Q&A with Saako: Mediterranean Essence

Posted by: Verónica Maya

Versatile, handcrafted and unique….Saako is the brand that brings age old Portuguese artisan traditions to the present day fashionista of Barcelona with fun and easy-to-wear Mediterranean necklace designs.

AGORIQUE had the chance to get to know them and the secret behind their distinctive accessory designs.

A: What is Saako? Where did the brand name come from?

S: Saako came about when the paths of four talented individuals crossed out of pure chance in an apartment in the Gótico area of Barcelona.

Saako was the name chosen by our designers but it doesn’t really have any specific meaning, we give it our own meaning really.

A: What makes Saako designs so special?

S: Saako pieces are specially made and not mass produced in factories; our designs are the result of a handcrafted process. They are all limited edition because the materials used are reused cotton which makes our brand an environmentally sustainable.

Our designs are inspired by simple day-to-day life but that doesn’t make them any less special. These are the things that inspire us here at Saako.

A: Can you tell us a bit about the current Saako SS13 collection?

S: The new SS13 collection is inspired by the Mediterranean. The photo shoot took place on a beach just outside of Barcelona and it was fantastic because the entire Saako team was able to attend!

This collection is full of summery tones and designs for women who want to look great even when lounging on the beach. The headscarves Mia and Indie are our star pieces from this collection and have been really popular with our fans.

A: You have a number of different styles in each collection, which we love! From your lines, what would you say is Saako’s staple product?

S: The Scarflace piece is our most classic piece regardless of the season because it is great for both summer and winter. We have several different versions for the each collection.

A: Who is the Saako girl? Can you describe her style on a night out with her girl friends?

S: She is confident and sure of herself and likes to add a special something to her style using innovative pieces from our collection. She is easygoing, natural and above all stylish!

A: Any new projects pr collaborations in the pipeline?

S: We recently did a collaboration with the trainer shop Sivasdescalzo and Reebok and had some amazing results which are coming soon via our social networks! Stay Tuned!

SAAKO is always open to new possibilities and collaborations so we will definitely be seeing more of this.

A: Speaking of the future, could you give us a little preview of the FW1314 collection?

S: It’s a powerful collection which will definitely leave you gobsmacked! We have innovated on a lot of the designs and given the image of our brand a real twist. You will have to wait and see 😉

A: What is Saako’s motto?

S: Create, create and create some more.

Thanks Saako! Loved catching up!

Check out Saako’s SS13 Collection here and follow them on Facebook and Twitter today.

Q&A with ABO London: The Story Behind the Scarves

Posted by: Rebecca Bosanquet

We caught up with Kazakhstan-born Aliya Boranbayeva and Aizhan Bodanova to hear the story behind their label ABO London. The label was born from a passion to fuse their rich cultural heritage with the colorful, dynamic feel of London to create an exclusive label of locally sourced, ethically made, limited-edition, luxury silk scarves using high quality eco-friendly fabrics.

AGORIQUE fell in love with each and every one of the scarf designs. Each scarf tells a different story based on Aliya’s original artwork. Meet the lovely and talented designers come artists behind this fresh and fabulous brand.

A: Could you tell us a little more about what ABO represents? How did you come up with the name?

ABO: ABO London is an ethical luxury brand that makes everything in the UK. It represents things that are art related and unique, of finest quality and high class. My friend Aizhan and I set up the brand last year in London and used the first letters of our names and surnames for the brand name. As we created the brand in London we included the city’s name in the brand’s name so that’s how ABO London was born.

A: What makes each ABO London design so unique? 

ABO: Each design we produce is a limited edition. Our designs are quite artistic and impressionistic. We use art and technology to create beautiful and wearable products using natural silk and wool. In our interior accessories we also use natural silk, cotton and velvet.

A: Who is the ABO London woman?

ABO: ABO London woman is free spirited, confident and sweet, she lives life to the full and loves intensely. Aware of fashion and art, she is stylish and elegant, classy and modern at the same time.

A: The ABO London woman is going on a date with her boyfriend on a Saturday night, what is she wearing and how is she sporting her ABO London pieces?

ABO: It depends on the weather and the place. If she is going out in London at this time of the year she needs a warm scarf like Caspian Sea that can be styled in so many creative ways and keep her warm.

 

If she’s going out in Barcelona or Paris in spring she can just wear classical size scarves like Paris, Cherry Garden or Venice which add color to any outfit.

A: What was your first best seller product?

ABO: We launched in May 2012 and one our bestselling products was the Dune Moonlight scarf. The design is so interesting and it can be anything. It has different shades of pale grey, blue and violet colors. The size is just perfect and it is hand-finished.

A: Tell us a bit more about your SS13 collection… Which one is the best seller today?

ABO: The SS13 collection has scarves of bigger sizes. It has more abstract designs and the fabrics that are used are silk and wool. There was a tendency for long wide scarves like Urban Network and Caspian Sea.

A:Can you give us a little sneak peak of your FW1314? What’s the inspiration behind this collection?

It will be very different from what we already had. It will be more abstract and bold, no ‘romance’, just ‘drama’.

A: Any current projects/collaborations you can share with our readers? Any plans for expanding the product line?

ABO: Recently we collaborated with Cyrine Aromatherapie on interior accessories. We created hand painted silky hearts filled with lavender, ylang ylang and jasmine dried flowers.

We are changing our website as we expanded our product line adding interior accessories like cushions and stationery. We also had offers to create sarongs or light simple dresses. But its all under consideration and in the planning process.

A: What is the one accessory you never leave home without?

ABO: Scarf!

I would also like to add that some ABO London scarves are very appealing to men. Triangle double-sided scarves can be used as cravats and pocket scarves. We have a client in Zurich who bought several of those to wear to work.

Thank you ABO London! We loved your scarves before but fell even more in love with your designs with stories behind them.

Check out ABO London’s full collection here. Our favorite is the Urban Network scarf, which one do you like best?