Liberatti has a growing collection of artisan 'slow fashion' accessories - all proudly made by hand, by passionate artists who have spent years studying, researching and polishing their craft in different corners of the globe.
The collection now boasts scarf rings, brooches, scarves, pocket squares, and lapel boutonnière (button holes, also known as lapel flowers).
These elements are ready to mix, match or contrast in a myriad of creative combinations. The portfolio of pieces enables our customers to define and re-define their style every day according to mood, environment or sheer whim. The aesthetic of "Sprezzatura - the art of effortless elegance" is an Italian concept and underpins all Liberatti's designs. It cheekily 'borrows from the boys' to adorn our global customer base of savvy professional women.
Liberatti's designers and artisans live their creativity and artistry, and here we invite you to meet London-based artisan, Anastasija Jermolajeva, the creator of our beautiful, handcrafted, leather boutonnière. We asked Anastasija about her craft and discover the woman behind Liberatti’s blossoming new collection:
Q When and why did you take up leather working?
A I’m a creative person and started working with different kinds of cloth and fabric when I was around 12 years of age. After school I studied a Professional Baccalaureate Diploma in Material Technology and Product Design. This is the equivalent of a Bachelor Degree. I was the only one who studied leather; the rest of my group studied leather upholstery or worked with cloth.
From the first lecture, I was fascinated by leather. It is an interesting material – elastic and stretchy yet at the same time keeps its shape and is strong while being malleable in the hands.
Q Where does your creative inspiration come from?
A Simply everywhere! A smile, shoes, clothes, music, furniture, and especially, I like nature as it so perfect, colourful and with a myriad of shapes, for example a fallen leaf, flowers, birds, butterflies…
Q What is your creative design process?
A It starts with an idea, or an understanding of an idea. I need to visualize and imagine a way of producing, before I make a drawing from all sides. I have to find out perspectives and measurements to then design a pattern as we did many times with the lapel flower project. The material came first, then we collaborated on the petals, size of the base, pins and so on and created many prototypes which flew across the world, before we were content with the design and concept.
It always involves trials of the tricky parts before the final fabrication.
It always involves trials of the tricky parts before the final fabrication.
Q What do you enjoy most about working with leather?
A It has to be the feeling of leather and it’s a challenge, for example, one type of leather may work in a different way to another – I have to find the right way. My teacher always said: “You have to speak with the leather”.
You cannot be violent; leather needs both passion and patience.
Q Your studio is based in London? What attracted you to the city?
A London is city of fashion! It’s a mixture of huge contrasts - there are different clothes, styles, nationalities, professions, tastes, ways of living all in one place.
It opens your eyes and ears to the humdrum, you cannot escape it.
Q If you couldn’t work with leather, what material would you choose?
A Silk because it’s natural and an abundant material.
Q Your studio – is it tidy or untidy?
A My studio is tidy until I start to work. I don’t know how… but then it becomes messy :) maybe it’s because I get involved and excited by the process of creativity.
Q What is your perfect moment?
A When everything goes well in my work. I am a perfectionist. I always compete with myself and sometimes this is really difficult.
Anastasija has brought her eye, heart and experienced hands to create the Liberatti leather lapel flower collection with superb proportion and exemplary finishing.
We hope you enjoyed hearing about her creative studio life in London.
Nicola Liberatti X
