Shoeapps! New life for your shoes!

Hello fashion babes! You already know that I love shoes, any woman does. And often we have some pair of our favorite shoes that maybe don't use anymore o maybe used them so many times, that they become "old" too fast. I have great news for you, now we can give another "chance" to our shoes even if they too "old" or too classic. Let me introduce   Shoeapps, the brand that creates amazing accessories for shoes.

 The SHOEAPPS brand was founded in 2015 in Cologne, their manufacturing is situated in the small artisan factory, located near Lucca, 14 century city in Tuscany, in the heart of Italian luxury leather industry, . Shoeapps are always made in limited editions using remains (left overs) from luxury brands leather productions. The creative director of this brand is Elena Nazaroff, fashion designer, world traveller and mother of 2 children.

K. -Elena, how was born the idea to create shoe apps?

E. -After more than 20 years in fashion industry I was aware of huge amount of left overs our industry produces. I really wanted to create luxury sustainable product. Last couple of years I was travelling around Europe together with my 8 year old son,  looking for inspirations, while its found me!! Travelling around ,especially with children required very smart packing and small suitcases, I reallized that shoes take the most space in our luggage, I created shoeapps, an easy to put on accessories that instantly transfers the look of your shoes. I was able to have variety of styles during my travels and have a lot of space in my luggage for my clothes. I didn't have to make any sacrifices!!  

K. - How many models are present in your last collection? Which materials are used to produce your items?

E. -We are taking different aproach to designing, since it is travel accessories made from remaints of high quality leathers and other materials, we introduce new style every month, every style is done in limited editions in variety of colors. Once it's sold those colors never repeat again. So it is always unique. We are also working on some interesting collaborations with on and off line ratailers, we will keep you posted.

K. -Wow, I love the idea about limited edtion! It means that there is no chance to see the same accessories on the feet of some girl at the same party. Elena,  can you describe a woman who chooses your accessories? 

E. -It is  a cosmopolitan woman who travels, with sence of style, who likes variety and appreciates high quality, who cares about sustainability in product and her life style. 

K. -Fashion advice from Elena? 

E. -Always stay true to your personal style, eclectic or classical, bend the rules and stay creative!! Shoeapps is a great tool for your creativity!!

You can buy Shoeapps ,visiting the website

www.shoe-app.com

Follow them on Instagram and Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/shoeapps/

https://www.facebook.com/shoeapp/

Balmain Hair Couture

 Ciao fashioniste! Oggi parliamo di capelli. Tutte voi conoscete la Maison Balmain Paris, famosa per i suoi abiti stravaganti e lussuosi. Non tutti sanno  che questa casa di moda ha anche una linea  che si occupa della cura e della bellezza dei capelli,  "Balmain Hair",  leader nel mercato dei complementi per capelli ed extension di tendenza. Anni di esperienza nell’hair design e la vastissima gamma di prodotti hanno portato alla nascita di lussuosi accessori per capelli.

Balmain Paris Hair Couture ha realizzato il fermaglio Hair Barrette, che fa parte della nuova collezione di accessori di lusso che sarà lanciata il prossimo anno. Onde spettinate, code di cavallo, acconciature dall’effetto scompigliato: dai il tocco finale a delle semplici pettinature con questo elegante accessorio che renderà più affascinante ogni tuo look.

                Il fermaglio Hair Barrette è realizzato in vera pelle scamosciata o in nappa e include una bacchetta placcata in oro 14k sulla quale è inciso il logo Balmain. Basta fissare questo accessorio sulle lunghezze oppure su un’acconciatura elegante per un immediato tocco chic e alla moda.

L’Hair Barrette Balmain in pelle scamosciata è disponibile in Nero, Marrone e Beige, mentre  l’Hair Barrette Balmain in nappa è disponibile in Nero, Bianco e Oro. Un ottima idea regalo per il Natale.

Photo credit Balmain Paris

Natura Donna Impresa

Ciao a tutti! Oggi voglio raccontarvi di un evento molto interessante  che si  è svolto a Milano dal 24 al 27 Novembre. Si chiama Natura Donna Impresa.

  Organizzato da: Paola Sammarro, Caterina Misuraca, Valentina Martin e Riccardo Grazioli. 

In occasione dell'ennesimo evento ho intervistato Paola Sammaro.

