jolav.blog

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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

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

Sunday, January 6, 2013

The year in Custom....

One of the things, that started in the just by-gone 2012, was our Custom Service. Since Spring we received a substantial number of vintage, old, damaged, outdated leather coats, skirts and other random pieces, even a few fur outerwear articles, to re-make into custom OOAK handbags.

Pre-made leather items make for a very different work process, than plain hides, due to their varied characteristics, existing features and surface treatment. Every pre-made item poses a new creative challenge.

Our designs transformed along with the source items, and became unique blends of both, carrying over the best features and qualities of the source item, adapted to our wearable build.

Here are some of the highlights amongst our Custom Service creations:

Some of you wished to slightly modify our existing designs to better suit your needs.

Telia with a cross-body strap

Telia with a cross-body strap and hardware

Vintage coats are incredibly adaptive - the softness of garment leather works great for tassels, folds and other detailing. It was an exciting exploration to work with them.

The Starter, made of a vintage coat

Kerry, made of a vintage coat, featuring unique front pocket

Some of you gave us your old leather or fur items, just out of the kindness of the heart - like this wonderful coat, that was handed over in October. Parts of it were integrated into a one-of-a-kind design for the coats former owner: a shorter strap shoulder purse with upholstery leather and recycled fur.

Satchel, Harness Brown and Fur

This particular design challenged me to figure out some new ways to construct, close and seal a bag, which I would not have learned otherwise. Building after someone else's design is a great learning experience.

Satchel, Harness Brown and Fur

Some of you went for our designs without any changes --

Telia, Harness Brown

Vintage coats host some great built-in features, that can become a focal point of the design. This large tote will be released shortly, as a part of our upcoming collection, and this is a recycled version of it made right in the outset of the Custom Service.

Tote (Marife) in black vintage coat

Some of you brought your old gifts - to be re-made into new gifts, in a form of a handbag. This beautiful vintage skirt has been repurposed as a slightly altered Virga bag, from our Pre-Fall Coming Of Age 2010 collection...

... and there was a bunch more....

To learn more about our Custom Service, pls check out this post.
We will continue to re-use and recycle the old and rescued jackets into the new year...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

That trip home I took...

What can we say - November, and December have been busy. This post is the long over-due recap of our trip to Montreal and then back home - three heartwarming, inspirational weeks.

First dawn after an overnight flight. Coffee was a life saver for the first couple of days, helping to keep the energy up and adapt back to Eastern time. This was our first time to Montreal, and we loved it - it is a historic old world based city, with many lively neighbourhoods. You walk outside your hotel door, and it begins...

Early dawn

Shadows pulling away...

It was four days of walking, picture taking, definitely lots of great food, gorgeous Fall scenery and even some snow...

View of Montreal - from Mount Royal...

J. being herself

River

Preferred low-rise scenery

We scouted out various small neighbourhoods, local boutiques, cafes, etc. The weather was one of the best things about the entire trip, raining.. only once.

......... Then there was a short road trip to Ottawa - and the Parliament. Another first time, since J's arrival to Canada. There was some trolling in wind and rain (that's the only rainy day!), meeting the Cats of Parliament Hill, tour of the Building and the Tower, hot chocolate, sandwiches and then a beautiful countryside ride back to Quebec.

..........Then, after another overnight flight, we were greeted by perhaps the warmest October Vilnius has seen in a decade.... Glowing sunshine and 18*C. What more can one ask?

It felt like early September...

....Although the leaves were turning...

Again, lots of walking and observing the changing face of Vilnius everytime we visit... There was also lots of quality time with the family... And shoe shopping.

Castle reno - something most people do not see every day...

View from a restaurant courtyard at sundown...

Wall.

My mother and I tested out a few wineries around town, as it was getting chilly in the evenings.

Old winery space

Mother/ Daughter Friday

Raspberry beer - very light and fruity. Fringy items like this, is what I miss back in Canada...

When my mother had to go to work, there was another companion, who stayed home. So we could hang out. Sorta...

Amelia falling asleep - again...

Sundown and city lights over City Hall

The three weeks flew by so fast - seems as though there is never enough time, when I'm home. there could always be another dinner party with long conversations, more places to visit, more walks to do and more memories to gather. I cant wait to visit my family again...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Trunkshow recap

When things get this busy, there is hardly any time to say our proper thanks...
So here we are - all thankful to those, who came out to our first individual Trunkshow, with wine, cheese and purses; to our lovely host, Favourite Gifts boutique, and the Fall sunshine that made the day even more beautiful...

Here are a few snaps I took during the set-up:

We had taken over the shop! Patchwork, sale items, samples and coin pouches - all decked out in the centre of the Boutique...

The Sample rack had some of the best deals to date - 45% to 60% off on prototypes and one-off designs. You can check out the Tosca sample at our Webshop.

I've brought in extra stock for the Permanent Collection designs. Khela and Tasmain are always at the Webshop...

Sarah bags and new, one-off burlap designs...

Belts, two section coin pouches (called Feather Lights) and more deals on samples...

In mid-afternoon, the refreshments came. I had to make sure I take a picture of the set-up before everyone digs in... Red + white, fruit juice, water, 3 kinds of cheese, M&Ms, and fruit. This is so far the most festive set-up I had for any event...

This picture was taken by Customer from the Trunkshow, after she flew back home to the Prairies. Her new - and our final, Katie, The Bag on a snowy deck in it's new home. We could not feel more gratified...

Missed this event? - our next one will take place next Thursday, November 29 at the Ayala Moriel Parfums studio... Refer to our Website for all inquiries, more info is coming up soon...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Trunkshow - This Saturday, Nov 10 at Favourite gifts

We're excited to host our private Holiday event this Fall.

As an alternative to large, crowded art shows, we decided it is time to do something different, and invite our customers for a more of a face-time event, with afternoon wine, cheese and treats.

This Saturday, our very first Trunkshow will take place at Favourite Gifts boutique.
This is an all-day event, we will start at 10 am and continue till 7 pm (store closing time), with the refreshments delivered at about 4 pm.

All new Feather Lights

All new felted pouches for gifts

There will be lots of extra stock, besides what Favourite already carries, lots of new stuff we've just built, further discounts on sale items and samples (up to 60%, really), and even rare 15% deals on Permanent Collection... Some discounts will be at the Webshop as well for the day, so, tune in.