ESTILA e m po w e ri n g t hrough style and colour
VOLUME 4/ ISSUE 23
THE MISS TROPICAL ISSUE ESTILA is a British lifestyle publication on a mission to inspire and empower through sophisticated style and colour. We believe that style is about who you are. It’s a way of living. Therefore, we focus on telling powerful stories of self-discovery, creativity and fulfilment. From interiors, art, fashion, shopping to beauty and travel you can get inspired by beautiful imagery, inspirational interviews and helpful advice from our expert editors and writers.
ŠCopyright 2017 ESTILA ESTILA magazine is created and published by Palantti Ltd. The entire content of this magazine is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Original work and photography is copyrighted by its owner. ISSN 2398-9041 Designed and printed in the United Kingdom.
editor’s note Welcome to the fourth print edition of ESTILA magazine. I'm constantly on a look out for creativity and design that is slightly different but still sophisticated. I find that pushing the boundaries of both doesn't always have to be eccentric or over the top. Balance of colours and style are the two indicators for me that I guide myself with. My starting point for the MISS TROPICAL volume was the stunning "Miss Tropical" art on the front cover. Created by a very talented, self-taught illustrator and artist Peggy Wolf, it shows how art and fashion can be used together in a very original way. Inspired by the tropical vibe, we explore interiors designed by Kim Stephen, whose signature style is about balancing vibrant energy with relaxed liveability, and we look into the family home owned by a British interiors blogger and stylist Melanie Lissack. In fashion we discover great emerging designers and brands including Tramp in Disguise, Dolce Roopa and Alexandra Miro, whose work is not only unique and purposeful but also easily accessible to all of us. In our business mindset section we focus on following your intuition and how consistency can help you in your business but also in everyday life. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Karolina Barnes / editor-in-chief
EDITOR’S PICKS
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EDITORS Karolina Barnes Anouska Lancaster / noushkadesign.com Emilia Vespoli Flavia Young / luxe-layers.com Nicola McCullough / strawberryblondebeauty.com Ellen Stanton / paleblueplate.com
STYLISTS Louise Ives-Wilkinson / iwinteriors.co.uk Karolina Barnes
PROOF READER Claire Smith / eclairesva.com
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS Louise Ives-Wilkinson Karolina Barnes Yeshen Venema Alex Hill Dan Kennedy Ellen Stanton
CONTACT estila.co / IG @estilamag For advertising and collaborations, please write to editor@estila.co Website: estila.co
COVER: "Miss Tropical" by Peggy Wolf Page 36
content INTERIORS Case Study: Modern Classics
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Home Tour: Beauty Within 12 Textile Design: Interview with Julie Kouamo
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Business with Purpose: Galapagos Designs
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Styling: Inside Out 30 ART Cover story: Miss Tropical - Interview with Peggy Wolf
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FASHION Designer Spotlight: Roopa Sachidanand, Dolce Roopa
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Shopping: Pastel Pretty 48 Business: Tramp in Disguise 50 Discovered: Emerging Designers 56 New Fashion Brand: Alexandra Miro
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BEAUTY Business: Art of Perfumery with Celso Fadelli
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Five minutes with Mahler & Kin
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Interview with Caroline Hirons 72 TRAVEL & FOOD Sustainability in Bella Italia 76 Summer Salads 79 BUSINESS MINDSET Snapshot of your life - Part 3. with Sarah Jones
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Branding through consistency 87 EDITOR’S BLACK BOOK 88
INTERIORS “I wanted to create a home with clean and airy feel.”
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i n teriors ¡ c ase study
Modern Classics written by Melanie Lissack, photography by Karolina Barnes
When we moved into the house two years ago, the house was very 'us' architecturally. It is a beautiful white, double-fronted, period home with lovely coving and marble fireplaces. However, every room in the house was painted the same colour (cream), apart from bathroom, which was baby blue and the kitchen units, which were canary yellow! I had a fantastic base, I just needed to put my stamp on it decor-wise. My favourite interiors book 'Old House, New Home' by Ros Byam Shaw is always a huge source of inspiration for me, and I would say that I love a period home with contemporary decor. The aim for this house was therefore to highlight the fabulous existing features, but for it to be contemporary and slightly eclectic in style. My style is modern but classic, and sometimes slightly quirky. I love traditional features like wall panelling and focal-point fireplaces, but I also want bold wallpaper and a birdcage lampshade thrown in the mix.
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i n teriors ¡ c ase study
I've become much braver with colour in recent years. Before I was all about adding colour through accessories with a backdrop of pale grey walls. But I realised all the interiors pictures that I adored had colour on the walls, or the key pieces of furniture made a statement with colour. I am now much bolder with colour in my home and turn away from using neutral colours. My bedroom (next page) is a huge favourite. There are two windows in the room and it gets so much light. The light bounces around the room, which I've decorated in grey, white and blush pink. I know it's a clichĂŠ and everyone is doing it, but I just love using pink in my home right now. The pink bedside tables in this room I brought for a tenner off Ebay, which are styled with faux peonies in pale pink vases by Broste Copenhagen.
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My Tips I am constantly scouting for budget-friendly homeware. My top tip is to check out your local furniture collection / recycle warehouses. Keep an open mind, chances are you won't find something you completely love, but think what can be done to it. Could the handles/legs be changed to personalise the piece and make it more your style? Could you repaint it? Could you add decorative moulding to it to make it look much more interesting? I also always look at items in my home that I own but I am bored of. If you have an old cabinet that isn't doing it for you anymore, how about spray painting it neon orange and changing the handles for something totally eclectic?
melanielissackinteriors.com
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IG @ melanielissackinteriors
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i n teriors ¡ home tour
Beauty Within interview by Karolina Barnes, photography provided by Kim Stephen
One of the best ways to express your personality in your home is through colours. However, colours can be quite tricky to work with. Finding the perfect balance is key. And, that's exactly what Kim Stephen is an expert in. Her interiors are both playful and elegant, balancing vibrant energy with a relaxed liveability. The spaces she creates are sophisticated in design as well as being easy to live in. Working between London and Cape Town, Kim specialises in residential and hospitality interiors in England and South Africa. Welcome to the beauty within.
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What inspired the design for this property and what was the design concept? This is a family home in Cape Town, South Africa. The owners had lived in a previous home on the site, had totally demolished it and rebuilt it with family living and maximising the outdoor lifestyle in mind. The house has breathtaking close-up views right into the back of Table Mountain and the force of the dazzling view needed to be balanced with a strong interior concept, hence the saturated colour palette. Was there anything challenging during this project? Not necessarily challenging, but one of our limitations was that the owners’ youngest child was just two years old so we needed to find ways to create a sophisticated interiors, incorporating family friendly living. What transpired is a space that mixes some high end furniture and fabric choices, much of the owners existing treasured and long-collected furniture, artwork and objets. We incorporated this into an open-plan living space that lends to busy family life.
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i n teriors · home tour
How important colours are in your design work? We’ve become known for our use of jewel-box colour although always counterbalanced with neutrals and texture because I feel that a comforting and cocooning base balances the high colour drama. In many of our projects you’ll also find playful elements in elegant surroundings – I love the juxtaposition of sophistication and folly. What are your 5 tips on injecting personality into a space? Well, of course I will say colour! Many people find an onslaught of high-octane colour too much to live with so one needs to find what you’re comfortable with, but really try and avoid no colour at all - boring and bland does not make for a warm welcome when you walk through the front door. I’m a maximalist and really believe in shelf and table scapes that introduce different materials and create visual interest, especially unexpected pairings that surprise and delight.
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i n teriors ¡ home tour It’s vital to pair high and low textures to keep things interesting - from raffia style wallpaper to smooth silk cushions, slubby curtains alongside a glass display of coloured glass.... ensuring that keeping the tactile elements are ever-changing for the eye and touch is key.
