed with details made by hand, ranging from direct painting on fabric, adding trimmings and Swarovski crystals to leather iron-on appliqués made exclusively for Stories2Wear. This way, every item is unique and precious for the person who wears it. The leather accessories are made of real leather, cut and engraved by laser and further assembled together by hand and embellished with Swarovski and other precious decorations. All garments are carefully selected for their shape and quality with a wide variety and different cuts, to help you to find one that will fit your style and figure. The fabrics vary from 100% cotton, to poly/cotton mixtures to viscose, always with good quality and a soft feel.

Please give us a brief summary of your creative process:
The first step is to get a strong concept for the collection, doing a lot of research to find different aspects of the theme and to also confirm that there is no similar product with the same approach/style! Trips to the library and design bookshops are frequent! After putting the first doodles in the sketchbook I start collecting imagery for my moodboards and develop the designs. Often, the medium dictates how the design is going to evolve, so it’s important to know “now I am designing for a scarf” or “I am designing for a t-shirt”. The illustrations of Stories2Wear are a fusion of traditional techniques and a modern approach. The artworks are always hand-drawn with pen, brush and ink, before using digital techniques to update them into modern statement fashion graphics. I find it very important to include the hand-drawn aspect as it is the one thing that seperates my work from the rest. You can find more on my creative process here: http://www.stories2wear.com/blog/

What characterises your products/your style?
The essence of Stories2Wear is, and will always be, a deep love for illustration as an art form. Therefore the print is always the focus of the product. We offer fresh, modern, edgy, glamorous yet comfortable wear for every occasion, from work to club, with pieces that adapt. The style is romantic but playful, trying to move away from the classic casual graphic tee and instead create wearable statement garments.

Who are your customers?
Stories2Wear addresses the artist in you, with collections based on a strong concept, and artworks that not only decorate the garments but have a significance behind them. The target audience is the middle market of women 25-35, who are chic, strong, with artistic inclinations, a design aesthetic and like to wear special items.

What do you want to achieve in the future as a Designer/Creative?
My goal is to evolve and establish my brand with a cohesive, recognizable style. I will further explore the area of accessories, with silk scarves and leather jewelry and hopefully will be able to develop a wider range of tunics and dresses with my printed designs. I am currently opening an atelier/shop in Athens where I will be selling also in retail, but the goal is to expand the wholesale network as well, with participations in international trade shows next year.

Please give us the names of three of your favourite shops on DaWanda:
- Better Stay Together
- Silk Story
- MadamLili

P.S. If YOU would like to be considered for one of our Monday seller interviews, then please send a filled-out questionnaire to english[at]dawanda[dot]com!