Sonntagsschnack #5 • Named Interview

Named ist vor etwa einem Jahr das erste Mal auf meinem Computer aufgeploppt. Und da war es dann einfach – das moderne, coole finnische Label, das gerade erst letzte Woche die neue Sommer-Kollektion veröffentlichte und wieder mehr interessante Schnitte zeigt, als auf meine To-Sew-Liste passen. Die Schnittmuster von Named sind auf Englisch (und Finnisch) zu kaufen und es gibt solche für Anfänger als auch Experten.
Nachdem ich nun bereits ein paar Teile nach den Schnitten der beiden Schwestern Laura und Saara genäht habe, ist die Begeisterung für das Label ungebrochen und ich konnte es mir nicht verkneifen, die beiden nach einem Interview zu fragen.
Was ich von den beiden wissen wollte und was sie antworten, könnt ihr nun in diesem kleinen Interview lesen.

When was Named founded and what was your motivation to do so?

Named was founded in 2013, when our first collection First Named was launched on 1st of August. The story of Named however started almost a year earlier when we first came up with the idea of having our own pattern label. In the beginning, the whole thing started as a whim, but pretty soon it started to feel like a legit career choice! We have both always been very passionate about sewing and DIY, so starting an own pattern label felt like a very natural move.

Your collections are always composed of multiple sewing patterns, how long do you work on one collection?

From first sketches to a finished range of patterns, one collection takes approximately 6 months to
happen. Of course the first ideas about a certain collection or the theme around a collection can come a lot earlier than that.

You two are sisters, are you always on one mind while working on a collection or do you have differences of opinion? What is your individual distribution of tasks during work?

We are surprisingly unanimous on our style and preferences! That is probably why everything works so well with us. Of course there are some minor disagreements once in a while, but nothing we can’t solve. We have a very clear distribution of tasks: Saara works with all that’s related to pattern making, Laura takes care of the instructions, customer service and social media. All design work is done together, and of course there’s a lot of other stuff related to being an entrepreneur that requires taking care of.

Schnitt: Ronja Dungarees

Where do you get your inspiration for your sewing patterns?

All around! We love to keep our eyes open wherever we go, exploring everything we see – the nature, buildings, people, clothes. We always design each collection around a certain theme, which is very inspiring! Like the latest collection Playground, that was inspired by childhood and childrenswear.

What is the main aspect/criterion for a pattern: function, material, look, design – or a mixture of that?

It’s definitely a mixture of all of these. We love garments that are comfortable, so that’s usually something that we bear in mind when we design new patterns. They should also be easy to wear and to combine with other garments. We also love to try out new techniques and explore with interesting cuts! And in the end, we would like to create designs that last a long time, and that don’t just follow the latest trends.

Schnitt: Maisa Denim Jacket

Why do you create collections rather than single patterns?

Mostly because it’s more fun that way! It’s definitely more fun and inspiring to design small capsule wardrobes instead of just single garments. It allows us to re-invent our brand every season.

What would be an advice for young designers that want to make their own sewing patterns?

We would advice just to go for it! It’s definitely a lot of work to run a business of your own, but it’s also very rewarding, especially in this field. Sewing and DIY people are awesome, so we are very happy to get to work with such a lovely bunch of people!

Schnitt: Helga Wrap Playsuit

Auf den Fotos seht ihr übrigens meine drei Favoriten der neuen Kollektion, die ich unbedingt nähen will. Die Latzhose sieht sehr elegant aus, was ich so bisher noch bei keinem Latzhosenschnitt gesehen habe. Die Jeansjacke wurde aus alten Jeanshosen genäht und ich hab da einen kleinen Stapel liegen, der sich dafür gut eignen würde. Und den Playsuit finde ich für den Sommer einfach cool und ich bin mal gespannt, was für Kreationen ich euch aus dieser Kollektion so präsentieren werde!

Ich hoffe, das kleine Interview hat euch gefallen und auch dieser etwas andere Sonntagsschnack. 😉

Die beiden Schwestern Saara und Laura