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Art doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive and by well-known artists. What it does need to do is be loved by the homeowner and collected over time - it can be a little statue bought in an obscure shop in a seaside town when on holiday, or a poster you saw in Habitat, and just loved and framed, or even the big ticket piece that you eyed out in a gallery for months and finally broke the bank for. Getting a designer to assist with your art buying is often recommended if there is much wall space to cover, but the homeowner ideally should remain close to the process and the choices should really reflect what they personally love. A little bit of folly is key to giving personality to a space. Interiors can be oh-so-serious and introducing just a little bit of fun here and there lifts the spirits on a dull day! kimstephen.com
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IG @kimstephen_interiors
i n t eriors · te xtile design
Viñales Collection by
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i n t e riors ¡ te xtile design
Stories of Prints interview by Karolina Barnes, photography by Yeshen Venema
Immediately after entering the open studios event at Cockpits Arts in London the other day, my eyes were drawn to a pattern on cushions and lampshades displayed beautifully to welcome its guests and to set the vibe of the creativity in the building. It was almost at the end of our tour that I met the textile designer behind them. Bringing stories of travel and colour through printed cushions, wallpapers, lampshades and home accessories, is something unique to Julia Kouamo of Kouamo, who founded the brand in 2011. The designs share journeys through warm memories or fragmented dreams of far-off places. Julie's appetite for exploration extends to the way she works. She gathers inspiration from across the globe through photography and illustration, and the result is in artisan products beautifully made, and made to last - with the finest materials, hand finishing and detailing.
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What has been your journey so far? The journey has been really interesting full of ups and some downs, plenty of questions and reflections but always learning. I started as a textile freelance designer working for design studios and brands like Designers Guild in the product development team, and then I created my business but I think I started as a designer and not as a business owner. Since 2012 and being at Cockpit Arts, the London business incubator for designermakers, my business changed a lot: I exhibited in ICFF in New York and Maison et Objet in Paris, great experiences, and that’s where I knew there was potential.
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i n t e riors · te xtile design The brand has evolved a lot in five years, I have defined much more my values, my tone of voice, my market and now it is all about my customers, trying to understand them as much as I can to provide them with great and inspiring products, and for them to being part of the journey.
How important are colour and pattern in your work? Has your approach to both of them changed over time? Colour and pattern have always been part of my design work since college actually, but it has evolved quite a bit along the way. At the beginning I was using colour in a quite raw way, very instinctively. Now I have learnt more about colours, how each colour react with each other and how to combine them to create more subtle patterns. As much as I love colours, my first instinct is to use as many as I can, but I learnt (and am still learning) that a smaller colour palette can create as much impact, too. My approach to pattern has always been about storytelling and I am inspired by travels that I went to so my patters are usually influenced by the stories and the countries of the collection.
Who or what inspires you? Design-wise: Travelling is a big source of inspiration for me. I love researching the different ways of markmaking and printmaking, giving traditional print techniques a contemporary twist in my work. Nature is another big source of inspiration for me: Flowers, trees, leaves, especially going close to nature - it brings natural patterns to my work. Sometimes nature does it best. Who: I love artists such as William Klein, a photographer who looks at the city and its people in a very unique way, and Rothko, painter, and how he shows emotions and feelings through colours.
What was the concept behind your latest collection? With the Viñales Collection, Kouamo takes you to a small town in North West Cuba. Cuba is an island full of fascination and under the surface much is changing. Here in the countryside though, it feels that time is on hold. Our designs draw on the beauty in the detail of everyday life in the Cuban countryside. The music in the air, a queue at the bakery, games on the outdoor football pitch and animals running free in the courtyard. The Viñales people have cultivated tobacco for generations and their cigars are famous all over the world. We celebrate their deep understanding of the soil. Using layers of print techniques - memories and colours from Viñales, and the surrounding areas are blended with traditional French ‘Toile de Jouy’ tones and styles. Sketches, lino prints and photography depict bright window shutters, a sleeping dog and a tobacco farmer. We observe rocking chairs at ‘siesta’ and the abundant foliage, which cloaks the landscape in colour.
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IG @kouamo
GALAPAGOS DESIGNS
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i nteriors ¡ business
Building A Business With Purpose interview by Karolina Barnes
What started as an idea to revive old vintage furniture has turned into a successful business concept for Lucy Mortimer, the founder and creative director of Galapagos Designs. Her passion for classic, timeless design, colour and collaborations, and an appreciation of the sustainability issues surrounding the production of cheap, throwaway furniture, Lucy saw an opportunity to bring great designs back into production without compromising on quality or choice. What has been the journey of Galapagos Designs? Initially we started with original vintage chairs and sofas I found at their last destinations across Europe. We lovingly restored and upholstered them in bold and colourful fabrics designed by new British textile designers on the scene, giving them a new way of life and purpose, while providing our customers with a bespoke service. However, I realised that there was a similar need in the commercial design sector, too.
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i nteriors ¡ business Inspired by the design of some of my favourite classic chairs sourced from Italy, France and Germany, we recently created our own Mid-Century Made Modern Collection. What was the inspiration for the collection? The inspiration started with an idea of a luxurious country house hotel in the cool, green hills of India. Bursting with deep, rich velvets in blue and green, and heritage printed linen reflecting the locality's surroundings, each piece we create with great attention to detail, meaning using materials wisely - not always an easy thing for a company that specialises in bespoke upholstery! How important is sustainability to you and Galapagos Designs? When we established Galapagos in 2013, our aim was to produce products that were sustainably made, considerate of the environment and respectful of the time and energy that goes into the production of beautiful fabrics and upholstery materials. One key way we could meet these aims was to re-use existing frames, returning them to useful purpose and restoring them so they would last. By using existing timber and iron frames, we avoided the use of new timber and raw materials in our products. Since then, we have built other best practices into our business: 1. Renewable electricity The electricity we buy comes from 100% renewable sources. We buy our power from Good Energy, who only sells renewable energy, reducing our emissions as far as possible. 2. Natural materials Wherever possible, the internal materials we use are natural and will biodegrade at the end of their lifespan rather than sitting around in landfill sites for hundreds of years. We use coir (coconut husk), calico and wool as fire retardant interliners, hession, and recycled wool felts instead of chemically made foams and fillers. 3. Minimising fabric wastage Manufacturing fabrics requires time, energy and raw materials, and even the most basic of cotton fabrics will have been through rigorous production processes using chemicals and electricity. Creating bespoke chairs often generates waste fabrics that are too small for upholstery use, so rather than waste the energy and materials within these fabrics, we turn them into useful products such as draught excluders and doorstops, and send others to a charity in Africa. This way, the amount of fabric that is wasted through our production processes is minimised wherever possible.
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i nteriors · business The charity "Tosin Turns Trash To Treasure", or 5T for short, is in Nigeria run by effervescent leader Olutosin, who makes and teaches disenfranchised women to make things from fabric donated by local and international businesses. Under her guidance, they make purses, backpacks, dresses and works of art which are sold to raise funds for the charity, or donated orphaned children. Olutosin's belief in the resourcefulness of Nigerian women and her outlook on life — finding treasure in what others consider trash — are creating positive waves across Nigeria. Not only are the items 5T makes beautiful and useful, they bring light into the lives of women and children. We love seeing the creative ways they put our fabrics to use, and we're proud to be a part of her work. 4. Emerging design Small brands, big designs. We pride ourselves on working with the best of British talent and collaborating with smaller brands. We believe in bringing people together and sharing resources and knowledge, and we think the results speak for themselves! We’re still growing and building a sustainable business, and we’ve a long way to go, but we hope that we can make a positive impact on the way we buy, make and treasure vintage furniture.
galapagosdesigns.com
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IG @galapagosfurniture
i nteriors ¡ styling
Inside out
OUTDOOR LIVING
words, styling and photography by Louise Ives-Wilkinson
Who can believe the longest day of the year has already been and gone? Not me, I refuse to accept this and so I'm setting myself a goal to spend more time relaxing and dining al fresco to make the most of the summer we have left. As we all know the sunshine hours here in the UK are fairly limited so I feel it our duty to God of the Sun, Ra, to make the most of them when they are here. There has been a real focus on outdoor living this summer, with more and more of us aiming to drag our home comforts outside to enjoy in the soft glow of a great British sunset. Sunny days allow you to go wild with colour and pattern, throwing a myriad of rainbow coloured homeware together, which in any other situation would possibly look a little too garish, but with nature as a back drop, it looks so inviting and uplifting, bringing a little tropical cheer into your life. An external space to relax and unwind is so essential for well-being and so here are my top five tips to achieve the perfect outdoor living space: 1. Create a focal point - Be it a statement piece of furniture, sculpture or water feature, give your guests something to sit and admire. 2. Add a pergola to zone a seating/dining area which you can then use to hang plants, pictures and lighting from. Style the area as you would an indoor room for special occasions. 3. Use pieces of interest to create character to your outside space. Salvage yards, junk shops and antiques fairs can be a great place to start. Think outside the box, the quirkier the better but always try and reflect your own personality and style. 4. Layer up seating with throws, blankets and cushions to keep you warm when the sun sets. 5. Surround the garden with citronella candles, which look beautiful at night but keep the bug bites away. Better still invest in a fire pit doubling as a natural insect repellent and a place to toast marshmallows.
