We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Adina Banea ("AB").
Charismatic, sensible, and creative, you will always find Adina painting the sky through love because she does believe in love, a feeling she extroverts by not counting her footprints. "Convicted to life," she thinks this is the most beautiful way to draw her portrait and to define her art. She embraces and adapts to every challenge life gives her. She converts it into real feelings, starting from melancholy to euphoria, from sexuality to innocence, and she'd like to describe it by "pure art." Even if Adina always felt the need to express her creativity in writing and drawing, the fear of falling short and disappointing herself and the others limited her, so she put her visions in a box, and she started working as a lawyer in a bank. She continued the pattern, and her second job was in the Interior Ministry at the International Relationships Department. Her strong beliefs in femininity and feminism and her family values determined her to create a new TV Show format and present it on national television. The show was named Bebe.Ro and was about the unique quality of a woman- being a mother. This way, Adina realized she was being heard, so it made her build her online community, through her blog, which became one of the most read in Romania, being in Top Ten Influencers Relationships Category, for four years already. As she was trying to define herself, she always put together the three words she likes the most: energetic, passion, and love. With these attributes, it was born Reprobable Clothing Brand, maybe her most playful project. About clothes and how important is what we wear, Adina Banea uses to say that: "If you want people to listen to you, there's an important lesson here: Dress the message. Always. The clothes we wear and the way we groom ourselves will change the way other people hear what you say. It will subconsciously tell them if you're like them or if you're different. It will determine whether they listen or ignore. Trust or distrust.This is my stronger belief."
Adina Banea Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Adina Banea.
Adina Banea Design - Happiness Is Suit
Adina Banea Design - Hopes and Beliefs Suit
Adina Banea Design - Renaissance Trench Coat
Designer Interview of Adina Banea:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AB : I've always had a strong passion for art, of all kinds. The main reason of becoming a designer will always be the desire of being heard, because in all my collections I speak and describe life experiences that I dealed with at a certain point. My art is describing myself, body and soul(honesty,integrity,love).
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AB : I could say that my design studio is my home, as I spend a lot of time there. I wouldn't be myself without it, for a long time,I was not feeling complete, but now I do, and that means happiness. I started this business few years ago and I knew from the start that I will be able to give everything for it.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AB : As I already told you, my art represents my body and soul, my visions, my experiences. My designs are made with love, simplicity, enthusiasm and authenticity. Always!
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AB : I chose my brand's name after what I love to design most. "Reprobable" is a french word which means word of censure, being blamed, or not in it's place. That's how I'd describe my designs, being different but still being simple in an open minded way.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AB : My favourite design will be for sure...every design I’ve ever made!
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AB : The first thing I designed was my own apartment, then my "happy place" where I go everyday and I call it "home"- my showroom. I think is very important to feel comfortable and cozy in the places you go to work and relax.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AB : Poetry books, street style blogs and 3D printing.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AB : Creativity is a state of mind, but I also believe that it can be moody as yourself. The most creative I think I am when I empathise with a feeling, a moment, a place, or a person.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AB : Unicity is gonna be a defining word for my designs.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AB : I'm happy, joyful. I'm being transparent and I show my work to the world, that is an amazing feeling, isn't it?
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AB : I feel complete, happy and satisfied.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AB : From my point of view, a design would be successful by being unique, versatile and cozy.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AB : I do not judge other people's designs, I only like or dislike what I see. I'm more judgemental regarding myself, as I'd like to be close to perfection with everything that I'm doing.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AB : I truly think that people should wear what fits them the most, not what "new trends" are about. In this way, I'm sure every designer will have his/her own costumers, because everyone can fit in a place somewhere.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AB : People are starting to be real, to be themselves, Starting from the designs, to the way they act in society. I think this is an amazing thing, and easily, just by feeling they belong to a category, the costumers will feel the same as the designers. Society is changing in a good way and I love it.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AB : My last exhibition was in Bucharest, and my next ones would be in Paris in octomber, when I will Participate also to Paris Fashion Week, which is a Little bit more powerful regarding fashion, for sure.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AB : Well, as I told you, I'm a person who empathises and I always play like an inside game. My inspiration is the world, the feelings I'm getting from people, from my personal life. Lately I had a sad experience in my life and that brought fear to my senses. I've never felt it before, but this is the theme of my upcoming collection.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
AB : My style is filled with authenticity and complementary colours. It can be seen as minimalist, or retro for others. I like to keep the same pattern in every collection but to make something different all the time. Is like you're feeling something from your closet is missing and the new collection is going to bring it to you.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
AB : I was born in Bucharest and I still live here, but I've never felt like home. Not that I don't love my country, but it has some boundaries that are keeping you limited.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AB : I keep my contacts with companies worldwide trough email,phone calls and meetings.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AB : I don’t have this kind of experience so the advice I have for, can be a little bit unprofessional, but I think if a company wants to work with a designer, they should let him be creative and free.They should choose someone with personality and courage to help the company grow.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AB : I usually get inspired by people, personalities and nature. My working process starts by sketching and doing mood boards. The second step represent choosing the most inspiring mood-board and start sketching more, after all comes naturally.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AB : My Jeff Koons ballon dog statue, my Arne Jacobsen egg chair, my bathrobe and some of my romanian artist's paintings.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AB : I love life and coffe, so everyday I start with a big cup of coffee while I read my emails and fashion articles. I go to my studio, which is my second home and I try to be creative every moment.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AB : To trust in their talent and creativity, and to never give up.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AB : The mess market industry would be the negative thing of being a designer, and the social media and technology would be the good thing.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AB : My golden rule is being myself, unique and happy.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AB : Creativity, visions and good knowledge.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AB : I have everything you could imagine in my studio and laptops. I love to keep up with technology.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AB : I wouldn't be able to do it without my team. They are amazing.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AB : This is a tricky question, because it depends a lot. The item itself decides how much time I put in the process of making.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AB : “- Why “ Reprobable”?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AB : When I've met Patricia Field in Berlin. "Sex and the City" is still my favourite movie and I had the chance to meet the woman who styled the wardrobe of the fabulous four ladies, the woman who made everything possible.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AB : People who resonate with my style and visions.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AB : The revolutionary one, because it's unpredictable.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AB : To sell my designs in my favourite concept stores.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AB : I do my own designs, my team is helping me on the social media part and other tasks.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AB : My upcoming collection which is called " lesson 4" and has as a main subject "fear"- in all its forms.
DI: How can people contact you?
AB : Any social media platform, phone calls and emails.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AB : Adina Banea has reached her limit! ( I think i forgot to tell about my sense of humour- Thank you for your interest, time and experience )