Today we’re talking with Ilse, the creator behind the increasingly iconic brand, Valfré. She’s letting us into her world, with her favorite books and music. Her drawings are on stickers and phone cases all over the world. And her illustrations of iconic girls in cute outfits naturally created a demand for a clothing line. With a relentless work ethic, she’s definitely one to watch this year.
CREDITS:
clothing: Valfré
photographer: Bianca Gerasia
model: Rachel Lynch
How did Valfre start? It was just your drawings first, correct?
“It started as fashion illustration blog where I posted all of my artwork. There weren’t really any products to begin with but I always had the idea of creating a brand that would bring the Valfré world to life. Over time the fanbase grew and the brand was a natural progression.”
Does feminism inspire the designs?
“To me, Feminism is just as much about celebrating womanhood as it is about acknowledging injustices. So yes, Feminism is an inspiration and is a big part of our DNA as a brand.”
How did you start designing clothes? What inspired that?
“Our fans/customers were constantly requesting me to make the garments that my characters were wearing and so that’s what we did.”
Who inspires you most?
“People who work hard for their dreams and are still nice to be around (it’s hard to find them these days.)”
Name your top 5 albums:
-Traveling without moving by Jamoroquai
– Discovery by Daft Punk
– Autoamerican by Blondie
– Oops I did again by Britney Spears
– Currents by Tame Impala
Name your top 5 books:
The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Psychomagic by Alejandro Jodorowsky
The little prince by Antoine De Saint-exupéry
The Ego and the Id by Sigmund Freud
The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud
What’s a day in the life at Valfre like?
“We have an open office without walls, so it’s pretty much like a fun and loud family environment.
We have meetings regarding marketing and production almost everyday and we all go out for lunch together which i think is really cute. In the evenings is when I do most of my artwork and fashion designs.”
You guys blew up pretty recently, or do you feel like it was a long time coming?
“I’ve been illustrating since I was a kid and so in some ways I feel like it’s been a long time coming. However, things have definitely kicked gotten pretty exciting in the last few years since I launched the brand.”
What would your advice be to young girls out there who want to turn their art into their business?
“Be persistent and work on your craft everyday. Most importantly though, learn how to hustle!”
Your Song of the week:
“Far Away” by Isle & Fever
