Page 29 – Lemontrend

JEWELRY DESIGNER ISABELLA KUBITZA

Sallida | 18. April 2020 | Designers

Jewelry Designer Wienimalism

Isabella Kubitza is an Austrian jewelry designer. Although she is studied veterinary, she was always a creative person. At the end of her studies, she decided to start her journey as a jewelry designer. Wienimalism is the name of her brand, and she uses high-quality material made out of 925 Sterling Silver and 14k gold fill.

Her designs are very delicate and beautiful, and most of her pieces are custom made. She finds her inspiration in her field of veterinary and traveling. We talked to Isabella about her dreams and future as a jewelry designer.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been very creative since my childhood but I decided to get into the veterinary field and started my studies at the university for veterinary medicine of Vienna. During the end of my studies, I have realized how much I have actually missed my craftsmanship and started to get into the jewelry business. It has been quite a rocky road but I adore every part of my small independent business and put so much love in all my jewelry pieces. Wienimalism is a brand where I focus on creating designs my clients wish for. I do a lot of custom work like engravings and I encourage all my customers to tell me about their specific design wishes.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I would describe my design aesthetic as feminine, filigree and dainty.

How would you describe your technique?

I use high-quality materials made out of 925 Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Fill which also makes my pieces waterproof. I assemble all the jewelry pieces myself under high consideration of my customer’s special request.

Short or long necklaces, layers, initials - almost anything is possible with Wienimalism. I recently started to incorporate a lot of Swarovski crystals and am working with freshwater pearls too.

How your previous career influence you today as a jewelry designer

Since I am in the veterinary field, I use a lot of pet inspired motives like paws, horseshoes or bones. I also do custom tags for dogs with pet names engraved on them. One of my best sellers is the pet memorial necklace which incorporates a paw and the initial of your pet.

Where do you find inspiration for your creations?

I get a lot of inspiration from traveling around the world. Not to mention, that I adore the Arabian and oriental beauty which inspired my hand chain designs. Nevertheless, I love the ocean and summer breeze which made me launch my seashell, sun and palm tree collection. Strolling through the historic parts of Vienna just gets my creativity flowing. There is so much detail everywhere you go. It truly is a blessing to be living in such a beautiful city.

Apart from my love for Vienna, I also get a lot of inspirations from nature - the way that branches or leaves flow in the wind, beautiful flowers sprouting during spring, sunlight reflecting on the water. As one can tell I am very aware of my surroundings and appreciate all the details that might present themselves on the way.

Which phase is the most delicate in creating a piece as a jewelry designer?

The most delicate phase is definitely to embody the vision of my clients just perfectly. This part though is also what makes my work so interesting! You never know what ideas a customer brings to the table and revealing the final product brings me so much joy. I love the fact that my clientele will carry those individual pieces of art forever.

Which phase is the most delicate in creating a piece as a jewelry designer?

What is elegance according to you?

Elegance is - as my name suggests - minimalism. Less is truly more in my opinion.

What’s next for you professionally?

First of all, I want to finish my studies and I will probably dip my toes into the goldsmith world after that. It would be a dream come true to craft engagement and wedding rings using solid gold. Gemology and using previous gemstones are also something I always had a high interest in. Just imagine all the beautiful pieces I could create!

Right now I am working on launching my online shop. There are always many new collections I am working on so stay tuned!

To know more about Isabella, please visit: Wienimalism

FASHION DESIGNER DANA MEIJERHOF

Sallida | 11. April 2020 | Designers

Fashion Designer Dana Zavidei-Meijerhof

Dana Zavidei-Meijerhof is the fashion designer behind Meijerhof. She is originally from Moldova, a small country between Romania and Ukraine, where she grew up until the age of 11. She and her family moved to Bucharest in Romania where she spent her teenage years and did her high school and bachelor studies. When she was 20 she moved to the Netherlands to do her Master’s degree and eventually life brought her to the beautiful Vienna. she has worked for several companies and has been involved in several projects. Right now she is the owner of her own label and the co-owner of a physical store.

When did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer?

Deep down I would say since I was a child, for as long as I can remember. Up to the age of 15, I spent most of my winter and summer holidays with my grandmother, who herself is a seamstress and is a very gifted craftswoman. She passed on her passion to me. We would spend whole holidays sewing, knitting and creating different outfits for my dolls. I simply adored it. What I also remember from home is that I would gather all sheets belts and scarfs I could find to turn them into dresses to wear around the house and parade in front of my parents. Later, I got my Fashion & Design diploma in Romania and kept sewing outfits for myself and my friends. Over the years the wish grew to do one day what I’m doing today.

What’s it like being in the fashion industry?

In one word: exciting! It’s an industry where you keep learning and you get to meet very inspiring and interesting people. At the same time, it’s a hard field to be in. There are so many talented designers out there, there is so much on offer, the competition is tough and it’s a very hard industry to enter for a new label, such as my own.

