WHAT DREW YOU TO DESIGNING FASHION ACCESSORIES?
“Well, I was always sewing. My mother’s closet was like a treasure chest for me! She saved everything, so she had all her cool clothes from the 1960’s-70’s. I would sneak pieces from her closet and re-make them into something cooler… or I thought was cooler, ha-ha. Once I started my career and began putting together clothing collections, I realized something was missing. Accessories became a necessity, actually, to tell the story of the look.”
WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR CREATIVITY FROM, WHAT INSPIRES YOU AS A DESIGNER?
“Without a doubt, it’s the Swedish countryside. To just go there and enjoy the calm and nothingness with no stress. It’s like a meditation. Then I feel like I just have to do something! The creativity takes over. I also look to other designers who work in a simple, minimalist way. For prints, though, my inspiration is completely different-- abstract art and city lights. I think prints should always be colourful and happy to balance the minimalism Swedish nature brings.”
HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED IN SWEDEN?
“I was born in Stockholm, Sweden but left when I was 20. I just felt so bored! I needed a radical change. So, I learned Mandarin Chinese and moved to China where I worked and lived for 8 years. Now I know I only want to live in Sweden. It’s my home. My soul is here.”
WHAT’S IT LIKE DESIGNING ACCESSORIES FOR ORIFLAME?
“It’s amazing to work with so many talented people on the team. They take the designs in my head and bring them to life with a commitment to quality that I really appreciate. I cannot describe the pride I feel when I see the accessories in the catalogue or when I’m at a conference and see Consultants wearing my exclusive designs. This is a fun story- there was a bag where my name was co-branded with Oriflame. Well, I became flooded with friend requests on Facebook from consultants in Latin America! I’m a shy person and never could have imagined such worldwide exposure! It’s just not anything I ever imagined for myself.”
WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?
“Authenticity is important to me. I think you need to be true to yourself and treat people in an honest way. Nature definitely… and Sustainability. They’re connected, I guess. For me, sustainability is not a trend. It’s how I would like my life to be. I really appreciate working for Oriflame because it’s not in the ‘disposable fashion’ business. When I design products, it’s with the intention that they last for several seasons. It’s good both for the environment and the customer’s wallet. That’s important. I’m looking forward to working on more and more sustainability projects for accessories. With Oriflame’s global reach, I feel my work can make a difference.”
TELL US ABOUT ORIFLAME’S SUMMER ACCESSORIES. WHAT ARE THE KEY PIECES WE NEED TO HAVE?
“A great scarf is essential. It adds colour and is extremely versatile. Whoever figured out how to tie a scarf in so many ways is a genius! There are so many possibilities-- bag, top, dress, turban. The scarf dress is my fave! Such an easy way to keep holiday packing light, but still have many options.
A bag that takes you from the pool to city strolling is also important. I like ones with a standout detail. An all-black bag is boring. Especially in the summer.
Versatile jewellery is key. Something that can be worn to work and then converted into something fabulous for dinner afterwards. It’s so easy to change the entire look of your outfit just by changing your jewellery!”
