Jumina (interview with Elisabeth Grønning Rognmo)

 When I talked about Jumina the other day I had no idea I'd be so lucky to exchange e-mails with the creator of that fairytale world herself. I am bringing her to you now!

1.For introduction tell us a few words about yourself, who are the people behind Jumina?

Jumina was founded in 2007 by me and my husband of 16 years, Kim Rognmo. We have 3 lovely daughters. Julie 14 years, Mina 10 years and Viola 6 years old. The reason for starting the business was that I looked at the world of children fashion a bit differently.

AW 2011

In 2010 we launched Jumina outside of Norway for the first time and we now have retailers that carry this fun and fairytale like brand around the world.We also have several agents and distributors to do some of the sales work. I am doing everything except the web, where Kim is the magician.


2. And now Jumina? What does the name stand for?

It is our two oldest daughters JULIE and MINA The names together became JUMINA, we just got used to it and we found it lovely.

3. How did it all start? Why kids clothes?

We moved from the west coast and in the country because of Kim`s job. I was pregnant at the time and found everything to be a new start. with 2 girls and one on the way my focus was only on children, I wanted to be with them and make their surroundings fun and beautiful. When we moved to a small town I did not find the clothes I liked and I was in a place in my life where I had a lot to express. My education is to in sewing and art, I had worked for many years with interior fabrics and helped people with professional work in people homes as an interior consultant. So I had the experience to make garments and I am a playful girl and I love the children s universe so I had to go for children's fashion.

AW 2011

Girls at the Jumina Showroom

sneak-peak

4. You have 3 daughters, is this why we don't see much of the boys in your collections?
Yes, but we are working to get something for boys as well, but I like to use time to make it perfect, we have a small collection for ss 2013 for boys Giggig by Jumina inspired by my grandfather. But there are only a few garments still.



 5. What part of the creative process do you like best?

 To make the concept for the collection, to get the story there and to start new projects like we are doing now. We will open new concept stores together with an other designer tiljamid in February.

6. Where do you see Jumina in the next 5-10 years?

In many shops all over Europe, the US and in Asia. This is markets we are already in and see we are growing for every season. We will also have more franchise shops with our brand logo :)

Autumn 2012

7. Favourite Norwegian designers!

Hmm, not easy. But I love a designer called Leila Hafzi she makes amazing dresses for women an she has ethical production. But I am sure I should have mentioned many more, there are many designers from Norway that should be known better.

8. Favourite foreign designers! 

Also very difficult. But Coco Chanel had a lovely way of doing things differently and she did not care about what people said about her being so masculine at that time. I admire people who go their own way in design or in other businesses.

Thank you for this nice chat Elizabeth!

EFVVA (Interview with Ewa Wróbel-Hultqvist + giveaway)

I fell head over heals in love with EFVVA the moment I saw the snowflake shoes. Find out about EFVVA and its creator - artist Ewa Wróbel-Hultqvist in the following interview. When you are done reading you can enter to win an EFVVA bow tie bracelet. Have fun!

First of all, what is it that we definitely HAVE TO know about Ewa Wróbel-Hultqvist? 

I was born in the beautiful Polish town Krakow. I grew up in an artistic family where design and art intertwined with each other each day. I have studied at Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and graduate painting. I lived in Stockholm for 2 years with my great Swedish husband. We moved back to Poland because we were missing the warm weather ;-) and I missed my family.

Tell us about EFVVA! What does the name stand for?

I founded EFVVA in 2011. The name EFVVA stands for my name Ewa but with Scandinavian sound because I love Sweden, I used to lived there and my husband and son have Swedish nationality,  and with letter F as in fashion. EFVVA is a young, growing Polish children's brand. EFVVA loves children, fashion and art. We design unique, limited collection of clothing and shoes for children from 3 months to 6 years. We use the highest quality natural materials and our clothes and shoes are handmade in Poland, personally designed and finished by me.We put a lot of heart in to our work, fine tuning the product so that it is unique to wear for it's owner. All products are individually made for our little individualists who are our greatest treasure. Therefore it is important to protect their future through care of the environment. EFVVA aims to create clothes with respect to the environment and human rights.

How did it all start?

Like I said I grew up in an artistic family where design and art intertwined with each other each day - follow this path worked out as a child was natural, but the birth of the my son became the inspiration for the merger of three loves life: painting, design, and children & EFVVA Brand was born.

How much does your son influence your work?

He has a very strong influence on what I do. I often ask him for advice :-)

Which part of the creative process do you like best?

One of the most enjoyable parts of the creative process is the first part when I just start thinking and design in my mind the upcoming collections and the last part finishing the final touches.

Do you have a 5/10-year plan, or do you just do it instinctively?

Well, I really like working instinctively, but EFVVA needs to develop and ought to have  5/10 years plan and I of course have it:-)

Favourite Polish designers!