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i nteriors · styling
CHERKLEY SOFA AND DRUM, Coco Wolf (cocowolf.co.uk) | PASTEL LUSTRE OCCASIONAL TABLE, GOLD CUTLERY SET 24 PIECE, Mia Fleur (miafleur.com) | NEVIS RUG, BIG FLORRIE, CACTUS, CHARTREUSE AND PORTREE COOLIN TASSEL CUSHIONS, CANDLES, Bluebellgray (bluebellgray.com) | CORAL THROW, Claire Gaudion (clairegaudion.com) | RICE EMBOSSED WINE GLASS AND MELAMINE BOWL, Fig 1 (fig1.co.uk)
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interiors ¡ styling
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i nteriors ¡ styling
So the homework from me is to this week is to go out, grab a patterned tablecloth and some inexpensive colourful tableware (something that makes you smile) and aim to have dinner al fresco at least twice this week. Your mind and your body will really thank you and so will Ra. Every picture tells a story...
THE RUG AND CUSHIONS STORY Bluebellgray was established in 2009 by Fi Douglas, a graduate of the prestigious Glasgow School of Art. The signature style was born though love of colour and all things floral combined with a desire to create unique painterly pieces. Designs include cushions, rugs and curtains in vibrant, oversized watercolour blooms and abstract pieces. You cannot help but smile when you see these cheerful designs, my favourite being the on trend cactus watercolour print.
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interiors · styling
THE OUTDOOR SOFA Coco Wolf originated in 2013, when sisters Claudine and Rebecca were sitting in their garden, feeling that their outdoor setting was missing something. The outdoor furniture didn’t reflect the aesthetic and style of their indoor living so Coco Wolf was created to design statement pieces that bring indoor living outdoors, irrespective of the season and climate. The beautiful designs are durable in all weather conditions and have to be seen to be believed as they are tougher than the beautiful designs look.
THE THROW STORY Established in 2013, Claire Gaudion set out to encourage the rediscovery of colour. Taking inspiration from the ever-changing seascapes and coastal landscapes of the Channel Islands, their printed and woven textiles depict the islands’ natural rhythms with unique colour combinations, geometric and abstract patterns. Claire Gaudion textiles are developed and sampled in Hampshire before being produced in specialist mills in the UK and all items are ethically and responsibly made. The range of patterns is very diverse so there is something for everyone. Until next time... Louise xx
iwinteriors.co.uk
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IG @louise_ives_wilkinson_design
ART “Style and colour is like a language which you don't speak but can see and feel. ”
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art ¡ c ov er stor y
Miss Tropical interview by Karolina Barnes
Inspiration and creativity is all around us. And, social media help us to find plenty of both beyond our borders. I came across Peggy Wolf, a self-taught illustrator, yes - you guessed it, on Instagram. She initially studied fashion design but during her studies she found her love for illustrating and later moved to London. The vibrant and buzzing city has shaped her creativity enormously, having had the time to create various female portraits, using her trademark technique. Often described as quirky, colourful, enigmatic and sophisticated characters with an edge, her work marries art and fashion together, attracting clients from beauty, fashion, interior design and publishing. Artwork: previous page "Miss Tropical", below "Fresh"
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art ¡ c ov er stor y
When did you realise you have passion for art? When I was about 14 years old I started to become interested in drawing and painting. Two years later I went on a school to become a fashion assistant. After that I studied Fashion Design for five years and graduated in 2004. During these studies I realised that I am not made for the role of a fashion designer and decided to become an illustrator instead. From my point of view I am a self-taught artist/illustrator who went through fashion first. In 2006 I moved to London and started off there. It was a great time!
We love how you capture female portraits which are colourful and sophisticated. How important are style and colour to your work? Thank you for your compliment on my work! Style and colour carry certain feelings and emotions, and to me they are like a language which you don't speak but you can see and feel. I know that both of them are very important to me and my work. I just don't use them as labels. I can't put a name or rule to it.
From your art it’s clear that you are influenced by fashion and design. Where do you find inspiration? Throughout the years I have bought a lot of the German, English and Italian Vogue. I've always found them like a magnet and they still pull me into another world where anything is possible. It is always a face that inspires me. This needs to happen first before I can start an illustration, finding 'that' face.
Have you got any mentors or other artists that you look up to or have been inspired by? Photographers like Tim Walker, Sarah Moon and Steven Meisel have inspired me a lot throughout the years. I also feel drawn to Yohji Yamamoto, Jill Sander and Miuccia Prada.
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art ¡ c ov er stor y
Where do you see yourself in five years time? Having a big studio with a lot of natural light coming in. Drawing and painting on 70x100cm paper and canvas. Publishing a book with my work. Artwork: below "Glamour", next page "Oh Carmen"
peggywolf.com
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IG @peggywolfdesign
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FASHION “From paper to fabric.”
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fashi on ¡ designer spotlight
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fashi on ¡ designer spotlight
Roopa Sachidanand, the founder of Dolce Roopa interview by Karolina Barnes, photography by Alex Hill
How did you come up with the idea of launching a luxury accessories label?
As a child I would draw on any available surface. Doodles, sketches and drawings of stylish women wearing different outfits graced my mum’s shopping list post-its. This love of art stayed with me throughout my education, leading me to get my BA in Illustration in New York and then a MA in Textile Design at Chelsea College of Art in 2015 in London. In a career spanning seventeen years as an illustrator and product designer in the stationery, gifting and body care industries, I created hand-drawn collections that were featured in stores in both the US and the UK. With an intrinsic love of fashion and an obsession with accessories, I had a deep desire to transition my ethos from paper to fabric.
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fashi on ¡ designer spotlight
Dolce Roopa Luxury Scarves launched in September 2016 with the intention of bringing wearable pieces of art in the form of beautiful silk scarves and accessories to an industry saturated with mass-produced garments. Trained as a watercolour artist and screen printer, I merged my love for both by creating unique pieces of art that are hand watercoloured, purposefully designed and then digitally printed in the UK on sumptuous fabrics. Each scarf tells a story based on a lifetime spent growing up in Milan and New York, my Indian heritage and an unending love for travel. The collections draw deep inspiration from local culture, iconography, colour and tradition that I experience on these travels. Dolce Roopa’s first two collections pay homage to the cultures and colours of Italy and Morocco. Moving the public away from fast fashion and quick consumption is something dear to the brand ethos at Dolce Roopa. The idea is to create timeless wearable art that lasts through generations. What is your mission with Dolce Roopa? Who is your ideal customer? I have been traveling since I was very young. The diversity of culture and iconography that we have in this world is the primary inspiration for each of my collections and every illustration that I paint. Every scarf purchased comes with a lovely tag that details the story of the scarf and its inspiration, and in doing so gives its audience a glimpse into a different culture and acts in some ways as a visual travel journal. My mission is to create pieces of wearable art that not only educate its audience on different places but also creates a situation where an attachment to the garment is formed that will then promote timelessness, making it a long lasting piece in the customer’s wardrobe. The idea is to create a sustainable, luxury accessory. The Dolce Roopa customer is chic, well travelled and an independent thinker both in life and in her style. My goal with my brand is to grow beyond silk scarves into a luxury lifestyle brand and offer product lines in both fashion and home interiors. What has been your biggest challenge so far? When you start your own business, unless you have the luxury of a team, you very quickly learn that multi-tasking and taking on every aspect of your business is paramount to gaining a holistic understanding not only of your business but also of how to take it to the next level.
