Wearing a personalized floral crown

At the end of January the citizens of Auckland city celebrated special holiday – Tamaki fest – Auckland Anniversary Day, or better said Auckland weekend. During the three sunny days I tasted Maori food, watched people sailing on traditional Maori Waka boats, listened to Maori music, talked to local designers and craftsmen. I also bought two colorful maxi skirts and two pairs of earrings with Maori design there. I also attended creative workshop sparkled by my inner goddess.

There were plenty of events going on at the waterfront. I liked the most Maori’s culture festival (Tamaki Herenga Waka festival) in Auckland Viaduct Harbour and Cloud market anniversary in Queens wharf. On Saturday I decided to attend Floral crown Workshop with Michelle Vaughan but I came late to the market. So I just bought two beautiful maxi skirts made by Frida skirts brand instead (what an excuse!). Skirts’ materials (African cotton fabrics; Kanga and Kitenge), patterns and colors reminded me of my field work in Kenya five years ago. How I liked those days working with community health workers, local mothers, their kids and wearing similar skirts. I told myself not to be late on Sunday.

On Sunday I finally joined the Floral crown Workshop. I really wanted to learn how to make a boho floral crown and look like stylish mother with even more colorful mood. Of course I was a bit late again, so in the middle of process there were not many flowers left for me. But I did not give up and I was encouraged to play more with shapes than colors of flowers. With the support of Michelle as a lector it went smoothly.

I remember I wasn’t in the best mood during the workshop. My daughter Tove Tui felt so hot inside Cloud market and did not eat well during the previous hours. Therefore my husband (supportive as always) walked with a pram around the workshop tables and tried to calm down little TiTi. I was in a hurry following the workshop’s dynamics and still checking up on my family at the same time. But after making the crown and taking few photos I got my good mood back. Creativity makes me always content and happy. I’m glad it still works for me in that way.

I am always amazed how kids are spontaneous and creative. It was great to observe all these little girls (sometimes with a help of their fathers) in the process of working with fabric flowers. Adult women as workshop’s participants were overthinking the procedure while young girls were just playing with the materials and learning by doing it. “Universe applauds actions not thoughts!” – I heard many years ago at the personal development training (run by International Synergy group). Interesting lesson for me once again…

I wore my personalized floral crown in pink and red tones during the rest of the day. It fitted with the rest of my outfit (Warehouse black sleeveless shirt suitable for breastfeeding, Melissa sandals, Krasa vesmirna earrings and Frida skirts’ maxi skirt). Many people stopped me afterwards and asked: where they could get the crown, as well as the skirt. That’s the best feedback for the local artists and also for me as a mother with a passion for slow fashion and fashion blogging, isn’t it?

Written by: Boba Markovic Baluchova, Photo: Palo Markovic

Letná SÚŤAŽ s blogom balBo deBra style o originálne Pluto-šaty

Celé leto budete môcť súťažiť o originálne Pluto-šaty s príbehom – prvý raz v júni o jeden kúsok, potom v auguste hneď o tri modely. A to všetko vďaka blogu #balbodebra a blízkej spolupráci s organizáciou #ozPluto, ktorá výrobu šiat v minulosti iniciovala. Vznikli totiž ako skvelý príklad #slowfashion, podpory lokálneho dizajnu a zároveň inovatívneho prepojenia charity s módou na Slovensku.
Podľa návrhu odevného dizajnéra Borisa Hanečku ich zhotovili ľudia so špeciálnymi potrebami v chránenej dielni Dom svitania v rámci projektu OZ P(l)uto: PoteŠIŤ. Vidieť ste ich mohli na modelke Lucii Hablovičovej a spisovateľke Kristíne Baluchovej. Nosiť ich možno ako letné koktejlové mini-šaty k lodičkám, alebo ako top v kombinácii s legínami a balerínkami – stajling je už na vás, vašej šikovnosti a odvahe.
Každý kúsok je jedinečný, vyrobený s láskou a podporujúci sociálnu inklúziu. Nehrozí vám teda, že niekto v okolí bude mať rovnaký model ako vy. Ak chcete získať jedny takéto hand-made šaty, skúste šťastie a zapojte sa do súťaže na populárnej sociálnej sieti!

