Jump to the new collection: Spring Summer 2013 Cruise...

image by: Sophia Dembling (2008)

After a couple of very hectic months, we're in the middle of preparations for the One Of  A Kind Show in Toronto - for the second year.
 What we're bringing alongside the regular stock, is a completely new range of designs, our SS 13 Cruise collection...

Contrast of opposing textures, visual changes in an abject in different times during the day, surfaces of different finishes and smooth lines were in the focus for this collection, all wrapped up in a relaxed and joyous mood of vacations. This is definitely our most celebratory collection, with lots of basic colours, and materials, other than leather, introduced to the shells of bags...

Image: Tumblr. Isle Of Pines

Early this year, Chloe Magazine ran a full page feature of our upcoming collection - you can revisit there feature and read Jolanta's interview with the magazine here.

Here are the all new designs of Spring Summer 2013 Cruise

Click on pictures for more info.

Marife  - A large, graceful carry-all with extended braided handles and exterior pockets.  Lightweight and sturdy, made to house your travel, shopping, or work needs. Or even a second bag inside. Has an eye-catching shape and flowy lacing and braid detail.

Marife - black

Marife - red

Exploring burlap fabric - a course and sturdy cloth to give seasonal lightness and contrast to the smooth surface of leather. Features original ink prints of coffee importers.

Marife Burlap

Marife Burlap

Kaia Surf - Elegant gear. A large, relaxed satchel with two sculpted front pockets, adjustable straps and a shoulder pad. It is an understated formal bag, that could be taken through the weekend (trip). Boxy built, the bag shares some of the same detailing, as the previous design, Marife, such as Western lacing and very smooth lines, at the same time creating a completely different, unisex, look...

Kaia Surf - Granite

Kaia Surf - Caramel

Quilchena -  our first backpack! A deep draw string sac, to be worn as a backpack or cross-body. Zipper pocket in the front, and three more pockets inside. Soft, leather, comfortable wear. Hands free. Featuring pleat detail, or plain.

Quilchena Pleat - black

Quilchena - mushroom

Sarah Burlap - an all new version of one of our Permanent designs. Burlap creates a striking visual contrast, making the purse summery, and surprisingly tough...

Sarah Burlap - Blue

Clubkidz - Fun and compact cross-body for a night out, or day. Very easy to wear, strap is adjusted by re-tying the knots at each end. Closes with an oversized flap and an internal magnet. Features a zipper pocket in the back. Will keep your hands free, while all essentials intact. Take it dancing. More colours to come.

Clubkidz - Blue

Clubkidz - Teal And Gold

Clubkidz - Apple Red

Rider  - an easy to wear pleated bag. Stash it into your beach carry-all, throw it over your shoulder; it will look great with flowing dresses, crochet boho sweaters, headbands, jeans, coats, surf- wear - anything. 

Rider - Mint two

So, here you go! The SS 13 Cruise will make its debut at the OOAK show next week, and will appear in retail shortly...
It is NOW available at the Web-shop. 

Our Permanent collection is carried alongside, as well as the remaining styles of FW 2011 Cebrellex.


Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

JK Affairs article about us

JK Affairs, a progressive blog about Fashion, etc. is covering the Vancouver Eco fashion Week.

Jola V. Designs is part of the EFW this year, and we are stoked to get such a great write-up not just about us, but about the entire event, and other fellow eco-brands, that are slowly but surely, educating the industry...

Read the article here.

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Coming Of Age comes to a close...

 Pre-Fall 2010 Coming Of Age is our second collection, I started early last year. I learned quite a few new skills while building it, shaped my aesthetics and continued to work around my limitations as a new craftsperson. Today, I still have alot to learn, improve and re-measure.

Last week I began sketching what will be my third, Fall/ Winter 2011 Collection, and, even, cut a few preliminary patterns - just to shred them two days later...  After a few days of re-designing and re-sketching, I think I can safely say that I have five completely new styles to be rolled out later this Summer. I will start cutting the new patterns as soon as next week!

My big Spring show, EPIC Expo takes place this weekend, and as soon as I am back home and rested, the new sample building will begin.