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My customer is chic, well travelled and an independent thinker both in life and her style. Roopa Sachidanand
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fashi on · designer spotlight
I think one of the biggest challenges as an independent brand is wearing all those hats. Part of it is time management – I often feel like I could add about five more hours to my day! And part of it is literally learning new skills on a daily basis whether it’s PR, marketing or selling at a trade show. As an artist and designer, creating art was always my sole focus but now I’m a bit like an octopus with many appendages delving into every aspect of my business! This continues to be a positive challenge on a daily basis. How did you overcome the fear of failure and / or any insecurities you had when starting your business? I’m a type A person by nature, always striving for the best, never giving up and pushing onwards and upwards even when faced with obstacles. However, I’ve found the key for me to overcoming insecurities and fears in the face of launching a new business has been to have an incredible support system. I owe so much to my husband, parents, siblings and friends for being my biggest cheerleaders, supporters and sounding boards. In the same vein, I also think meeting other independent brands, designers and networking has been a similarly incredible support system. Leaning on each other and learning from one another is one of the most valuable things we can do and I really encourage everyone to tap into this resource, as it’s been a huge asset to me. What has been your biggest business lesson you learnt while building the foundations of your brand? Never take no for an answer. Some days are great and some days are more of an uphill effort, and anyone who starts and runs their own business will tell you that there are always highs, lows and everything in between. One of the most important things I’ve learnt is to take every bit of input and constructive criticism as a jewel of information and run with it, and do bigger and better things the next time around. Write your goals down – where you see your business in five, ten, twenty years, tuck it away safely somewhere and keep that in your mind as your end game. I have countless examples of times in life where I’ve set my mind to something and then a year, even two years later without even realising I’ve achieved what I set out to do. The correct path isn’t always obvious, but I find perseverance and listening to every bit of information that comes your way is priceless. I hope to refer back to this mantra as I progress Dolce Roopa to future exciting chapters.
dolceroopa.com
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IG @dolceroopa
shopping
Soothing and relaxing to the human eye, soft pastels are a fresh and trendy way to incorporate subtle accents without being too sticky sweet. research and graphics by Emilia Vespoli
IG @via_san_vito
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5. HOUSEOLOGY - COLE & SON
1. AMARA - FORNASETTI
Contemporary Restyled Flamingos Wallpaper
Ortensia Floral Tray
2. LIM & LU Mass Series Daybed
3. CHUPI Print Rose Gold Necklace
Pastel Pretty 6. M'ODA 'OPERANDI CHRISTINA ECONOMOU Lily Printed Maxi Dress
7. AMARA - LADUREE Caprice Perfumed Ball
4. AMARA - BLUEBELLGRAY
8. MY THERESA - MIU MIU
Blush Velvet Pompom Cushion
Suede Platform Sandals
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fashion · business
URUBU 2017 estila 50
fashion ¡ business
Tramp in Disguise words by Karolina Barnes, photography provided by Sini Moilanen
Behind almost every business that catches my attention, I find a woman on a mission. In particular, I get inspired by women who not only make a leap into the unknown and start the journey into entrepreneurship, but also they have a real need to make a difference in a modern woman's life. I met a London based fashion designer Sini Moilanen, the founder of Tramp in Disguise, and talked to her about her label, which is said to be "one of the hottest new labels in London".
How did you get to where you are now? I come originally from Finland and I moved to UK in 2000 to study textile design. I have received 2006 my BA in Fashion and Textiles at Brighton University, and 2009 my MA in Fashion knitwear at Royal College of Art. I started my fashion label Tramp In Disguise in 2010 in London and I have been working with the brand for 7 years now. We have shown collections during London, Paris, Vancouver and Zagreb fashion weeks, and gained a loyal customer base, including some celebrities. We believe that confidence comes when you find your own style. How did you find yours? The basics of my style have been the same from the beginning - colourful printed clothing. As my background is in textile design, I found it easy to express my artistic ambition by designing my own printed collections. But there is constant development within this basic style, style is something that evolves all the time, also depending on the market and on the needs of the customers. With the brand, we have already produced 14 collections and I feel our collections are still evolving. For example, earlier we produced only printed garments, but now we are producing a mixture of single colour and printed clothing.
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How much of your own style is reflected in your collections? Do you ever get influenced by fashion trends? I wear a lot of colourful and printed clothing and this influences also the style of Tramp In Disguise and its collections. Of course, it is good to be aware of the fashion trends but the brand aims to create more timeless pieces and not to follow the trends so much. As an affordable luxury brand, we aim to create enduring clothing that last throughout many years. What is your mission with Tramp In Disguise? What's different about it? Tramp In Disguise is a fashion brand which connects to youthful urban, dynamic, sophisticated individuals who wish to make a statement with their unique style. Tramp In Disguise provides them with original prints, using good quality fabrics and manufacturing. Tramp In Disguise is characterised by imaginative motifs which add drama to the prints that grace the contemporary collections each season. We often feature women who start their own businesses in the fashion industry. What would be your 3 top tips for anyone thinking about starting a business in the fashion world? My tips would be: 1. If possible try to learn first from someone else who has experience, otherwise you are bound to make costly mistakes. 2. Be constantly active on the social media of your business. Start small and test the waters first. 3. Don’t be afraid of setbacks as all of us will have them and you will learn from your mistakes.
trampindisguise.com
IG @trampindisguise
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fashi on ¡ emer ging designers
Ethically Exotic
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fashi o n ¡ emer ging designers
Little treasures discovered words, styling and photography by Karolina Barnes
One of our missions is to go deep underground in order to search for the next lifestyle and fashion label that will be big in the future. If you are uninspired by the high street, or are looking for something unique and handmade with love and care, we have something here for you. Inspired by the colours of exotic summer destinations, I curated a small collection of wardrobe and lifestyle pieces, which not only are made with great imagination and creativity but also have amazing stories behind them.
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Every picture tells a story....
THE BAG STORY The "Wanderlust" bag is the ultimate embodiment of the brand's ethos. Handcrafted by skilled artisans in Morocco using naturally dyed leather, each bag is one-of-a-kind and tells its very own story. The embossed pattern and symbols on each bag vary slightly from piece to piece, making each as special as the woman who wears it. The technique for this embossment is called "stamping" and involves an ancient old process of hammering or stamping down various patterned tools onto the leather. It is the perfect bag for a traveller, soft and light and inspired by the exotic elements of Morocco. Available at www.be-snazzy.com
THE SHOE STORY Similarly, the Zahra shoe, ("zahra" means "flower of the world" in Arabic) was inspired by the bright yellow and gold tones of Morocco.
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The shoe is made of the softest quality brown leather while the embroidery has been hand-stitched single-handedly by Snazzy's talented craftsman Jamal in Marrakesh. Snazzy collaborated with Jamal on this project to design a modern shoe shape, using the traditional handmade technique practised in Morocco, a project he was able to work on and eventually improve on his current skills. To personalise the design, a golden thread stitched in a unique flower pattern designed by the snazzy team was used and then hand-embellished by Jamal. Available at www.be-snazzy.com
THE TRAY STORY The Jungle Fever luxury tray is featuring a striking abstract pattern in turquoise created by Mariska Meijers. Crafted from the finest Scandinavian birch wood, which is FSC certified, the tray can be turned into a table with a fold away table stand (purchased separately). With no formal art education Mariska left the corporate life to pursue her artistic dream and built an empire on her stunning paintings and prints. Available at www.mariskameijers.com
THE SCARF STORY The Novelty Bandhini skinny silk scarf in shades of aqua blue, green and brown features bandhini, hand tie-dye, patterns. Bandhani means to tie and these glorious tie-dye patterns are created by skilled craftsmen by tying innumerable knots one by one. These knots enclose the colours and patterns within them, which when stretched, spread into splendid and unique patterns. Available at www.adorbyayesha.com
THE CLUTCH BAG STORY Crafted using leather and cotton, this Alvida clutch bag is ideal to complete your look. The blue tonal print, designed by Samantha Warren, is an interpretation of the fresh water rivers and energetic landscape Samantha discovered in Iceland. The vibrant digital print is a combination of photography and painting. Available at www.samanthawarren.co.uk
THE NECKLACE STORY The Gold Moyen necklace is designed to celebrate the connections we have with the women in our lives; our mother, sisters, grandmothers, friends and daughters. You can wear a piece and give a piece to someone who means something special to you. The design is timeless, designed to be worn over time and by those who you connect with in your life. Available at www.esmeloves.com
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All hail the one piece words by Flavia Young
As a Brazilian-born, it has always been tricky to get my head around the concept of a full piece swimming costume. I mean, growing up watching women of all shapes and sizes wearing bikinis of all shapes and sizes while worshipping the sun on the white, sexy sands of Rio, does not leave space in one's head for understanding the concept of a one piece that leaves one with all sorts of weird and wonderful tan marks. In addition, I was convinced that "one pieces" only ever look good on taller women a tribe that by nature I do not belong to. I have also always found that the concept of a full swimming costume, better hiding our multitude of sins, a flawed one. Nowadays, in the world of swimwear designing, it is generally accepted that a bikini bottom with less cloth makes a bottom look smaller and firmer than a larger one that tends to sag. Brazilians have known that for decades, but in the UK, it was Elizabeth Hurley, who when researching for her swimwear line, discovered and spread the word about the concept.