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3. COMMENT: Do komentára pod príspevok napíšte, kam / na akú príležitosť by ste si získané Pluto-šaty obliekli.
Veľa sťastia! Výherkyne žrebujeme 31. augusta!
#sutaz #giveaway #localDesign #lokalnyDizajn #ozPluto #inkluzia #plutoSaty #slowFashion #summerMood

In ‘CirrHopp recycle’ case you will know: Who made your jewelry (Interview)

Many events in April are related to Fashion revolution movement. Hungarian brand CIRRhopp recycle is a very good example of slow fashion approach and original hand-made design. On balbodebra blog you can win beautiful upcycled bracelette from CIRRhopp collection. Let me introduce you this local brand through an interview with its founder – Kinga Balogh.

 

When and why have you decided to set up a brand CirrHopp Recycle?

It all happened in 2011 when I wanted to recycle and process my leftover clothes in a creative way. So I started this upcycling project by discovering new possibilities and exploring new methods how jersey clothes can be transformed into “T-shirt yarns”.

Is this your primary job now? What was your occupation before CirrHopp period?

Yes, I have been doing this for living. My previous job was connected to the financial field at multinational company.

What materials do you use during your art-work of upcycling? Where all of them come from?

I mostly use old or unwanted T-shirts for necklaces and bracelettes. I also collect and transform empty PET bottles from sodas into earrings. Usually they come from my local environment, from my customers, as well as charity organizations.

What is the most popular product from your collection?

POP necklaces made out from colorful T-shirts and Plabodot earrings made out from transparent PET bottles.

How do people react to your upcycled jewelry?

In my country people are well informed and aware of environmental issues, so reusing / reducing / recycling +/- upcycling topic is familiar to them. Nowadays I can see the most important change in their behaviour – that do not wonder about my products, they want to buy them.

I met you personally at one of Visegrad urban market in Bratislava. How did you like the idea of market and what brands and products did you like there the most?

It was a great possibility for Hungarian designers to show their brands portfolio in Bratislava and develop some cooperations with Slovak designers, organizers, shop-owners etc.. I like it so much. And my favorite Slovak brand? Veroin jewelry.

Good choice! My wedding ring is from Veroin’s portfolio. How do you describe local design and slow fashion production in Hungary?

In the period of last five years Hungarian fashion and product designers have become more focused on eco-consciousness, ethics and transparency of their brands. We are responsible not only for our closest environment, but we want to show a comprehensive, more global picture of fashion industry to our customers. We want to offer them a possibility of choice, such as slow design and slow fashion, recycling and upcycling techniques at fashion shows, design markets, showrooms.

You also organize workshops related to recycling and upcycling. What is a target group and what is the feedback from participants?

This year I am going to hold a workshop once a month. The target group is highly diverse. There are kids, housewives, young girls, but also company leaders or elderly people among the participants. The most important characteristic feature of all these people is their sense of responsibility for their environment. They are always very enthusiastic about upcycling techniques that I show them – from cutting old T-shirts, making yarns, through ordering colors, up to sewing chosen pieces and designing final look of fabric jewelry. After the workshops they go home and can’t stop making fabric jewelry on their own. What a feedback for me!

Ms Kinga Balogh - the founder of Hungarian brand CIRRhopp recycle

What are your future plans related to your brand progress or workshops structure?

Together with my friend, co-worker and foot-wear designer Franka I am going to organize an upcycling shoe-making workshop. In next few weeks we will show workshops’ participants how to make their own moccasins, sandals by using recycled and upcycled materials. This is very unique approach in Hungary or maybe even in the entire Europe. Besides that we are planning to repeat these workshops and prepare some kind of DIY-kit for summer season too.

How you will contribute to Fashion revolution week in Hungary this year?

