Noblivity laughs with Sveta Planman for Jolier
…”I wake up knowing that I am doing my dream work.”, Sveta Planman
Designer Background Summary:
I was born in Vyborg, Russia but grew up in Finland and I think the mix of these cultures is affecting my work. When I was a baby, my mother left me colourful fabric napkins to play with. Pile of those would keep me happy and quiet for 3-4 hours. My mother also liked to sew for me and her self a beautiful cloth. It inspired me so much that I several times went secretly to use her sewing machine and in the beginning without knowing how to use it, broke it several times.
I studied fashion for ten years in four schools in Finland and Italy.
I wanted to start from the basics and first learned how to sew cloth in vocational school. After graduating I continued to college to learn pattern making, manufacturing and the fashion industry. After that I continued to University of Art and Design Helsinki to learn more about design. At this period I wanted to know more about Italian fashion design and went to study in Milan. There all the free time I had, I spent in stores admiring the quality and sharpness of the cloth, and travelling around Italy getting to know the culture. Inspired by Italian fashion, I went home with 20 kg bag of journals and Italian shoes and finished studies by launching my first collection as MA diploma work in 2005.
Noblivity: How did you get started?
Jolier: My diploma work collection got a nice attention and I started to receive order requests. This is where I decided to start my own company in Helsinki as a sole trader. I decided to start export from the Russian market and turned out to be the first new generation Finnish designer to present her collection at Collection Premiere Moscow (CPM) – international fashion fair. With this short time having a company I noticed, that having collection based on my own name was somehow limiting my creativity. I wanted to design not from the inside of my self, but from outside, to design from different directions.
My company was developing and it was a time to make a new step. In March 2008 Alion Ltd. corporation was founded in the hart of Helsinki. I evolved my design direction to response extensively to my ideas. My collection was renamed to Jolier. “Jolier” – to make something beautiful perfectly reflects the concept of the brand. Today the JOLIER collection is strongly continuing in Finland, increasing in Russia, Japan, Germany, Netherlands and US. We also have a new Jolier ONE – an innovative, multifunctional and ecological design product. The product can be used as a garment, accessory or even a household textile. Jolier ONE was born as a part of the first Jolier collection. Now Jolier ONE has grown into it´s own product line and brand.
Noblivity: What inspires your designs?
Jolier: Different music, pop-culture, people personality and art inspire me the most. I like to pick opposite inspirations, for example modern art and historical dressing of the Russian empire. It is interesting to combine those matters in the new harmonic and beautiful design. Very important influences in my design are the core values: ecological, multifunctional, innovative, feminine and stylish. All pieces are designed to be long lasting in the rapidly changing field of trends.
Noblivity: How would you describe your design style?
Jolier:It’s a good question. I think that the words to describe my Scandinavian + Russian + Italian design mix, are: sustainable, slender looking, feminine, clean lines, beautifully tailored and finished off with sophisticated design details.
Noblivity: What designers inspire you?
Jolier: There are so many interesting collections and brands to mention from legends to new generation of designers, that highlighting is very difficult.
Noblivity: What obstacles did you have to overcome?
Jolier: I think it was more of financial obstacle for young company to get started.
Noblivity: How did you overcome them?
Jolier: Very hard working, knowledge of manufacture process and loyal business partners.
Noblivity: What has been your greatest moment on your journey so far?
Jolier: I think it is every day, when you wake up knowing that you are doing your dream work.
Noblivity: Where are you headed personally and professionally?
Jolier: Personally I am heading to continue my life happily and healthy, at some point in the future to have add couple little extras to our family. Professionally dream come true is to continue designing ethical Jolier products and to be able to offer those to clients in every country.
Noblivity: If money were no object what would you do right now?
Jolier: Help everybody who really needs them.
Noblivity: What are the best and worst things about being a designer?
Jolier: The worst thing about being designer – I think it is non-stop designing, you cannot live without it. The best thing is that you can do anything and you can make people happy.
Noblivity: Describe your typical day?
Jolier: Actually they all are a little bit different, but every day does have: hurry, motivation, new idea, obstacles to overcome, nice news, hard work and a lot of laughs.
Noblivity: What’s your philosophy of life?
Jolier: It’s probably – enjoy your life, what ever happens is for the better to come.
Noblivity: What’s your favorite meal time setting?
Jolier: With family or friends.
Noblivity: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Jolier: I don’t think so, there could be a shorter way, but all the experience is very important.
Noblivity: When will you know you have made it?
Jolier: Hmm, personally I think I have made it and as a business, in near future?
Jolier and JolierONE are available @ The MarketPlace Noblivity.com