IO -Paola, quando è nato il vostro evento? Ogni quanto si svolge e dove? 

P. -Il progetto Natura Donna Impresa nasce a Milano nel 2010 per mettere in sinergia donne che fanno buona impresa in Italia.

Il cammino viene subito proiettato ad Expo 2015 e nell'arco dei cinque anni diventa un percorso condiviso da più di 200 donne e patrocinato ufficialmente da Expo, da We Women For Expo Comune di Milano e Provincia di Milano. Terminata l'Esposizione Universale #NDI sta procedendo nell'essere simposio permanente sugli scenari al femminile tra arte e design in Italia, realizzando un evento consolidato durante il Salone del Mobile ed inaugurando un percorso #ONtour che attraverserà l'Italia portando in contesti prestigiosi una mostra sulla storia del progetto, attraverso le designer protagoniste negli anni.

K. -Chi può partecipare a questo evento? 

P. E' un evento dedicato all'imprenditoria femminile e a quelle realtà emergenti che hanno progetti interessanti. Moda Critica, Gioiello sperimentale,  Design di ricerca, Arte Contemporanea, sono i nostri canali per conoscere e presentare il meglio del Made in Italy.

K. -Quanti stand saranno presenti questi giorni? Che tipo di merce sì può acquistare?  

P. -I brand protagonisti sono 40 e sono: 13RiCrea/Messaggi da Indossare, Adriana Lohmann, Agofiloestile, Alma Gemelli, Camisa11 Design, Dea Oliva, Denise Bonapace, E-B Idee Tessuti Viaggi, Elisabetta Fontana, Farifa, Jilavie, Intimaluna, Irene Sarzi Amadè, Kinabuti, La sporta peila, Lalazoo Artelier, Le creazioni di Barbara, Mádhavi, Marcella Renna, Marina Durante, Mesmerize, Metalica, Moodìa, Mondo Ecologico, MYNE Atelier, N.B.ideeappeseaunfilo, NVK Design, Opella, Patrizia Falcone, R.Ely Design, Raffaella Schlegel, Rebirth Italy, Riso D'uomo, Rossella Scivales, Rovida Design, Sandra Faggiano, Sapori su Tela, Sartoria dei Dogi, Siria Eco Design, Skatò Design. Dalla moda al design, dalla cosmesi al benessere della donna, a NDI è possibile acquistare tutto quello che concerne l'universo femminile.

K -Se una persona ha la sua piccola attività e vuole partecipare ai vostri eventi, cosa deve fare per iscriversi? 

P -NDI è un “contenitore pink” di innovazione e saper fare, di donne imprenditrici che in Italia quotidianamente investono portando buona economia, con principi di Etica e Sostenibilità.Se si rientra in questa logica, siamo ben felici di coinvolgere le donne e il loro operato, all'interno di NDI. Per entrare in contatto con noi, bisogna scrivere una mail a info@naturadonnaimpresa.com

K - Quando ci sarà il prossimo evento? 

La prossima edizione si terrà durante il Fuorisalone 2017. A breve tutte le info sul nostro sito www.naturadonnaimpresa.com

Durante questo evento sono state premiate 3 donne:

 NATURA Paola Ciboldi (Riso D'UOMO);

 DONNA Adele Teodoro (Associazione Gravidanza GAIA);

IMPRESA Lucrezia Degiovannini (MILANO N°30)

La locandina dell'evento 

Ci vediamo alla prossima edizione!!

Saint Wools

Hello my fashion babes! Today i am gonna talk about home design. Do you love wool? Let me introduce you Saint Wools, the brand  that creates amazing  things for our houses and not only. 

The brand was conceived in 2016 by Svetlana Ivanova and Ramzi Shibaru. Lana is the creative director and designs all of Saint Wools products.

Saint Wools produces luxury wool goods. 

"Currently we work exclusively with the highest quality Merino wool to create 'chunky knits'. Our items can be categorised into three groups; Home Decor, Clothing and Accessories, Yarn and DIY,"- says Svetlana.

"Our blankets and throws are by far our most popular items and other products we produce in the Home Decor category are cushions and pet beds."

Saint Wools also produces other goods as 

 Clothing and Accessories that  include: beanies, headbands, scarves and pom-pom key rings and they also sell Yarn and soon DIY kits so their customers can make some of their own chunky knits. 

SV. "We have a lot of ideas and envision developing new products for all three categories."

