Yesterday I spent the afternoon with our Boticca style hunters Chiara and Kiyan at the Liverpool John Moores graduation catwalk show. As I followed them around trying to look as knowledgeable and au fait with emerging talent as them, I decided that if I am to learn how to spot talent, I really do need to ask the experts. So I did, and here’s what they had to say.
A stand that caught our eye
Graduate Fashion Week Day 1
Our Style Hunter Chiara
What do you look for when you are style hunting?
Kiyan: First and foremost, I’m after something unique. Whether it is the designer’s background, the inspirations, the materials or even the techniques used, I’m looking for at least one thing that is completely singular to that designer. Accessories are what add that touch of uniqueness to an outfit so when we’re style hunting, we have to find something that stands out!
Also, I want to be able to feel something when I look at their work: whether it is awe, happiness, shock or even fear, I like accessories that incite a reaction from those who see it (and even by those who wear them). At Boticca, we’re all about pieces with a meaning so we need to find designers and accessories that really have a story to tell and stand for something.
Chiara: I always look for designs that have the power to stimulate the imagination that tell a story by taking you to a certain special little universe.
At the same time, I want the pieces to be suitable for everyday wear and be meaningful in the sense that they are connecting the wearer with themselves, their dreams and thereby with the outside world. That little bit of magic that I believe we all need.
I want people to find on Boticca some unique accessories that they can pair with any outfit and in any style. Accessories that make them feel that they are wearing something unique while feeling comfortable and confident in their everyday practical life.
What is your process?
Kiyan & Chiara: When we come across a designer we like, we meet with them (or chat on the phone or via Skype if they’re abroad) to see their pieces and find out more about them: what is their background, what makes them unique, how involved they are at each step of the design process, where do the materials come from, what kind of quality controls they have in place and pricing. If everything checks out, we then verify the photography as well as the packaging, shipping and customer service level of the designer to ensure that our customers will have a great experience interacting with them pre- and post-purchase. And if all of that meets our criteria, we provide the designer with an account and they can began selling on Boticca!
Are you typically drawn to similar things or do you have different tastes?
Kiyan: I’d like to think we have different tastes. I find Chiara to be a lot more eclectic than I am! J However, when we are style hunting, we both take our own personal tastes out of the equation because our customers are pretty much evenly spread across the world with very diverse tastes. I think that diversity is apparent when you look at our roster of designers.
Chiara: The most fun and stimulating part when we style hunt comes when we both have different ideas about a designer’s work or interpret the work differently. I love finding myself ending up buying and wearing pieces from designers that initially didn’t jump to my eye and likewise, I love when Kiyan does the same!
What type of things do you find yourselves going for each time?
Kiyan: I have to admit, I’m a sucker for really contemporary pieces! I love designers that push the boundaries of imagination and incorporate art into their work. You know, pieces that just get you lost in your thoughts! I’ve also developed a weird hat fetish lately…
Chiara: I have a big fascination for old school metal smiths’ work.
What has been your greatest style hunting moment?
Kiyan: My greatest style hunting moment is definitely when I see the impact we have on a designer who is finally able to find his or her audience and customers. I remember speaking to one designer on the phone a few weeks ago who told me that she was quitting her part-time job to focus full-time on her true love and passion: accessories design. Until joining Boticca, she hadn’t realized that so many people around the world were interested in her work and that lit her creative flame once again. We should all be able to do what we love in life.
Chiara: I think that my first conscious style hunting joy has been when I first came across Boticca when it was still quite “undiscovered” and small, with its “old look” before our public launch last October.
I remember spending hours on my computer being blown away by the selection of around 100 unique designers. In particular, I first was so intrigued by some of Selda Okutan’s rings. Also, that was the first time I came across Suzanna Dai’s exotic and travel-inspired pieces and it was amazing. It felt a bit like jumping onboard the most glamorous carriage on the Oriental Express!
It may still be January, with the last dregs of the sales still be in the shops, but at Boticca we’re bored with our winter wardrobes and aching to try out a fresh new look for Spring. And after a winter of pared-back minimalism, this Spring/Summer is the season to make a statement.
