ElenaKara: Your Next Fashion Accessory
“I wanted to create a brand that is minimalistic in its aesthetics, function in its design, feels luxurious and is attainable.”While Fashion Week kicks off with new season trends and styles from well established fashion houses, new talents catch the opportunity for them to shine. This is particularly true for ElenaKara – adding an edgy design to our beloved handbags.
While Fashion Week kicks off with new season trends and styles from well established fashion houses, new talents catch the opportunity for them to shine. This is particularly true for ElenaKara – adding an edgy design to our beloved handbags. “The idea of creating my own brand came after I completed my MA at London College of Fashion and the positive response my collection had in the graduating show”, says Elena. Even with her very first collection “Solid Connections”, ElenaKara brand received positive response where her works have been featured in several publications, such as ELEGANT Magazine. “[Solid Connections] really helped me realize the type of designer I want to be and pushed me to experiment with new forms and materials.”
In the interview, Elena explained that she discovered her passion for fashion as it is “a form of art that directly interacts with the human body.” The idea of creating fashion accessories, such as handbags, came to her originally. Her work is based on her fascination of the simple utility and function of such adornments, while incorporation a unique vision for each design - inspiration for which she draws from geometric shapes. “Having this as a starting point helps me envision different types of products which I want to create.”
Elena talked about the philosophy of her brand, where the two fundamental cultural movements – minimalism and classicism – meet. Not only is her work unique in its reference to geometric abstraction, she draws particular attention to picked material as well as the craftsmanship. In her designs, Elena combines the concept of minimalism and architectural inspiration in creating designs that draw attention to “simplicity of form and subdued colour palettes.” Such way, as she explains, “evokes architectural classicism with elegance, symmetry and a systematic order of proportions.” With such an individual vision, Elena doesn’t make it a priority to follow certain fashion trends. Her goal is centred around creating something that is “timeless” – in ensuring this, quality of material and craftsmanship is of greatest importance for her brand.
When talking about her current clientele, Elena says that she pushes herself to design bags that could be worn in a lot of different ways. “ I love seeing my bags being worn on the street and noticing how they can transform to fit each women’s personal style. The brand targets discerning consumers who care about the materiality and craftsmanship of the product.” She described her dream clientele as those who “look at fashion and accessories as an investment and appreciated the craftsmanship and the timeless attributes of the materials used.”
As of now, Elena is focused on building brand awareness and developing as efficient relationship with her manufacturers to insure success in the future. “Over time I would love to expand into other products categories and my own retail.”
With new collection in process of making, London and Athens based ElenaKara brand has a bright future. Watch out for her upcoming works on her website, where you could purchase the bags, as it is promised to be your next bag on the list of must-haves.
