In
the second of my series of quick interviews, I've spoken to Kira Heuer, founder
of Bib & Sola. You may remember Bib & Sola (meaning 'drink and comfort' in Latin) from a post I did a month or so ago featuring their pop-up shop, Imbue. Purveyors of beautiful things, they stock a selection of very carefully edited products, including
the beautiful hand-blown Murano glass carafe you see pictured below, as well as a few
of our very own pieces from the AW12 collection.
Kira (pictured above with Oliver Proudlock of Made in Chelsea on the left, at the Imbue launch) took time out of her busy schedule to chat to me about her thoughts on Bib & Sola and the water plight that means so much to her:
The philosophy behind Bib & Sola
places a lot of influence behind raising awareness of the increasing rarity of
water. What inspired you to raise awareness about this?
It began with a story in National Geographic,
something struck me about a group of women water bearers and I wanted to know
more. The next thing I knew, I was deep in documentaries and reading anything I
could get my hands on.
Do you think that fashion with a greater cause is the way forward?
I think awareness is the way forward in all
industries. The fashion world has such an incredible influence on so many
levels. I don't think we need to stand on our pedestal and preach, I
think it is more in creating a thoughtfulness. Aesthetics that inspire a
thoughtfulness to connect a bit more to bringing a sense of balance.
Your first range of products is a collection of Venetian hand-blown glass
water carafes. What was it that made you choose these as your launch
product?
The glass vessels are an old world tradition
in drinking, harnessing civility in that you have your own personal drinking
carafe. As you drink from your water set, you are connected to something bigger
then you. I also wanted to work with hand blown glass, Murano glass in
particular, as it represents an art form that I covet. Such a beautiful
artisanal tradition with a relevant history.
How are you hoping Bib & Sola will evolve in the future?
There are great plans for the future; we are
working with some collaborators at the moment, as well as gifting, hotel and
restaurant talks. We are also looking to work with well known artists to
do their own work on the carafes and presenting them as limited editions -
using the carafes as the blank canvas to connect aesthetics with ethics.
In an economic environment where people are looking for ways to cut costs on
their personal spending, how would you encourage consumers to invest in luxury
products with a conscience?
I think you bring up a great point when you
ask this question, invest being the operative word. We need to take a
breath and purchase from a place which becomes special to you. Something
that will last and become part of a lineage. As for conscious purchases, ask
questions. Find out where it was made, what the products do to the
environment, the people producing the products. These questions will lead
to more questions - awareness is key. Try to respect and support the ones
spending the time to do right and give them power. Fair trade is always a
great empowerment on all levels.
What is your ultimate aim for the Bib & Sola brand?
To become a well-known brand for water
awareness using art, design and editorial as the elements to drive the voice.
What can we expect to see from Bib & Sola over the next year?
We are getting great responses from our blog
so we decided to expand our editorial side. We will be taking on
contributing writers and developing our "water stories". We
will also be working with well known artists… but I don't want to give too much
away!
How would you encourage fashion conscious consumers to consider the ethical
implications of their habits?
I think we need to move away from shock and guilt, find ways to inspire each other to be part of something
that has the ability to strengthen rather then weaken. Create ways to
come together, play off each other and try to make it fun. The subject
matter can be quite daunting for some so the only way we can gain positive
momentum and change is through collaborations, inspiration and enjoyment for
what you are part of.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business in
the art/design world?
Learn how to chase, find ways to get in front
of people and ask questions. Make the questions clever, make an
impression. Just this alone can open up many different opportunities. Think
outside of the box, tell your story, give people a reason to want to be a part
of your plight.
In an industry where art and design items are often sold privately for
millions of pounds, where do you think ethical design fits in?
I think it is not about the price tag, it is
about thoughtfulness behind the object. The story, the materials, the
reason the designer felt compelled to create it. These object d'art are
part of our world and are relevant to those that collect. Yet, the
ethical side of it is just as relevant and the worthiness of where and how it
was made should be a considered an important factor as to creating a higher
worth. Wouldn't that be nice…
Authentic Venetian hand-blown glass is quite a rare find these days. What is
it about glass that appealed to you as a medium to work with?
My grandmother used to take me to Venice when
I was a little girl, I was fascinated by the glass blowers and could watch
them for hours. The lineage behind the Murano glass is of another world
that I want to support and sustain. It becomes quite difficult for these
artisanal glass blowing factories to stay strong due to other ways of
manufacturing and it is important that we keep them going! They have a quality
you can not find anywhere else. It is in their blood from generations past.
There is something very sacred about this.