I am very happy to see so many interesting and great Polish children's designers

I admire great design Rafa Kids, miniio, miszkomaszko and many more...

Favourite foreign designers!

There's so many great designers... I love provocative fashion by Alexander McQueen and innovative and elegant designs by Coco Chanel

Now for the giveaway!

To win the bow tie bracelet leave a comment below telling me what is your favorite item from the EFVVA shop. (EFVVA is havin a 50% off on Baby collection - only one week from 06.11-13.11) You already know my favorite item. Or, do you?
Please validate this entry in the tool below, this will unlock possibilities for additional entries. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Ewa, thank you so much for being here!

Villa Carton (interview + giveaway closed)

I first came across Villa Carton through their DIY Flip Dolls and I thought they were pretty amazing. Then I went to their site and saw the two of them holding these huge, funky looking dolls and I just had to know more...

Marbushka toy manufactory (interview with Beatrix Bohony)

There is a special factory in Budapest - a toy factory. And not just any toy factory...a 'place' where beautiful toys are made - Marbushka. You'll even find a board game for a 2 year old there. Memory games and puzzles are so beautifully illustrated you will not want your child to look at another game ever again.

Following is the interview with Beatrix Bohony about her Marbushka family

AmorAmor (interview)

AmorAmor is a beautiful kids brand from Australia and I was lucky to talk to these 3 creative and happy ladies about their passions, inspiration and friendship that is the basis of it all. Please take a moment to read this beautiful interview, I am sure both the interview and AmorAmor designs will brighten your day and have you smile several times more than you planned today:)

KATTUSKA (interview with Kata Toth)

Last week we had no interviews, this week we have two. Today I wand to introduce you to a fairly new brand - Kattuska. To find out how they started making their beautifully designed plywood wanders read on and enjoy.

1. For introduction, could you first tell us a few words about Kattuska and the people behind it?

KATTUSKA is a repository of stylish children’s toys, furniture for children’s room and related accessories. We offer a continuously expanding range of products, as well as exciting and practical solutions to children’s room furnishings.
There are two of us behind the brand, me and my husband. I am bringing in the ideas, building a strategy and taking care of marketing, while my husband, with long furniture designing experience behind him, helps bring those ideas to life in his own workshop.

2. You are quite a new brand on the market. How did it all start?

With the degree in economic studies I worked as product manager for years. I love marketing but I also love creative things, making ideas happen and the design itself.
Teamed with my husband, for years we've been playing with the idea of designing toys and furniture that dress the space and don't just fill it. I finally managed to start my own brand when at the beginning of the year I got a huge opportunity to exhibit Kattuska's first two toys in the Made in Hungary section of Lakástrend - the biggest Hungarian interior design exhibition.

Both Castle and Boat got their audience. Our toys didn't just get best marks on design fairs, we tested them in a private kindergarten from where we received positive feedback from dozens of children. Their joyful play is the proof for us that we are on the right track and that there is a demand for beautiful, quality toys.  

3. Your products are mainly made of plywood, are you planning to expand to something else?

Both Castle and a Boat are made of natural beech plywood. This clean, simple and yet thanks to wood pattern very versatile material gives both toys their beautiful appearance.

Since the very beginning we entertained the idea of using other materials and colors. As the result of that only a few weeks ago, out first white Castle was born, which will hopefully have its colorful followers soon.

Accessories are naturally not made only of woods. Kattuska sword, for example, is unique for  its grip made of corian.

3 types of sword grips made of corian

 

Kattuska flags are designed by us and printed by an outside company that specializes in that.

Castle roof and curtains are made by me for now, but I'd love to work with other designers, especially in line of kids furniture and textiles.

4. How much do your children influence your work?

My children are my biggest inspiration and my biggest critics. They are also the first testers of our products. For example, we had to produce 3 prototypes of the Boat to be able to say it was finished, because Soma (our son) managed to flip it over every time. But now I know that we are selling a stable and well tested rocker.

They also give great ideas.  When we made the first castle we put it in the kids room for testing. After they played for a while, our daughter Hanga asked: mom, and where is the roof?
And this is how the Castle roof was born: easy on/off and washable too! And they can play house in the dark!

5. Which part of the creative process do you like best?

 When an idea comes to the stage of a sketch, then a computer plan is made out of it, it is like a new life is born. This is a magical part of our work and we both enjoy it very much. At times like this we spend long sleepless nights discussing the plans, thinking up the form, drawing, eating and drinking, laughing and of course sometimes fighting.
KATTUSKA is like our third child, demanding a lot of attention, developing slowly and beautifully, and sometimes making parents disagree on a thing or two...