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The same applies to the full piece, one big piece of Lycra always seemed to make women look larger and more "block like" than two smaller pieces. But those days are gone. In 2017 the full piece is gaining a lot of attention and with proper thought put into the designs, they have become very flattering indeed. A little side cut-out here, a little piece of mesh there and voila! - the one piece becomes a showpiece and is no longer worn just by the more mature woman, trying to hide her more mature body. A designer who's getting a lot of press at the moment for the genius way in which she focuses her label entirely on the concept of creating flattering one pieces to show off, not hide your body, is Alexandra Miro. Her creations are fully-fledged fashion pieces that will make anyone feel fabulous, not frumpy. Well-cut, well supported in simple, classic colours and high quality fabrics - why did no one think of that before? If it can convert a Brazilian, it must be worth a try. Visit www.alexandramiro.com Happy summer days!!
luxe-layers.com
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BEAUTY “Art, individuality and creativity are important to perfume creation.� P I N K G R A P E F R U I L E M O G R E E N M A N D A R I B L A C K C U R R A N P E T I T G R A I B L A C K P E P P E O Z O N I C A C C O R G I N G E R R O O T
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beauty · business
Art Perfumery with.. Celso Fadelli interview by Karolina Barnes
Since 1989, Celso Fadelli, founder of Intertrade Group, has pursued the mission to create and develop artistic fragrances as a curated, olfactory experience. As President and Fragrance Curator of the Group, in over 28 years Fadelli has grown Intertrade to becoming today’s the most advanced and sophisticated international platform for artistic contemporary perfumery. Under Fadelli’s management and strategic vision, the Intertrade team creates, develops and positions Art Perfumery brands globally, from the creation of a fragrance to naming and packaging, market placement, marketing and communication. Over the years, Fadelli has assured Intertrade’s steady expansion through the acquisition of licenses, shareholdings, creating own brands and AVERY PERFUME GALLERY, the Group’s retail platform. Today, the Group leads further disruptive and creative innovation with branches and its own AVERY boutiques in 15 countries. UNSCENT, the Group’s communication platform, was established in 2013 by Fadelli to host events and unique experiences related to Art Perfumery and cultural content. How did you get into the world of niche perfumery? I actually began my career as an interior designer. The two design companies I founded in 1984 and 1985, SPEA House and G&T International, were quite revolutionary at the time. The innovation was being some of the first companies in interior design offering anything from projects to work management and final execution. We had clients throughout Europe and the Middle East, and whilst constantly traveling around the world to meet clients and supervise projects I discovered my passion for perfumes.
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In the very beginning, the idea was to provide personality to the spaces we designed and executed. This was a new concept in luxury, which immediately caught the attention of brilliant minds such as Elio Fiorucci, who soon became our client and a lover of this new concept. I perceived this new idea of integrating perfumes and space as a perfect blend of uniqueness, class, and sophistication; where, interestingly, design still played a central and pivotal role, particularly in the way in which I approached perfumery. The diversion from my interior design path to that of Art Perfumery, therefore, seemed to come most naturally. Why did you choose London as your first retail location? London was and is an important international design, art, fashion, and shopping centre, bursting with young creativity and innovation. Historically, London has been the home for some of the most important Perfume Houses and retail destinations in the world, both traditional and modern. Important names such as Floris of London, Czech&Speake, Penhaligon's, Jo Malone, Miller Harris, Crown Perfumery, to name a few, grew up from London. It hence only seemed natural for me to start our AVERY PERFUME GALLERY chapter in a city which I believed destined to be the Capital of Europe, where not only fragrance holds an important position, but where residents and visitors have interest and passion for perfumes. From a purely business standpoint, even in 2009 with financial troubles, London was a solid and highly commercial terrain. Retail has always been an integral part of London's cityscape, today contributing significantly to London's economy, the sector accounting for about 40 percent of all money spent in London. It is also a place where we have access to efficient, flexible and young staff, highly trained and enthusiastic about the products. Often, designers and retailers make London their first location, so it is definitely a location with the "imprimatur" of Avery. Buying a perfume is a very personal experience. How important art, individuality, and creativity are when it comes to perfume creation? Is there any specific formula? Yes, it is a profoundly personal experience. Selecting a personal fragrance is no easy feat. It takes time, interest, a bit of research and also exploration. This is one of the reasons why we chose to focus on the customer experience of our visitors when they come into our stores. We believe that buying a perfume involves a dialogue-- a conversation between the customer and our staff expert, as well as between the perfume itself and the customer. Our staff is highly trained and enjoy the interaction involved in educating, guiding and helping their clients. I also agree that art, individuality and creativity are very important to perfume creation.
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Our world of artistic, niche perfumery is one that has to master the delicate balance between creating new and unique scents with different fragrance notes and levels, speaking to different emotions and sensory associations, all the whilst respecting the diversity of our individual customers. There is no specific formula, and each scent I have created, guided or developed has had its own unique variables and story. Therefore, how one combines art, individuality and creativity is less a matter of "formula" and more an "art" in itself. We are not limiting ourselves to talk about scientific combinations of this and that, but rather about the feelings the scent is trying to generate. Of course, in our industry, we speak about fragrant essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents. But behind that, I feel the real "formula", if I have to use that word, has much more to do with the emotional expression a scent can create. How do you curate the 'niche perfume brands' you collaborate with? Are there any particular requirements you always look for? Curating a brand is a fine process that comprises sharp attention, a deep understanding of the brand's origins and DNA, as well as unlimited passion. The word "curate" itself defines what we undertake to do: “ innovation to pull together, sift through, select for presentation, take charge of or organise." To do this well takes knowledge, sensitivity, interest and, of course, time. We curate today over 20 brands and consider each of them individually. In other words, we personalise and edit with each and every brand. The "requirements" we have are only that the brand has to have content, a soul, quality, endurance and depth to show the market potential. I do like the sense of "curating" though, which is one of the reasons we also chose "Gallery" as part of our name, AVERY PERFUME GALLERY. Just as a visitor going to an art gallery gets exposed to a new world, new messages, new styles, new images, all of which evoke in him or her a particular sensation or feelings, visitors of our boutiques are brought into a world of carefully selected fragrances, each with its own story and soul. What is your favourite or signature perfume and why? Personally, I do not have a signature perfume. Ironically, due to the fact that my job is to evaluate different scents, I myself cannot wear perfume. However, I enjoy them tremendously.
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I love the marriage of both a fragrance and the person who wears it, as well as the way in which it is worn, the "how" it is worn. Each perfume has its own story, tells its own story and allows its wearer to tell his or her own story. In terms of favourite, this is a question I get asked often but it is also one of the hardest ones to answer like: what’s your favourite child? I like scents with a strong personality that stay, that don't disappear shortly. I enjoy scents that evolve with wearing, that change during the course of the day, a bit like a journey. I admire raw materials that keep find their own space on the individual's scent, allowing for that fascinating mix of someone's skin balance, and scents that don't overpower or take over a personality. Currently, I find spicy, fresh scents such as the ‘A‘ of Avery, one of our wonderful creations, or the warm, deep fragrances of ‘Ilham’, from our SoOud collection, very romantic and comforting. This year, I also had a fascinating time with the tuberose, and am very pleased with our newly launched Agonist perfume, ‘White Lies’, and Andrée Putman's 'Tubéreuse Interdite' which gives the traditionally seductive tuberose juice an unusual and alluring twist of musk, amber accord, pepper and peach.
averyperfumegallery.com
IG @avery_perfume_gallery
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be au t y ¡ fiv e minutes with..
Mahler & Kin interview and photography by Karolina Barnes
What led you to start mahler&kin? Our brand concept came to life while I was on maternity leave. Being a mother was a challenge in itself but I wanted to utilise the time to explore and develop my passion for business and creativity. I love my career as a buyer and wanted to ensure I did not lose touch! mahler & kin was born on holiday in 2016. Through gritted teeth my husband asked if I had, once again, been using his razor. And thus began my age old rant about there being a distinct lack of attractive women's razors that ACTUALLY worked without going goopy and mouldy within 3 days.