How is the fashion industry in Vienna?

I love all the new brands and designers hopping everywhere in Vienna. It’s a very colorful and diverse market. Compared to cities like New York, London or Berlin it’s a very ‘safe’ market, By safe I mean the style being more classic and ‘within the lines’. But I already spot more daring developments.

What was your first job in the fashion industry?

Being the helper of my grandmother

Talk about the changes in your life since you‘ve your own clothing store.

It’s like a high-speed train. From the moment we decided to go for it, it has been a continuous trip without any breaks. On top of being pregnant and now being a mother made it’s even more intense. It did not bring too much change to my life, as it was already quite hectic. One thing that did change was the commitment to a certain place at certain times. I don’t have the flexibility to create my own schedule 100% per my liking. But in exchange it brings so much joy, it brings people together, I get to live my dream every day.

How do you choose your inspiration?

The female body and personality are what inspire me.

In one word how would you define yourself as a designer?

Feminine.

What advice would you pass along to those starting in the Fashion Business

Know why you do what you do! Do it with passion and with a purpose. Follow your heart and be open to everything and keep on learning.

To know more about Dana, please visit: Meijerhof

Photo Credits:

Ninakvk

5 WAYS TO STAY PRODUCTIVE IN TIMES OF CORONA VIRUS

Sallida | 18. March 2020 | Lifestyle

Homeoffice in time of the Corona Virus

It is not a joke that the Corona Virus has affected all of us. Not to mention, that has generated a lot of panic and stress throughout the world. But just because the Corona virus is here, and we all have to be responsible and stay at home, doesn’t mean we cannot be productive.

With the Corona virus, we can still work from home, and make the best out of this difficult situation. But, how is the best way to stay productive in these quarantine times? In this article, you will find my five secrets to stay productive when you have to turn your home into your office #homeoffice #coronavirus

Working from home with Corona Virus

1) It’s all about the routine

Having a morning routine is the most important step in this situation, where the Corona virus is out there. What do I do? I still stand up at 6 AM I make 1 hour of sport (before I went to the gym) I eat breakfast, I shower and I start my day with the To-do list I did the night before.

For me is not easy to stay focus, because I get very easily distracted, therefore what I like to do, is to make a to-do list every night before I go to sleep. This way I have a very structure plan the next day and I can keep my focus on the things I could not accomplish that day, that I will need to finish the next day.

Because with the Corona Virus, I cannot meet with my clients at this time, my best solutions are phone calls, online meetings and of course emails, to keep track of our projects.

2) Make a schedule

For me is important, to have everything scheduled, and that includes exercise, meals, and breaks) That helps me to set up regular hours for all the activities I want to accomplish in a day.

3) Set up your desk

Although normally my desk is my dining room, I am used to working from any place. Before the Corona virus arrived, I just sit down in a nice coffee, and I make that coffee shop my office for the day. But now, we all have to stay at home and make the best out of this situation.

Not everyone has an extra room at home to make a nice office out of it, so we have to get creative and choose a place from where we want to work. By having a specific workplace at home, you will have that brain signal that associates that particular space with work. What can be? The dining room table, or even your bed with the door closed, important is that you designated that space for your temporary office.

4) Set up your working times

Sometimes is difficult to have control over your working time, when you are working from home. Before you notice, it will be 9 pm and probably you will still be answering emails. It is important that you split your day, in all the activities you want to accomplish, but also find times for a break, and more importantly, find a balance. I normally close my computer at 8 pm, the latest, and find my time to disconnect and relax.

5) Set up the Pomodoro Method

Are you familiar with the Pomodoro method? The Pomodoro method was developed by Francesco Cirillo in 1980 and is a special time management technique. This Time management technique breaks down the work into 25 min parts, with five minutes breaks.

Pomodoro Method

Prioritize: write down the tasks you want to accomplish in order of importance
Estimate: the amount of time you need for each task
Work: on each task without distractions for 25 min, then take a break for 5 min (1 Pomodoro) after four pomodoros take a break between 15-30 min
Record: the task you accomplished
Evaluate: take note of how productive you were, and how can you improve your productivity the next day

Extra Tip:

Remember to have a organize home, it will give you a peaceful feeling and you will be more productive. Living in a chaotic home is very stressful, and at this time where we all have to stay home, invest one day into organizing your home, so you can start working more productively!

BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MASCHA DAHAN

Sallida | 10. March 2020 | Photographers

Beauty Photography

Mascha Dahan is a specialist in beauty photography. She got in touch with photography already at a very young age as her father is a photographer. Mascha assisted him during photoshoots and she felt attracted to this profession but lacked the self-confidence to actually do it. She finally decided to become a photographer after her children were born. After photographing her children nonstop she decided to actually make a living out of photographing babies and pregnant women. But after meeting a few people from the make-up industry she quickly understood, that this was the direction she needed to take. Mascha's studio specialized in beauty portrait photography, and she also offers beauty photography courses.

