Meet the designer| Melissa Araujo

Hello Loves! This is a little section that I want to start doing. Interviewing designers, artists, stylist, make up artist etc.. about their work, their process, feelings and the good and bad of doing what they love. Because we  know that sometimes the creative industry it is not the easiest one, I'm interested of the process of other people. I know is very different for everyone. Hopefully you enjoy the section :)

The designer I'm going to interview is Melissa Araujo. I found her blog a couple of months ago and I loved her style and designs. Her minimalistic approach to fashion it is very beautiful, fresh and elegant. I was interested when she mentioned in one of my post that she had a career in commerce but change it to become a  Fashion designer, so I was curios about her process:

-Where are you from and where do you live?
I am from Brasil (yes Brasil with an s). I am now based out of Vancouver, in the Western part of Canada. Both countries are very different but beautiful and I draw so much inspiration from both.

-When did you realise that you wanted to be a fashion designer and why?
When I was a kid my mom had an in house seamstress who would come to our place around my birthday and Christmas time to make our outfits. I always had my ideas ready for her to sew them. I think that's where the desire to make my own clothes began. I have two conflicting sides of me: I am very imaginative, always dreaming and creating, but I also have this side that is very action & business oriented which most creative people are not inclined to. The plan was to finish uni (Commerce) and go back home, but by then I was having second thoughts about being behind a desk or anything to do with a non creative job. That's when I decided to take a leap of faith and attend Fashion Design School. Definitely not what my family or society expected of me but I am very happy I did it. Business and Fashion goes hand and hand.

-Describe the feelings you get when you are designing something?
First of all it is very rewarding. I love putting my ideas on to paper and seeing the final result on a person. I am usually really excited at first doing the research, making a mood board and taking care of the initial preparations is fun. Once I select the designs I am going to produce, the fabric and colours then I start to get a bit nervous hoping I made the right choices. I am a control freak and I am hands on with the whole process from beginning to end. I go through real highs, low lows and pretty much everything in between. But definitely rewarding is the feeling that stays in my mind every time.

-What is the most difficult thing about being a fashion designer?
Nowadays, it is that everyone thinks that they can be a fashion designer. From celebrities to musicians to models and bloggers. Most didn't go to school for it and it is hard as an independent designer to compete with this new reality. I am all for raw talent, you don not need to go to school, some people just have that ability, they are creative and full of brilliant ideas. Another thing is the difficulty trying to compete with fast fashion and its pricing. I am concerned with sustainability. I make everything in Canada, my fabrics are organic or bamboo cotton, materials and production like that are more costly than outsourcing everything somewhere else.

- In your experience what is what you love the most about being a designer
and what is the least?
I love the creative process, being able to imagine things and how that transcends reality. Then taking my ideas and creating something tangible and real; I can't get enough of seeing someone (friend or stranger) wearing one of my pieces, it gives me a high like no other.

The part that I enjoy least about designing, one that most people don't understand is that during the process of making a collection, its your baby for 6 months and then you have to let it go.  It can feel pretty empty when the whole thing is done. I am always moving forward and thinking of different projects otherwise it can be a hard transition.

- Do you have any advice that you could give to any aspiring designers?
Be true to who you are, know what you want your brand to represent. Work hard and don't give up when the odds are against you. Have goals and be focused on achieving them. I try and remind myself of those things everyday.

- Do you have any motto?
"Less is more". I incorporate a minimalist approach with a muted pallet in my designs and personal style with clean lines and silhouettes.

Her style is really cool too!

Visit her website here! and her blog here!