Electric purples and embroidered jellyfish: wander through Romanian design with @ruxandra_shop
26 May 2021
Text:
Paula Erizanu
Electric purples, dusty pinks, 3D printed embroidered frogs, seals, and jellyfish: @ruxandra_shop, the Instagram profile for Romanian independent fashion brand Ruxandra, is a whirlpool of creativity. Adding a splash of humour to its elegantly shaped cotton and silk wear, Ruxandra Gheorghe, the label’s founder and designer, takes inspiration from a plethora of sources, from the beauty of nature to sign language.
“As I grew up in a free environment, close to nature, I sought for methods of working that would bring me back to it,” Ruxandra told The Calvert Journal. “I committed to use only 100 per cent natural textiles and developed botanical dyeing techniques that use specially grown or local flora. After all, nature is the best designer and we should first respect her if we want to live a life in harmony with the elements.” Going beyond the use of materials and subject matter, one of Ruxandra’s dreams is setting up an outdoor studio. Working in the open air is “uplifting for the body and spirit”, she says.
A former set designer and artistic director, Ruxandra trained as a draper at École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in Paris and as a bespoke tailor at Thomas von Nordheim in London before setting up the Bucharest-based brand four years ago.