KR  "Svetlana, how was born an idea to create knitted items? "

SV  "I have always had a love for knitting, this goes all the way back to when I started at the age of 5. Back then and even a couple years ago I had no idea it would become a business for me because this all happened quickly and by surprise (perhaps a lucky accident). Saint Wools as an idea came about through my own experimentation with merino wool, as I wanted to knit a chunky blanket for a friend. I fell in love with the blanket myself and so did Ramzi. We immediately ordered more wool to make our very own and came to fully appreciate how amazing this material is and then others took notice too! 

When people visited, a lot of them also loved the blanket with all kinds of comments about how soft to touch, unique, comfortable and stylish they are. Several asked us to make them one and so we started selling these without even trying. Thats when we thought we have something here that people want and started thinking about how to spread the warmth. Ultimately the concept of Saint Wools took seed from a desire to produce and sell luxury woollen products and clear signals that they were popular with people of all kinds. "

The latest additions of this brand is Clothing and Accessories collection where they now have three styles of beanie and three styles of head bands available. This is set to include a variety of scarves and other items in the near future. Another area where changes are coming is DIY where they are working on creating a set of DIY kits that include everything necessary to produce your own chunky knit items. 

At the moment their range grows incrementally with new products added as they are designed and prototyped.

KR  "Svetlana,  can every piece that you produce be customized? "

SV "Absolutely. We do custom orders all the time, whether its specific dimensions or a unique colour you are looking for all you have to do is ask and we will be happy to fulfil your wishes. Also if our customers have any new ideas in terms of products that we don't currently offer, we'd love to hear from them and always welcome feedback and ideas."

Saint Wools  sells through thier website www.saintwools.com and on their Etsy shop as well https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SaintWools

A good way to keep up to date with their creations is through our Instagram page @saint_wools

At the moment the brand is in discussions with retailers and distributors in Europe and aim to start stocking our home decor range in shops shortly. 

Me wearing customized cap

Me with my customized Saint Wools blanket

Valeri Christina

Hello fashion babez! Do you love accessories? I am sure you do. Today i'm gonna tell you about new brand that creates amazing accessories that stole my heart. It's named Valeri Cristina. The brand was founded in December 2014. "I started the development of the brand in Paris before moving to London last year,"- says Christina , the creative director of the brand. 

I'm the creative director and I'm managing all the aspects of the business at the moment." 

Valeri Christina  produces costume jewelleries mainly for women. 

"As men were very interested, I decided to create bangles for them. Nevertheless, they are not my main target at the moment."

She creates  necklaces, bangles,bracelets, earrings and rings. Most of the pieces are unique and she  makes a lot of customized orders.

"Christina, tell us about your collections"

"Liberty" was my first handmade jewellery collection. This collection represented my state of mind and my creative rebirth. I was inspired by the african and european trends, my heritage. 

I'm from Greece and Cameroon and I had the chance to live in those 2 countries. In addition, I studied abroad in France, Ireland and in USA. Those travels influenced me a lot and opened my mind and enlarged my vision of the world. Now, I like to define myself as a citizen of the world.

I started the collection with 60 pieces. Today, I have more than 130 pieces. In my first collection, I used a lot of white, black, red and dark green colours to match more easily outfits during autumn/winter. "

"What kind of materials are used for your creations?"

"I love using different types of ropes as well as leather.  

To design my jewelleries, I love using different materials like for example:  ribbons, satin, velvets, wool, different types of threads, strass and cowries. 

I mixed materials to bring originality and unique pieces."

 "Have you thought also about creating bags or other types of accessories? "

"Yes, the idea is to start with jewelleries and after, develop bags and work on a clothing line."   

" Where  can we buy your creations? "

"At the moment, I'm selling my collection on Etsy and I organize private sales in London and in Paris. Maybe Italy soon. 

I'm working on the development of my website. I plan to launch it soon.

  "Fashion advise from Valeri Christina?"  

"Difficult question.  I have to say: "Get to know yourself, dare trying different styles and products untill you find what suits you the best.  You have to feel Confident with your outfit and accessories. Confidence is the key to success."

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/vchristinacollection

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValeriChristina.blog

Instagram: http://instagram.com/valeri_Christina

Pinterest: https://fr.pinterest.com/valerichristina/ 

Me wearing Valeri Christina's creations