MEET LARİS ALARA KİLİMCİ // LAR STUDIO
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in New York, I spent most of my life in Istanbul and I can say Kadıköy is my favorite part of İstanbul. I grew as a young adult at Central Saint Martins in London at a very free environment studying Animation. I relized my passion for patterns and color there, and created LAR Studio with this influence.
How did you start designing shawls?
I was doing serigraphy prints and designs by myself, it was my favorite thing to do at St. Martins. I was playing with colors for hours and away from the screen. Then when I came back to Istanbul and continued at Big Baboli Print House and wanted to see the patterns on different mediums. I think it is important for designs to have meaning and value in today's fast-paced fashion environment.
We always see patterns on your designs, what is your design process?
I am intensely inspired by music and rhythm, actually what I have learned from Animation is to transmit a feeling or an event in seconds, with a scarf if it is a square or a rectangle, you spread these feelings to different parts, and each frame creates a unity and character within itself. The designs of the scarves actually complement each other as a result just like making a music album, where each song stands alone creating a meaning but also creating a united album together. It is not like me to get stuck in a concept, I collect different worlds that I’m inspired from together and combine them with an eclectic style in my collections
Why LAR Studio?
LAR (abbrivated version of Laris), Studio because under the roof of this brand lies also a design studio and a world of pattern creation.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Modern art. Old life styles and designs. Folk and Religious Art. Outsider Art and Architectural buildings. Music. Nature. Characters and houses they have created, and unfortunately Instagram :)
What feed your creativity?
Dancing, individuality, traveling, souvenirs, emotions, color.
What do you love most about your work?
The world of color is very important, creating an utopia away from grey buildings.
Lottie Scarf Tavia Pareo Joan Pareo
Can you describe your style in 3 words?
Dynamic. Sophisticated. Kitsch.
Who inspires you the most?
Roberto Burle Marx, Nasra Şımmeshindi, Yayoi Kusama, Patti Smith, E. Sottsass, Sonia Delanuay, David Hockney, Vera Neumann, Alexander Girard.
What is your life motto?
Leave as much of a mark as you possibly can and be yourself. People who are afraid of feeling aren’t really living.
What are your top favorite 5 items from hipicon?