What is different about your brand and your products? I have designed the razors with a minimalistic and stylish form. In the women's market this is almost impossible to come by and the men's market is dominated by traditional styles - our razors will look beautiful in any bathroom. My family are Scandinavian so I love designing products with beautiful form but also function - they are made from an anti-wet grip premium resin with 18 carat rose gold finishing on our AURA collection. All our razors are handmade in England, (which is very important to us!) to a very high quality specification. They simply won't rust, scratch or come apart. The razors fit either a Gillette Mach 3 or a Venus blade so our customers can choose which suits them best and can replace them conveniently. As standard they come with a Mach 3 blade as I believe this gives the best shave, but we don't discriminate between the women's world or the men's! Where can customers buy your products? You can buy our razors at mahlerandkin.com or we are stocked in boutiques in London and across the country to the North of England.
mahlerandkin.com
IG @mahlerandkin
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beauty ¡ inter vie w
Interview with Caroline Hirons words by Nicola McCullough, photography by Dan Kennedy
In an industry where face tuning and photo shopping are de rigeur, Caroline Hirons is known and loved for her straight talking approach. An internationally qualified facialist trained in more than 100 brands, she shares a verging-on-biblical knowledge of skincare on her blog and YouTube - and has recently released her first product. Often on camera top knotted and make-up free with a cup of tea, Caroline intersperses skincare chat with anecdotes on family life and a passion for music... a refreshing mix of expertise and relatability that attracts a global following of loyal readers and viewers. I caught up with her for a chat about pores, blogging and how it felt to see her first product in the window of Harvey Nichols.
Your family history in the beauty business goes way back... do you think you'd have ended up where you are regardless? No. It was never discussed in my youth; at one point in my teens I wanted to be a secretary because I really enjoyed admin. Oh how the times have changed!
As one of the original beauty bloggers, what inspired you to begin? Bad/little advice about skincare. Everyone was obsessed with make-up; no one was talking about what goes on underneath it.
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beauty · inter vie w It would be fair to say you have a lot going on... between brand consultancy, skin consultations, the blog and being a mum of four. Do you enjoy being so busy? Yes. I think the saying ‘if you need something doing, give it to a busy woman’ is very true!
The launch of your first product - Double Cleanse with Pixi Beauty - has been hugely successful... how long did the process take from first concept - and which elements did you enjoy the most? It was actually fairly quick, I had the product in my head and Pixi were so easy to work with that the process was simple. I gave them a brief and they followed it to a T. They didn’t try and cut corners or costs, which was brilliant. How did it feel to see Double Cleanse in the window of Harvey Nichols - and can we expect to see more products from you in future? It was great. It was in the window literally 10 feet from where I used to stand in the original SpaceNK department 20 years ago! What has been your biggest business lesson to date? Follow your gut – and never, ever take the money if something doesn’t feel right. Your blog readers and YouTube subscribers love your straight talking approach... has it ever got you into trouble? Only in the corporate world, which I think is a reflection of their mentality, not mine. I’m never overtly mean or hyper-critical, some brands/retailers are just used to surrounding themselves with ‘Yes’ people. That is not my forte. ;)
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Which skincare question do you get asked the most often? How do I get rid of my pores? And the answer is ‘You can’t’. If you could offer your daughter one piece of advice about her future, what would it be? Don’t work for corporate! She has my personality, I can save her years of pain. LOL. So many people are hoping you'll launch your own skincare line or write a book... what are the chances? I’m not interested in writing a book, although I never say never. I am asked weekly to write one and my response is always the same: I have 1350 posts on my blog. Using the average number of words in a book, I’ve already written 7 of them. They’re all online, for free, under carolinehirons.com. Enjoy! What's the top tip your mother ever gave you, beauty related or other? Wash your face before bed, no exceptions. And treat everyone the same. From shop floor to management. That’s stood me in good stead. Top 3 products forever in your skincare stash? Balm cleanser, acid toner and vitamin A. I couldn’t possibly pick individual products! What is your biggest passion besides skincare? Outside of the obvious answer of family, music. We’re all music heads. My husband and two eldest sons are all musicians and as a family we bond over certain songs more than anything. What would you most like to be remembered for? I won’t care. Genuinely. I won’t be here. And the only people whose opinion about me that I care about after I’m gone are the four humans I gave birth to. I hope they know how much they were the absolute foundation of my life and how hard I tried to live up to being their mother. Because it is my privilege every single day. And what they think of me is their business. No one else’s! Find Caroline at carolinehirons.com | IG: @carolinehirons | YouTube: Caroline Hirons strawberryblondebeauty.com
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TRAVEL / FOOD “Sustainable way of thinking in beautiful Italy.”
Sustainability in
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trav el · ital y LA DOLCE VITA Italy hosts the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world and even the "cucina italiana" – as one of the most influential kitchens worldwide – was honoured with the title world heritage. Italy is a synonym for pasta, pesto, antipasti, dolce vita, extra-virgin olive-oil, exquisite coffee beverage, cheese products and wine. The slow-food movement was established in Italy already in the 1980s as counterpart to fast-food, focusing on organic and regional products with respect for dolce vita. Many green and eco-friendly projects in rural and urban areas demonstrate these sustainable ways of thinking and acting. Reasons enough to spend an eco-friendly holiday in Italy and to take a sustainable souvenir back home. Sustainable in the fashion capital The Hotel Milano Scala, located in the centre of Milano, proofs that green and eco-friendly accommodation is not only to be found in rural areas but also in big cities. It was opened in 2010 as the first Zero-Emission Hotel in the fashion capital and meets the highest energy efficiency standards. No CO2 emissions will be released into the atmosphere during the guest's stay. The herb garden on the sixth floor, with its view over the roofs of the artists’ quarter Brera and the Milan Cathedral, is known to be an oasis for relaxation. The air on the terrace is filled with the scent of fresh herbs, summer flowers, fruits and vegetables, which are processed by the kitchen. Another green city hotel in Milan is Starhotels E.c.ho., the first ecological hotel of the Italian group brings eco-chic to Italy’s fashion capital. The hotel is the best example of the group's effort to reduce its environmental impact while providing an unforgettable and natural experience of eco-responsibility for guests. Highest energy standards are met and water is not only consciously used but also reused. For breakfast and in the in-house restaurant you will find a wide selection of organic food and vegetables. The partnership with Eataly ensures a close working relationship with producers and that all ingredients are regionally sourced. The scent of history When traveling to the region Parma in Italy, you should definitely make a stop in the Negrotti Drogheria in Fidenzia. For many years now Negrotti has selected the best sustainable and organic specialties and delicacies from the region. The furniture is still the same as in 1890, the long counter reflects the old history and welcomes guests in a familiar atmosphere – a shopping experience like in grandmother's time. The Drogheria shows how traditions could be preserved and transferred into the modern world.
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trav el · ital y Green tourism in the olive grove The Agriturismo L’Adagio is an old and lovely restored oil-mill located in the middle of olive groves in Badalucca in Liguria, close to the Ligurian Sea. Since decades the L’Adagio has specialised in the sustainable production of olive-oil products using every single part of the olives. The leftovers of the olive stones are squeezed and used for the production of animal food, after this process the olive stones are being used as heating material for the pellet heating system of the farm house. The L’Adagio teaching farm gives students and children an understanding about the production of olive oil and the origin of local organic food. The luxurious beauty and spa area uses products made of olive oil in-house. Feeling at home in the Albergo Diffuso The eco-friendly Hotel Relais del Maro is an Albergo Diffuso with a main building located in the middle of the small village Borgomaro and three historic buildings in the village. Every room and suite is unique and designed with maximum attention to detail, telling the anecdotes and stories of the former inhabitants. Instead of building a new hotel, the owner - family Scalambrin - decided to use and restore houses in the small village. Guests staying at Relais del Maro can choose to stay in the main building or in the houses in the small village among the villagers feeling like a local without intervening in nature, environment, culture and local community. Thereby the Albergo Diffuso supports social and economic regeneration of the local community while preserving Italian traditions.
ABOUT GREEN PEARLS The German Green Pearls GmbH, based in Darmstadt, Germany, unifies international tourism companies that support environmental protection and demonstrate social commitment. Green Pearls is the first holding company worldwide that consolidates sustainable hotels, destinations and restaurants in a global data source. Among the criteria of admission to Green Pearls® Unique Places are a sustainability plan on management level, sustainable architecture, comprehensive water, energy saving and waste recovery measures, the use of seasonal and regional ingredients in the kitchen, as well as a large commitment for the social balance in each of the vacation regions.
greenpearls.com
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Summer Salads words and photography by Ellen Stanton
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easy rec ipe
salmon & roasted vegetable pesto pasta salad Serves 2
This was the bestseller on the salad menu I created at a local café last summer. Roasted vegetables are great idea to add to salads and the pasta makes it that little bit more filling. Also, let’s not forget the naughty but VERY nice touch of halloumi.