What is most important at the moment you take a picture for a beauty photography session?

That all the elements come together. Lighting, Set, Makeup, Hair and the posing of the model. Every element must fit together and each team member needs to get his job right - otherwise, the shot will not be impacting. When I work with my team we always try and figure out how to make a shot perfect - whether it is to fix something from the makeup or I need to adjust in the lighting - great teamwork is key.

From where you get your inspiration

I get inspiration from many places - Whether it is other photographers or artists, or lightings out of movie scenes, sometimes are shapes I see in nature or colors which make me want to do a certain shot. When I am on Set and I wasn't briefed or the look wasn´t defined ahead I am inspired by the model or her styling and try to make the shot work accordingly.

How do you look for the perfect spots?

I don´t really look for spots as I mostly work in the studio. In order to create a different shot each time I am trying to be creative with the lighting to get different shots each time.

Describe a typical shoot.

A typical shoot is hard to describe as no shooting is the same. Each shooting has new challenges for my team and me. But in general, If I shoot for a makeup client I first make them prepare a mood board so I can understand what kind of makeup we are talking about. Then we will together search for a model that fits the makeup look best. Then I will think of the lighting setup that will make the makeup pop. Generally, we do several different looks so I need to adjust my lighting setup for each look. After the shooting we pick the favorites together which will then be retouched.

Were you educated in photography, or are you self-taught?

As I already mentioned before I got in touch with photography because of my father. He is my mentor.

What camera do you use most of the time?

Most of the time I use a canon dx or ds mark ii but I started switching to Leica.

Which photo are you currently most proud of?

I am not most proud of one picture - I really need to stick to the cliche and say that I am most proud of the picture I will do on my next shooting. I am always proud after a session when it went well but at the end of the day, I can´t really choose a favorite as I always find a way to critique my work and tell myself that I need to take an even better shot next time.

Comparing where you are now with where you are when you first started, what could you have done differently to get to where you are sooner?

I guess I needed to get through all the steps and to make all the mistakes that I did to get to the point of where I am today. Every experience helped me learn and become better and better. I think nothing would have led me to the point of where I am today earlier.

Favorite photography book?

I don´t have a favorite photography book - I enjoy scrolling through Instagram and discovering new artists on a daily basis.

For more information, please visit: Imagism.Studio

SKINNY MODELS CONTROVERSY AT GUCCI

Sallida | 6. March 2020 | Models

Skinny Models

Last February Gucci presented the last collection at Milan Fashion Week 2020. But more beyond the collection itself, Gucci used extremely skinny models for the catwalk, that were evident underweight. Not to mention, this already happened in the previous fashion shows and ads of the brand.

Although houses like Christian Dior and Gucci said they will stop using underweight or size zero models on their catwalk shows and ads, here we are again.

Elisa D’Ospina, out of curiosity went to see the measurements of one of the models. Alida Sikder is 175 cm tall and wears a size 38. According to Star Management, one of the agencies that represent her, she has the messuraments of 84-58-84. Result: obviously underweight.

Is it possible that Gucci cannot stop using skinny models? But after years and years of battles why are we always at the same point. Said Elisa D'Ospina

Back in 2016, Gucci used for in their ads a fragile model draped in a geometric pattern dress, which the Advertising Standards Authority of Britain catalog as “irresponsible”

Be part of the movement

To continue with this movement, the French parliament approved actions to prohibit modelling agencies from hiring underweight models. Under these laws, models will need a doctor certificate to approve if they are fit to work, and employers could face a fine of 75000 euros. In my opinion, 75000 euros fine is much too less for a big brand, and it should be calculated based on the annual revenue.

Therefore, the idea behind these rules is to prevent young and vulnerable models from being pressured into becoming extremely thin, and more important, to protect models against anorexia.

Furthermore, Israel, banned the underweight models from fashion shows. The law is looking to prevent models from losing to much weight.

Another good example is Christian Siriano, who sent in 2016, 5 plus-size models to the runway. Furthermore, he also dressed the comedian Leslie Jones on the red carpet, after she tweeted that no other designers wanted to help her.

Although houses like Gucci has no interest in promoting a healthy image among their models, whether on the catwalk or in their ads, at least we have some countries who worry about the pressure among young models.

Sign the Petition to Stop Skinny Models from the Catwalk and Ads

Sign the Petition

Do you know how big a size 34 is?
It is inadmissible to propose a model with these measures!
I consider it appropriate that a petition be signed in which all the fashion houses undertake never to use women who are obviously underweight again.
I also ask for the presence of competent personnel who deal with eating disorders in order to assess the suitability of suspected cases.

Elisa D'Ospina