Now, as usual, in every transition from an "old" collection to a new one, I would like to hold on to a couple of bag styles from Coming Of Age, and keep making them alongside the new stuff. Some of you know, after discontinuing most of my Spring 2010 Intro Collection, I brought back Jaki Shoulder bag (see previous post), and Renata, re-vamped for 2011.

I would love some feedback to decide, which styles should make it into the Fall/ Winter 2011 season....

Here are all the styles in Pre-Fall 2010 Coming Of Age & Coming Of Age Fast mini-collection:

Sarah

Sarah, Limited Finish

Virga

Virga TCB

TerriAnn

Nijole

Katie, The Bag

Emma

Wrap belt

When I look at this Look Roll, I realize, how small both collections are... I have a few ideas of what I THINK I would like to keep, but nothing yet is set at this point. It feels good to review your own work, and re-evaluate it...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com/

The Happy Post...

....It has been several weeks since my part timing at the day-job started....

I am still learning new ways of managing my time, building some sort of a routine for my new schedule, teaching myself to take breaks.


Freeing up several days worth of time weekly for my business, was an incredible relief. My tiredness and anxiety are a thing of the past - I do still get tired, but now it feels good... I am also surprised how much I am able to achieve during just a few days, without needing to wait for the weekend to get to my suppliers for parts. And, I noticed, that I also have time for other things - besides production....

Here is a summary of the past few weeks since mid-February:

Have my both Spring shows confirmed and scheduled: Make It Vancouver (April) + EPIC! Expo (May);


Rolled out new stock products:  Emma, QtBeach and Summer Edition TerriAnn bags; One prototype still to go..


Added two new retailers to carry the line: check out PoppyHair Boutique and Blushing Boutique in Vancouver;


Began test shots and outfit styling for the first ever Jola V. Designs LookBook and a Fashion Story - preview above;

Created a surprise product to mark my handbags line's Second anniversary coming up in late March. I will announce updates, giveaways and contests in the next week or so;

And the Bags, and me, will take part in organizing several private shopping events in the Spring alongside my fellow indie artists;

Also - rearranging the studio, learning to work with design software and dabbling in writing too.


Had I not cut back my time at the office, it would have taken me weeks, if not months, to achieve this. But it feels like this small change was the island of solid ground I needed to step onto. I am happy to be where I am.

Renata 2011

Renata is a tote and shoulder bag, I created for the Spring 2010 Intro collection.
I decided to not let go if the style, as we moved into the Coming Of Age, but I also have come up with some changes I would like to introduce to the Renatas of 2011.

They will still have the long handles and removable shoulder strap, side lacing detail and deep front pocket, only now they will have a softer crown, the handles will be attached on a  longer loop, so they can hang flush with the surface of the bag, when not used; and Renatas will be lined and have four inside compartment pockets.

I recently rolled out the first batch of new Renatas - and they are already available at the WebShop...

My recently found Spring colours: Pale Sage...

Pale Sage

 Walnut Brown:

Walnut Brown

..and Black:

Black

The slowest weeks of the year...

A few weeks back I have announced going part time at my day-job.

And with just a couple of weeks left till my lucky start date, the long awaited relief could not seem further out of my reach...
During the past couple of weeks I was pretty much unable to work on the bags. I have been struggling to supply for the last retailer, and after I did, everything came to a stiff halt.


The short staffing situation at the day job office, all the confusion, caused by the workflow and role changes, immediate backlog of work, stress, complaints from the under-served claimants, took enormous toll on my body. Skipping breaks, not getting away from the desk at all, staying late to finish work has been my life in the pat two weeks.

I have never felt so both, mentally and physically tired  - ever... I would get home just to succumb onto the couch... Looks as though the ol' day job is out to take that last jab at me.
And I must say, it (almost) succeeded. If before this, I looked at my part-timing as a well deserved treat, now I feel more like a sailor, who has just spotted land on the horizon and cant wait to get off the boat.

The past two weeks brought me to a scary realization, that I will not be able to physically maintain doing both - working at the day-job and maintaining my business at the pace I have been going till now... Needless to say, that frightened me quite a bit. The very thought of giving up JVD is creating an unsatisfactory void.