6. Do you have a 5-10-year plan, or do you just do it instinctively?

It would be an exaggeration to say we have a business plan for the next 5-10 years, but we do have our idea of where we want to take KATTUSKA and what we would like to acchieve in future.
In the short run the main goal is product development. We are continuously working on new toys and we accept special orders for kids room design. It is important that people learn about this new brand and that products are showcased in as many places possible. In the long run the goal is profit realization of course, where foreign market is also important.

7. Favourite Hungarian designers!

For kids: Pucc, Bugyola, Nyúlgyár, Man
For grownups: Sári Kele, Nóri Vidó, László Naske, Nanushka

8. Favourite foreign designers!

Magis - Me Too: Eero Aarnio, Javier Mariscal, Mark Newson; Sibis, Monstrum, Patrick Weder, Mike He – Pistacchi Design, Nika Zupanc, Marimekko

Thank you  Kata, it was nice to have you here.

You can find KATTUSKA through following links:

web page
facebook
vimeo

Manuela - kids fashion (interview with Manuela Maraczy)

Today I would like to introduce you to Manuela, kids fashion design brand from Hungary. With the retro feeling of 70's and 80's your 1-6 year old will deffo stand out from the average toddler wearing Manuela. Read on to find out more in the interview with Manuela Maraczy:

1. For introduction, could you first tell us a few words about Manuela - the person?

Hm. I don't know if there is anything interesting to tell about me. I was born in a small city in Hungary, I am from a basic family with lots of talent. My father worked in a theater as a scenic designer for years, so I grew up in the theater walking around the departments and of course my favorite was the costume department.
I have studied at Mome and after graduation I lived in Helsinki for 6 years. I came back to Hungary because I was missing the colorful life and the vibe of Budapest, and mostly my family.

2. And now Manuela - the brand?

The brand was established in 2005, I was designing women's street wear.

But in 2011. I started to design kids clothes. I do not follow the conservative way of the actual season’s cuts, colors and fabrics, but freely flowing from one season to another. I might use the same fabrics, but just die them to another color. Or same cuts but different details. So I change things one by one and at the end you do not recognize the original one anymore.

3. How did it all start? Why kids clothes?

It started with a women's line collection around year 2002. It was a very small retro style collection based on the influence from Helsinki where I have studied as an exchange student.
Then I have designed more and more for women in Helsinki where I was living back in that time. And then I got 2 lovely daughters so my interest has shifted to kids designs.
We moved back to Hungary at 2010. and I started to mix the Scandinavian simplicity with the Hungarian decorative style on kids clothes.

4. So you have a daughters, to which extent do they influence your work?

First of all I pay attention to what do they need in everyday life and on special occasions.
I find leggings on kids very practical and we use a lot of them. So I designed some special printed leggings which can be worn for festivities as well.
Every piece I design I ask my daughters to try on, and they love it :) They also tell their opinion and I listen their to feedback. But of course, they always love everything mom makes :)
As my daughters are growing the sizes will grow too, so I think we will end up with the women's line again.

5. What part of the creative process do you like best? Do you work alone?

I love choosing fabrics and making the first prototypes. When I cut out the clothes from the fabric I start to be excited so much to sew it together and meanwhile I get lot of ideas how else I could use the same pattern or the same fabric. I also like selling on markets to meet the customers and to listen to their feedback.
I love meeting little girls who get excited about the clothes and always feel sorry about them not getting everything what they would want to have :)
I mostly work alone, but of course there are sewers for production and also there are some nice friends who help me with other things besides production.

6. Do you have a 5-10-year plan, or do you just do it instinctively?

I do have an unwritten plan for the following years. I would like to sell to shops abroad and start working solely on my own brand. At the moment I still have a part time job.
And maybe later on when my daughters have grown they could take over the company. But if not I would understand.

7. Favourite Hungarian designers!

Of course Nanushka, she is great and doing so well!

8. Favourite foreign designers!

There are many good designers who I like some items from, but I do not have an ideal to follow. I do what I get in my own head :)






Thank you Manuela!

You can get Manuela in her webshop or here. It is also worth following her on facebook to get up to date info on which fair she will be at.

Pappet - creative paper toys (interview with Bernardett Perjes)

 Two weeks ago I introduced you to Bimba - wonderfully cool textile toys. Today it is papers turn. Pappet are paper and cardboard toys created by Bernardett Perjes. Not only they are Eco-friendly, they are also creativity boosters. Kids (and parents) get to assemble their own toys that can then can be coloured and decorated to your hearts content. Now, lets hear it from the creator herself:


1. Tell us a few words about yourself. Who is Bernardett Perjes ?

I am 43 years old graphic designer. I deal with all kinds of graphic design, from business cards to billboards or even web design. With digital design I am happy if I get to do some manual stuff. I have a 7,5 years old daughter who is full of pep. Luckily, she also loves to create: cut, colour, paint, glue, weave, bead.


