Interview with the designer of Mellow

by Gioia Gange

Melita Rus is a young Lithuanian alternative jewelry designer, who is already acknowledged in Lithuania and abroad because of her brand Mellow. This is our exclusive Q&A with her. Interview by Raminta Speciute.

When did you decide that you want to be a designer?

Since I was a kid I always loved to paint, draw and do whatever that includes self-expression by art or hand crafting. When I was a teenager I found out about Vilnius Art Academy and I realized that I should decide my future profession, which definitely would be related with art or design. So in that way, during all school time attending a lot of art and design activities after school, I decided that my goal is to get into Vilnius Art Academy and become a fashion designer. So technically, I decided when I was 12-14 years old.

What is the first thing you designed and for who (yourself, a friend…)?

It is a difficult question. As I said before, all my childhood and teenage years I have been crafting all the time. So I can´t remember exactly when and how… As I remember it was some kind of a purse. I was about 15-16 years old. I was just trying out a sewing machine. So it wasn’t made especially for someone because I wasn´t proud of it.

Who’s the first person you show your sketches or tell new idea to?

When I lived with my parents, the first person I showed my ideas and sketches was my Mom. Since I moved out of my home to Vilnius and started to study and live there with my course-mate and roommate, she become the first person to see my sketches and listen to my ideas. And nothing changed up until these days.

Where do you go or do for inspiration? Who inspires you the most?

I guess the biggest inspiration for me is what makes life beautiful and interesting: adventures, music, art, friends and everything, that makes me happy. Sometimes bad things inspire me to create too. It depends on how you react to things. It is said, that creative people express themselves in their art or design pieces. Also there is a different side of inspirations – well designed industrial things. Various everyday use things like an iron, a vacuum cleaners, a washing machine or some parts of a car. Simply saying, usually everything that makes me say ‘wow’ inspire me to create something new.

How does inspiration turn into reality? What is your creative process?

My creative process is very simple – I go to my studio, sit at my desk and start to do my things. No sketches, no planning. Just like that. I guess it’s instinctual.

Do you have any trick to avoid that ‘blank page’ moment when you’re at the beginning of the designing of a new collection? Do you watch the movie, flip an old magazine?

The only trick to avoid that ‘blank page’ is not to push yourself to get new designs. It should be a natural and easy process. You know, it should flow from you without any panic. That’s why my new collection is realized earlier than it should be. For example, I already started my spring/summer jewellery collection.

Who’s your muse your icon, when you create an accessory?

I think it’s more like imaginary persona, who is really self-confident and unique. He, or more she, is similar with historical fashion designer Coco Channel, who shined like a diamond in all that boring crowd. My phenomenon doesn’t care what others think or talk about him or her, cause the most important opinion about oneself is your own. My icon definitely has brilliant sense of style and create his own image. Mellow. Accessories are made for the ones who embrace every second of their exciting lives here and now, the ones who value uniqueness, not the number of carats and hallmark. Not everything that is worth having has a hallmark, and not everything that is eye-catching has carats.

How do you describe your design aesthetics?

Mellow. Is altenative jewellery which is eclectic, unique and unexpected. Mellow. Smells like construction glue or even metal screws, but these accessories opposite to hardware tools associate with daring life style and impeccable style. Mellow. Combine totally different and unusual fabrics in one alternative jewellery piece. Courage is your best accessory, dare to wear Mellow.

Is there any particular detail, fabric, element.. that you use repeatedly in your works? If so, why?

All my jewelry is made our of construction materials. It includes screws, cables and other construction tools. I use them, because that’s the way to make my jewellery more alternative and unusual. I like those details and think they look great in a design.

The material/stone you love the most: leather , silver, pearl…and why?

I guess, there is no most lovable stone or material, because I love everything which is different and unusual.

If you had to design the entire collection using just one color or material, which is the one you would pick?

I would never create the collection using only one material or color. It would be a tragedy for me, who loves to mix materials and combine different colors.

If your accessories had a soundtrack, which songs, artist or composer you would choose?

Amazing question! As for now as I am a little bit more into electro music, it would be deep electro music artist as Ben Khan, Moderat, indie rock band Alt-J. But the most appropriate, I think would be multi-instrumentalist Jack Garratt, who mix acoustic and electro music.

Could you describe a woman who would wear your accessories?

She is stylish and has her own attitude to fashion and style. She doesn’t chase trends blindly, that woman chooses what is best for her own style. These things mean that she is very intelligent and the most important thing is that she doesn’t care what others think about her, cause the most important think is that she likes herself and is self-confident, brave woman. She is the one who embraces every second of her exciting live here and now, the one who value uniqueness, not the number of carats and hallmark. As I said before – not everything that is worth having has a hallmark, and not everything that is eye-catching has carats.

What are your plans for the future in fashion? Are you preparing any new collection or concept right now?

As I said before I’ve been working on new collection and also on some new projects. I prefer to show my results, not talk about them. Let action talk louder than words!

Visit Mellow. page: www.facebook.com/Mellow.