After a moment or so, I came to a natural decision, that if my part timing is revoked for any reason, it will mean the end of my day-job....



Lucklily, I have only one more week of the chaos, till I cut back. Even though that week involves more of the backlog tackling, late nights and training someone new ( my job-share partner).

But after that I will take a few days to rest, walk and swim before I jump into booking Spring shows and some major production...

I will post about my new products next...

**May the Force be with me this time...***

How to have a great New Year....

The very idea of a new, starting year is bringing excitement! For a small business it means a lot of Hope, Projecting, Sourcing,and Gambling. At Jola V. Designs, we are no different.

Important to have Hopes, but also - realistic ones.

Any good year ends with an expectation, that the upcoming one will be even better. But it is important to remember that a lot of good that happened in the by-gone year, was a result of our own hard work. Even though some say, the Economy is turning for the better, we still are losing businesses daily, our customers are still quite cautious to spend. This year will require just as much hard work as the last one, and just as much patience. Things will still be taking baby steps, Careful is just as good as Hopeful... 

Victoria, BC

Projecting  - no need to run ahead of myself...

I am thrilled to have my very own web-site, and watch it grow. Really thankful for all the Retailers and Friends who came along, and helped to promote my purses. This year I intend to spend more time following up and keeping in touch with my amazing customers, taking part in a few more direct trade events, than last year, maybe even looking towards the East Coast.

Since things are still quite unpredictable in this economic environment, our projected growth will be mainly self-driven, and natural. It has proved to work before.

Sourcing - my favourite part of work...

This year the process of acquiring my materials will be very different. As, some of you have heard, I have achieved my most anticipated milestone - which is cutting back on my time at the day-job. From this February I will be spending only half the time I have so far at my desk, and the rest of it will be dedicated to my business. 

With way more time for working on what I love, you will see more colour, more types of materials, more style variations and, maybe, even a larger collection by as early as this coming fall! BUT - I will also be more insightful on which materials work the best, and which ones I am not sure about... So far, you all have been really helpful.

Fireworks of the Olympics, outside our window

Gambling is my second nature..

Being is Business means taking a gamble. In some situations, when all the analyzing and projecting in the world, no longer suffice, I have learned just to trust my Gut. I will take a shot at working with people I trust, take part in events I have faith in, both, public and private; leave room to pick materials and ideas that speak to me. Spread the word about my own work and provide peer support for others. Appreciate it all.

Have a safe, fun and rewarding year.

Vacation!




Tree, source: Loadtr.com

  Starting tomorrow I finally can take some time off - from Day job that is. The offices will be shut down for the week between Christmas and New Years, meaning more freedom for me - to sleep in, to not run around, to focus on what I love doing the most, which is working from home, on my bags.

Much of that time will be dedicated to sourcing new materials for the Spring add-ons to my Coming Of Age collection. Also, a few new ideas for Spring and Beach, I cannot wait to start bringing to life. And when I am not sourcing, planning, patterning, applying for the Spring shows, designing new business cards, sewing  or updating my on-line stock, I will be... resting.



Dundarave Olive Co - amongst my gifts!



Luckily, most of my own Christmas shopping is done - unfortunately, not the overseas mailing, which will have to wait till next week.... This year, I can proudly announce, that all my gifts are made in here, in BC!


I love the Winter Holiday season for its serenity. After sunset, there are not many things I would rather do, than light a lovely candle, turn the Christmas tree lights on,  and cozy up on the couch with a book and a glass of wine. Cliche, I know, but, this year I am looking forward to that more than ever...

Katie, The Bag Royal Blue

What a year has it been! Jola V. Designs has grown way beyond my wildest expectations, I am immensely thankful to all those who have been so supportive and generous this year. Next Spring we will mark our 2nd anniversary, and we would not have been able to get there without you!

The year of 2011 already looks promising, with possibly going part time at my day-job, so more time to work on the bags, and actually have the ability to get more in touch -  and keep up -  with my customers.

I am planning a few great Spring shows in the Vancouver area and some traveling and tanning for the Summer!

But, for now - a very well deserved Holiday season vacation!