 

2. What is Pappet? / Why paper?


I love working with paper, it is a well known material available to everybody. People are not 'affraid' of it. On the other hand, it is very versatile and easy to use. My motto is: Give space to kids creativity and desire to create. I can just hope that my toys are inspiring and that they induce the creative process and then move to the background and let the kids create according to their imagination. On the other hand, I hope they can help the less independent ones and show them the way to the nice result. I wish that people who buy my toys find them a 'time well spent', people who will find joy in the finished product but find real joy in creating itself.

3. How did it all start?


Browsing the Internet I came to like cardboard toys and thought it would be cool to create my own version, and think of a smart way to produce them. With time it became difficult to deal with big cardboard toys, so I started turning to smaller toys. Making them up makes me happy, and they can be produced in small series.

4. You have a daughter, to which extent does she influence your work?


Olivia is my first and biggest critic. She'll tell you right away if she likes something or not. Sometimes it is her idea that starts a process. She also enjoys testing finished toys and exhibit pieces are often her making.






    5. What part of the creative process do you like best?


I love brainstorming and experimenting. Creating a demo version and detailing can be a tedious process, but I like doing optimization for manufacturing too. When the toy is finished I usually have to make loads of samples to be put up in shops, but it is really only a problem if the deadlines are tight. If there is time to fuss around I love to make them pretty.




6. Do you have a 5-10-year plan, or do you just do it instinctively?

Things are still happening quite randomly, but I would like to create a system, do it more business like. I'd like to create more opportunities for people to meet with my toys, and maybe take them abroad if the opportunity presented itself.











 7. Favourite Hungarian designers!

Gabriella Makhult,  Diána Nagy,  László Herbszt, Kinga Rofusz, Eszter Schall.


 8. Favourite foreign designers!


There are fantastic things on the Internet. Many times I just feel - why didn't I think of this?

Thank you so much Bernardett! Keep up the good work, we'll be following you along.


See also Pappet Castle review

bimba :: design for kids (interview with Diana Barcsi)

I've been busy and it's been ages since I wrote on the blog last time, but I have something really special for you today. When I started this blog, something like this was one of the reasons. To give amazingly creative people from my part of the world a little publicity and do a small part in their launch into the world. And to have an excuse to talk to them.

 Today I am bringing you an amazing Hungarian designer

                                                                  

Who is Diana Barcsi?

I am a textile designer, I graduated from the University of Applied Arts, specializing in textile printing. I live in Budapest, Hungary with my 13-year old son, my 4-year old daughter and my husband.  

What is Bimba and where is the name coming from?

Bimba is coming from the word "pampi". When my son was little, he had a pillow he used to snuggle with all the time. He couldn't pronounce the Hungarian word "párna", which means pillow, so he named it "pampi". Since this little word had a "magic power" in our family I mixed and rotated the letters p a m p i , so the result is an Italian word b i m b a , which means little girl. So, Bimba connects both of my children to the stuff I make.  



How did it all start?

When I started university, my son was already 3 years old, and when I graduated, my daughter was 5 months old. So, children "left their mark" on most of my works. I also realized, that domestic design toys lack quality. After university I decided I wanted to make toys. I had an exam at that time where I had to design pictograms, so I made my first Bimba collection, called zoo-pictograms. Textile books, sleeping animals, pillows are made from them, but nowadays I create dolls, bags, textile jewellery, especially decorated with typical Hungarian motive, called "matyó" pattern.  

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Tell us a little about your kids! Do they help you when you design? 

At first they helped me a lot, mainly my son, who was very helpful when I wrote my first nursery rhymes. He gave lots of idea regarding the characters as well. My daughter was a kind of "practical mentor" - she tested the finished toys. Unfortunately after a while they became immune to toys, because of a huge stock...  

Which part of the creative process do you like best when you work?

I love to cut the pattern and saw them. I am like an excited child looking forward to Santa, and opening the gifts.:) The same feeling overcomes me when I create a new pattern design, and make the first screenprint. I adore shopping for fabrics, paint, buttons, ribbons, etc. In general I love making toys altogether, from thinking up the design, to actually making it! ... I don't like marketing, but I'm trying to do my best!  

Do you have a 5-10-year plan, or do you just do it instinctively? 

So-so. I like to plan, but in practice I am an emotion based designer. I always feel what is needed for development and try to keep it up. Of course there are obstacles, but I enjoy to solve problems!:) So I go forward...it would be nice to have my own showroom/workshop, supply increase and more publicity.

Favourite Hungarian designers!

Kiskakas, Manuela, Schall Eszter, Picidia, Steiner Lídia, MaraFactory, Pucc, Esterda...  

Favourite foreign designers!

Kase-faz, Revoluzzza, Sassandperil, Marimekko, Jane Foster, and Scandinavian designers in general.

Thank you Dia!!!


Check out more of Bimba products on her website or blog, follow her on facebook, or go shopping here.