READY IN 35 MIN
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½ courgette (~150g) 1 red bell pepper (~150g) 1 red onion 80g farfalle pasta 1 salmon fillet 1 ½ tbsp sweet chilli sauce 30g sundried tomatoes 80g halloumi 2 handfuls of mixed salad leaves 2-3 tsp pesto 2-3 tbsp olive oil salt & pepper balsamic glaze (optional) 1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Chop the courgette into quarters, red onion into chunks and pepper into small squares, then place them all on a baking tray lined with foil. Drizzle over the olive oil, ensuring the vegetables are all coated and season with salt and pepper. 2. Marinate the salmon fillet in the sweet chilli sauce (this can be done in advance), wrap it in foil and place this on another baking tray. Then place both baking trays containing the salmon and vegetables into the oven for 25 minutes. Toss the vegetables around half way through the cooking time. 3. After 10 minutes, add boiling water to a saucepan along with the pasta and allow it to cook on a medium heat for 11-13 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, chop the sundried tomatoes into small pieces and slice the halloumi into strips. 5 minutes towards the end of the cooking time, begin to fry the halloumi for 2-3 minutes on each side. 5. Place a handful of mixed salad leaves into two separate bowls. 6. Drain the pasta and put it into a mixing bowl with the pesto. Add the cooked roasted vegetables and sundried tomatoes, then stir it all so the pesto coats everything (you might want to add more pesto). Equally divide this between the two bowls containing the salad leaves. 7. Finish off the salads by adding the halloumi and breaking apart the salmon fillet into bowls. If you have balsamic glaze, drizzle over a generous amount to give it that little extra touch!
easy rec ipe For the salad: 100g basmati and wild rice mix 2 chicken legs (with skin on) a handful of pomegranate 2 handfuls of rocket 70g tenderstem broccoli 70g radishes olive oil paprika
chicken & pomegranate salad with Tahini dressing Serves 2
For the dressing: 1tbsp tahini 1tbsp lemon juice ž tbsp balsamic vinegar 1tbsp olive oil salt and pepper water
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. 2. Prepare the chicken legs by drizzling over olive oil and sprinkling over paprika. Place them in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through. 3. Meanwhile, thinly slice your radishes. You can prepare the bed of your salad by laying down a handful of rocket per serving. 4. Cook the rice according to its instructions - brown basmati and wild rice usually takes 20-25 minutes. 5. Prepare the dressing by adding all the ingredients, except the water, and mixing it together to form a paste. Season with salt and pepper. 6. 5 minutes before the chicken and rice are cooked, steam the tenderstem broccoli. 7. Drain and scatter the rice in the centre of the plates. Top with the radishes and pomegranate then place the chicken leg in the centre of the dish and surround it with the broccoli florets. 8. Return to your dressing paste, add a splash of water and stir with a spoon. Add another splash of water if needed, in order to achieve a runny consistency. This will make it easy for you to now drizzle the dressing over the dish.
Is this not the prettiest salad you have ever seen? I love the pink touch of the pomegranate and radish, as well as the rustic drizzle of the homemade tahini dressing. This dish is more filling, so it can be enjoyed as a nice summer evening dinner.
READY IN 45 MIN
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easy rec ipe
sweet potato & spring potato fritters Makes 6 fritters
200g grated sweet potato (1 large sweet potato grated) 60g grated cheddar cheese 1 large egg 1 tbsp flour 3 spring onions salt & pepper rapeseed oil 2 handfuls of rocket Optional toppings: sour cream & chive 2 slices of Parma ham
1. Chop the spring onions and set aside a few for garnishing. 2. Add the grated sweet potato, spring onions, grated cheese, flour, egg and salt and pepper to a bowl and mix until well combined. 3. Heat up a pan on a medium heat with approximately 1-2 tbsp of oil (I like to use rapeseed oil). 4. Divide your mixture into 6 balls, placing these onto the pan and flattening them slightly with a spatula. 5. Fry them on each side for about 4 minutes (don’t flip them too soon as they will just fall apart!), so they have a nice crispy coating.
Sweet potato has to be one of my favourite ingredients and here I have grated them to make these fabulous fritters. Top them with whatever you like – my favourites include crispy Parma ham (shown here) or smoked salmon. Create the mixture in advance for frying later and serve as a simple starter or a light lunch.
READY IN 15 MIN
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6. Meanwhile, place the strips of Parma ham under the grill on a medium heat for approximately 4 minutes, making sure to keep an eye on it, until it crisps up. 7. To plate up, lay down a bed of rocket and lie your fritters on top. Then dollop on some sour cream & chive, scatter over the remaining spring onions and tear up the crispy Parma ham to finish off the garnish.
easy rec ipe
For the salad: 240g (1 drained can) chickpeas 80g cherry tomatoes ½ orange bell pepper 2 medium eggs ½ avocado 50g sugar snap peas 2 large handfuls of mixed salad leaves 15g mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower & sesame)
superfood salad Serves 2
For the dressing: 3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar salt & pepper 1. Boil the eggs in a saucepan of water over a high heat for 7 minutes, then put them straight into ice-cold water. 2. Meanwhile, boil the chickpeas in some boiling water for 4 minutes. 3. Once the eggs have cooled, peel off the shells and slice in half. Half the cherry tomatoes, slice the avocado and chop the sugar snaps and pepper into small pieces. 4. Lay out the salad by putting the leaves into two bowls then topping with all the vegetables, the egg and sprinkling over the seeds. 5. To make the dressing, add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to a jar with salt and pepper, then mix well before pouring it into a small serving bowl. Here I show you how to create a bowl full of goodness, consisting of raw vegetables and a variety of superfoods. Packed with plenty of healthy fats and vitamins, this delicious salad will provide you with all the micronutrients you need!
READY IN 15 MIN
estila 83
business · mindset
BUSINESS: Snapshot of your life written by Sarah Jones
PART 3. “Follow your intuition” 5 most important components in our lives and regrets people have related to them. Those components are: •
Our relationships
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Our health
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Our home
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Our work
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Living authentically
15 thought provoking questions to help us re-evaluate our present life compared to what’s important to us. These questions help us see how far or little we have come, where we need to put our focus towards and letting go of things that bring little to no value to our lives. Below are the questions to help guide you in the right direction according to what’s important to you: •
How are you living inauthentically?
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What beliefs do you maintain that aren’t really your own?
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How are you spending time in ways that aren’t really you?
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How is your work-life balance?
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Do you spend enough quality time with your family and friends?
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Is your work fulfilling and pleasurable?
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What feelings are you repressing because you’re afraid to express them?
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How are you being controlled or negatively influenced by others?
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How are you “keeping the peace” at the expense of your true self?
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What friendships have you let slip that you’d like to maintain?
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In what ways has your life become so busy you no longer have room for people you care about?
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What people are you giving your time to who drain you or who don’t support you?
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What are the limiting beliefs and negative thoughts that hold you back from happiness?
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How are you giving away your power to choose happiness?
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What are you willing to release in order to have the time to find your passion, to enjoy your relationships, and to choose happiness through the simpler pleasures of life?
estila 84
We are all a work in progress, just never stop working on yourself, otherwise you’ll end up somewhere you’ve never intended to be. You don’t want you unintended destination to turn into one of your biggest life regret. Take control of your life today, by living it the way you deem fit. Are you living your life for yourself the way you want? Or are others in the driver’s seat? You open Facebook and all you see is a bunch of posts pushing you to follow your heart and to do what you're passionate about. You go over to Instagram and it’s the same story! Is this a new trend? Most likely. But, should you actually follow your heart? That’s up to you. If you ask me, hell yeah you should! But, that’s only because I’m also one of those inspiring you to do so. But recently, I began to notice that more and more people are actually taking action on this. So many people are quitting their jobs in search of something they can be passionate about. I don’t think this following your heart thing is for everybody, which is why I don’t intend to convince you to do so. Actually, I don’t think you need to quit your job to follow your heart. But, what I do think you should do is for sure listen to it. What does follow your heart mean? For a while you’ve been flirting with the idea of a change in your life. You don’t know exactly what it is, but there is something inside of you telling you, “you must go for it.” Whether going back to university, starting your own business, moving to another country, whatever it may be, it just feels right thinking about it. You know how it goes, you’ve seen the movie. A girl quits the horrible corporate job that was making her life miserable, decides to open a bakery and next thing you know, she has stores nationwide, struck millions, found the love of her life and has a great family. If only… Let’s face it, with everybody telling you to follow your heart, it may seem as the solution to all your problems. As if nothing bad can happen when you go after your dreams because passion will lead you through. Debt, bankruptcy, divorce, and who knows what else, can also happen when you follow your heart! So, why is everybody telling you to follow your heart? What is so great about it, if it doesn’t make success certain? Driven by this question and my own experience I concluded the following. Why you should listen to it! Deciding to follow you heart can be the most rewarding thing you may ever do. But, I don’t think that the rewards come from the fact that you try to live your passion. Instead, I believe the whole things come from the actual journey.
