Indie Designer Interviews: Zlanarama
| Posted May 9th 2008 11:00AM by Mallory Whitfield
Filed under: Jewelry, Street Scene, Interviews, Under the Radar
We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.
Today's interview is with Betsi Goutal, a jewelry artist who creates colorful treasures to delight your inner child. You can find her wonderfully kooky creations at Zlanarama.
Tell us a little about yourself and your jewelry. I'm a jewelry artist with a mission; I can't stand the attitude of popular culture that as adults we are expected to shed all the trappings of youth, without a second thought as to the value those things may have. Sure we mature and learn as we grow, but I think it's important to challenge the norms of what we need to leave behind in order to grow. How does wearing khaki and shunning unicorns make you a more responsible adult?
It's this passion for channeling the wisdom of childhood into a more joyful adulthood that drives me to create jewelry full of bright colors and fun motifs. Color can have a powerful affect on mood, and you never know whose day you may brighten when you wear a rainbow around your wrist. It sounds hokey, but I truly believe every piece I create makes the world a better, more peaceful place.
How did you get started as a designer and indie business person? I've always been an artist, though like many artists I've struggled to accept that at times when I didn't feel "good enough" to call it that. My mother is an artist, and I remember my childhood as being filled with creation. Whenever my sister or I would complain of boredom, Mom was always there with wonderful new things to make.
The fear of being good enough kept me from going to art school and after high school I just drifted for a while, not really knowing what to do with myself. As a high-functioning autistic I have a hard time dealing with harsh fluorescent lights and loud noise, so typical retail jobs aren't for me. I'm an avid eBayer, and a few years ago I watched as the rising DIY movement took eBay by storm. I thought to myself "I could do that." I quickly found that
eBay was not the ideal environment for an indie designer, but I soon found my niche selling direct to customers at craft fairs and through my website. It can be crazy and hectic, but the life of an indie designer is incredibly rewarding.Any advice you would give to aspiring fashion entrepreneurs? Give your work focus by creating a "shop by style" option on your site. Even the most focused designer can create sub-categories, and this makes it easier for customers to find you when searching the web as well as makes their shopping experience easier and more interesting. I've recently reworked my line this way, and it's amazingly helpful when designing as well. It makes it easier for me to come up with new product ideas, and it also shows me where the gaps are in my overall product line.
What inspires your work? I'm inspired by lots of random, eclectic things. The colorful, heavily-accessorized style of Japanese street fashion known as decora, '80s cartoons like Jem and the Holograms, the kitschy randomness of vintage Cracker Jack prizes, coloring books, party supply stores, amusement parks. Anything colorful, whimsical, and weird.
Who are your favorite designers? I really love Kid Pirate, which carries amazing graphic tees with a Japanese street fashion inspired look.
What are your top beauty & fashion must-haves? I've recently become addicted to Urban Decay's purple glitter eyeliner. This stuff is amazing, it's got great sparkle and its clear base makes it screw-up-proof. Fashion-wise I'm a jeans and graphic tee kind of girl.
Where can people find your work? My website, www.zlanarama.com and also my etsy shop, zlanarama.etsy.com where I am currently clearancing a bunch of items to make room for new stuff on my site.
Summer folk: Celebs who thrive in the sun and surf
MANties: Panties for dudes, kind of
On Location at the Hancock Premiere
Giveaway: Motorola Bluetooth hands-free headset
Hot for summer: Jumpsuit shorts