During Fashion Revolution week I would like to emphasize the importance of slow design / slow fashion and share this idea among my followers at social networks. I will definitely recommend ‘True Cost’ movie to them. Everything related to my brand ‘CirrHoppRecycle’ is made by me – from primary research, pilot design, through materials collection and preparation, actual production and whole marketing (advertising, tabling at markets, online selling) up to teaching the upcycling methods. I can proudly and honestly say: “I (really) made your jewelry.”

Written by: Boba Markovic Baluchova & Kinga Balogh, Photo: CirrHopp Recycle brand

Súťaž s blogom BalBo deBra a značkou CIRRhopp

SÚŤAŽ s blogom #balbodebra a značkou #CIRRhopp!

O pár dní je tu Fashion Revolution Week! Ak chcete získať tento hand-made náramok (z dielne Cirrhopprecycle), zapojte sa! Jeden, teda asi skôr jedna z Vás bude odmenená. Súťaž trvá do 30.04. do 12:00.

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2. Zdieľajte vo svojom profile verejne tento súťažný post;

3. Do komentára pod tento príspevok napíšte, akú farebnú kombináciu (pre svoj #upcycling jewelry kúsok) by ste uvítali a najradšej nosili.

Veľa sťastia! #sutaz #giveaway #fashRev

In Yaxi Taxi colorful mood across Horsky park

Horský park je svojou polohou i atmosférou akoby mesto v meste. Všade iba voňavá zeleň, pár okoloidúcich a žiaden smog či hluk áut. Jeho súčasťou je komunitné centrum Horáreň, známe nielen domácimi koláčikmi, ale aj svojimi trhmi s originálnou ručnou výrobou. Na jeden z týchto trhov som sa nedávno vybrala a neveselé aprílové počasie som som vnímala ako výzvu. 
Park 'Horsky park' seems like city within a city thanks to its location and atmosphere. Green space everywhere around you, few regular visitors and no smog or noise from cars. Community center Horaren is part of this unique area - known for its great home-made cakes, as well as cozy markets with original hand-made production. I attended one of these markets recently. I also challenged ugly April's weather there.

Keďže k aprílu patrí nielen jarná bláznivosť, ale aj časté dažde - vylepšila som si náladu farbami a vhodnou kombináciou oblečenia i doplnkov. Výrazná zvieratkovská náušnica pochádza z dielne Redka Stuff; taška je od Popular-u; no a bunda je od Zuzany Labudovej (Slovenky, žijúcej a tvoriacej v Prahe), ktorá stojí za originálnou módnou značkou Yaxi Taxi. Do Zuzaninej produkcie som sa zbláznila už pred rokmi, pretože sa vyznačuje sa ponukou farebnej, nadčasovej, neopozeranými vzormi prepletenej módy, ktorú neprehliadnete, ani si ju s nijakou inou značkou nepomýlite. Ulietavam si na jej komiksových vreckách, nariasených rukávoch, trikolórových zipsoch, neónových nitiach či pankáčskych kapucniach. Keď potrebujem doplniť svoj "slow šatník" originálnym domácim kúskom, vždy siaham najprv po Yaxi taxi. Doma mám už štvoro šiat a dve bundy z tejto dielne. Podporiť poctivý lokálny dizajn sa vždy oplatí. 

April is famous for its Spring craziness, as well as frequent rains. Therefore I increased my mood level by colors and an appropriate combination of clothing and accessories. Significant animal earring is made by local designer Redka Stuff; red and white bag is from Popular shop; and colorful jacket is made by Zuzana Labudova (Slovak fashion designer, living and working in Prague) - founder of original fashion brand Yaxi Taxi. Many years ago I fell in love with Zuzana clothes because of their characteristic type of colorful, timeless, recognizable fashion, that will grab your attention. I like all these comics-pockets, frilled sleeves, three-colour-zippers, neon yarns and punk-hoods. When I want to add an original piece of clothing to my "slow closet", I always go to Yaxi Taxi website first. I have got already four dresses and two jackets. I am proud of supporting and promoting unique local design.

Text / Written by: Boba Baluchová, Foto / Photo: Palo Markovič