estila 85
business · mindset
To be able to follow your heart, you must go through a process of self-reflection that allows you to get to know yourself better. This process gives you an inside view of who you are, what you are passionate about, what your goals are, your dreams, and so on. These may all be assumptions at first, but they are a great starting point. As you embark on your journey looking to prove them, you will have to do a constant reflection of your experience. It’s here where I believe where the success of following your heart comes from. By checking in with yourself every now and then, you begin to understand yourself more and more. With time, this allows you to make better decisions and get ahead with your goals. At the same time, it also gives you better tools to select the people around you and especially your relationships. Little by little, as you continue your journey, your self-confidence builds with each challenge you overcome, you grow and learn how to keep a strong positive attitude. Soon you discover that to continue moving forward, you need to develop a growth mindset, giving you the ability to continuously improve yourself. The new you. It’s this personal growth what takes you to success and not quitting the “trap” in which you find yourself now. The beauty is that you don’t need to give your life a 180-degree change to test these assumptions. If you sit down and figure out what you are passionate about, if you figure out who you are and what you want, your environment will give you enough resources to test your assumptions. Want to open a bakery? Work on Saturdays in one to learn about it. Not willing to dedicate your Saturday for it? Then good luck going after your dreams. But if you are willing to do what it takes, then be ready for your emotional roller coaster, full of spins, ups and downs because finding yourself and building a life around doing what you love it’s not supposed to be easy, otherwise everybody would do it. The beauty is that along the way, everything you develop will add up, making you a whole new person, giving you the skills you need to succeed in any endeavour you decide to embark in. And this is exactly why people tell you to follow your heart.
ABOUT SARAH Sarah Jones is the UK’s leading holistic lifestyle expert. Her clients include Lorraine Kelly and Anthea Turner among many others. Her motto is: “What consumes your mind controls your life.” For more information, please visit the official website at sarahjonesuk.com. Follow Sarah on Instagram @sarahjonesuk
estila 86
business ¡ branding
Business attraction through consistency written by Karolina Barnes
Building a brand takes time. It's hard work. One of the critical elements while building your brand is customer's loyalty. Only when your customers or clients feel connected, comfortable and in sync with what you do, only then you start to see the hard-earned rewards. But how can you gain customer's confidence, trust and loyalty? Apart from customer service and after sales experience, your messaging and communication between you and the outside world is absolutely crucial. I see many brands who underestimate the power of such activities. As they "try everything" in desperate need to grow their brand, their messaging gets weaker and weaker. With each collection, product launch or new project, their brand's core message, or story, gets diluted, resulting in creating confusion to everyone around them; the market, customers and sometimes themselves too. To help you with consistency, here are some points to consider: 1. Define your brand Decide what kind of brand you want to become. How do you position yourself in the market? Are you an innovative brand, a brand with a purpose, a disruptor? Who are you? Consider your values and mission to define your brand's purpose. 2. Have a slogan or tagline Brainstorm on 3 to 5 words which define and sum up your brand's mission (and values). Tell us what you're about. Think about the customer's experience and how do you want them to feel when they purchase your product or service. Use mind mapping and thesaurus, if necessary. 3. Pay attention to graphic design You may not be aware of this but every time you produce a portfolio, lookbook, brochure or leaflet, or update your website and social media, you are sending messages about your brand. Hence, it's very important that you always use your corporate identity - your brand's colours, fonts and tagline. Keep it simple and only use graphics and imagery which support your brand's message. This applies to visual merchandising, too. 4. Tell stories Support all the above with strong stories that can be only told by you. No one else has your experiences. You might think that you don't have any but trust me, everyone does. So let your customers, market and press know about them.
estila 87
THE EDITOR’S BLACK BOOK At ESTILA, we are passionate about highlighting small, independent British lifestyle, interiors and fashion brands, and useful contacts. I spend hours and hours visiting shows, pop-ups, boutiques, events, and scrolling through Instagram, to find inspiring and unique talent, creativity and innovation. These are the best ones at the top of my list, which I keep for my own personal reference.
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HOMEWARE & LIFESTYLE
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
1. DECOR A LIST
5. OHLINA
www.decoralist.com
IG @decor.a.list
Decor A List is an online boutique for global luxury, unique and bespoke home decor, furniture and art. The boutique caters to a variety of aesthetics and is carefully curated on the foundation that everyone has a unique style, which should be reflected in their home. Founder, Catherine Cornelissen, also offers interior design closely focusing on the client's interests and innately stylish flair, bespoke pieces and the sourcing of artworks, furniture and home furnishings to provide tailored luxury.
2. TUSSIE MUSSIE www.tussiemussie.london
IG @tussiemussielondon
Tussie Mussie produce luxury natural candles that are handpoured in London. They are inspired by the Victorian’s secret language of flowers, a language that was fragrant with meaning. We believe that candles should be as natural as possible which is why we only use the finest essential oils to create our bespoke fragrances, our wax is natural and our wicks are made of cotton which have a clean burn in your home.
3. NEWTONS FURNITURE www.newtonsfurniture.co.uk IG @newtons_ furniture
Known for standing out from the crowd, Newtons create timelessly distinctive and classically elegant French style beds and bedroom furniture for the self assured and uncompromising. Each piece is carved by hand by artisan craftsmen and our exclusive designs range from gracefully romantic to dramatically opulent.
IG @lukslinen
Lüks Linen is an independent, ethical home and lifestyle brand working with family ateliers and master weavers in Southern and South Eastern Turkey to create a range of soft furnishings and textiles for indoor and outdoor living. From timeless heritage blankets and throws to contemporary cushions and their hero product the peshtemal their focus is on versatility, longevity and a less is more approach to modern day living. All of their products are handwoven in pure Turkish cotton and come with a 20 year repair or replace guarantee. USE YOUR QR PHONE SCANNER & SCAN ME
To find out more about these beautiful brands, scan the QR code with your QR App.
IG @ohlinastudio
6. DAI www.daiwear.com
IG @daiwear
Dai is performance wear for the professional woman. Founded by Joanna Dai, the Dai's first collection balances modern aesthetics, timeless silhouettes and purposeful functionality. Dai uses innovative technical fabrics do everything your leisurewear does, but with smart, tailored lines.
7. TIANA JEWEL www.tianajewel.com
IG @tianajewelondon
Tiana Jewel is a bohemian inspired jewellery brand designing power healing crystal pieces, based in London, UK. Each crystal is handpicked for its raw beauty and its unique healing properties. Crystals are our intimate passion, enabling us to tune into the wisdom and spirituality of the universe. Timeless pieces that will never go out of fashion, our magical crystals are hidden gems beneath the crater of the earth.
PLATFORM
4. LÜKS LINEN www.lukslinen.com
www.ohlina.co
OHLINA is a contemporary jewellery design studio with expertise in 3D printing, experimental design and digital fabrication. Founded by Selina Yau, a digital artisan and British designer who trained as an architect, is on a mission to celebrate creative freedom with technology as an expressive empowerment in the form of sculptural jewellery. OHLINA discovers sculptural beauty from nature’s silhouettes and handcrafting them with the fusion of traditional and digital craftsmanship into wearable voices of personality for you to share with the world — designed to express, empower and integrate into your story of beauty and elegance.
UTELIER www.utelier.com
IG @utelier
Utelier was set up by Dessy Tsolova after her frustration of the absence of a single reliable information source for production contracts within the fashion industry. Utelier connects designers, manufacturers and fashion specialists worldwide together.
DESIGN STUDIO 8. KIT MILES www.kitmiles.co.uk
IG @kitmiles
Founded 2011, Kit Miles is the eponymous luxury interior surface design studio renowned for dynamic use of colour and lavishly drawn imagery, bringing surprising juxtapositions and unique imagination into reality.
Each Cover, Different Colour
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High performing Elegant Effortless
Performance wear for women who mean business. Smart, technical fabrics meet clean tailoring and minimal design. A brand for sustainable and social impact.
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