There's been a couple of new websites that have launched recently that are focusing on selling Irish products and this week I was lucky enough to get to interview Alisa Afkhami who is the Founder and Creative Director of one of these new sites, The Ireland Shop.
NG: How did the idea for the website come about?
Alisa : I've been visiting Ireland with my family every since I can remember as it is a place we have always felt strongly connected to as my mother is of Irish heritage. We would spend our visits walking on the stunning beaches, surfing, fishing and walking into the hills. On our visits we would always bring home a car full of knitted jumpers, crystal and pottery and twenty years on we are still using them at home and they still look brand new. I now wear the Aran jumper my mum bought 20 years ago and my younger sister is wearing the knitted jumpers I wore as a child. They are classics so they work for every generation and stand the test of time.
I was after returning from County Mayo last summer that I realized there was no place online promoting Irish creatives in a contemporary way or promoting the story behind the product. I wanted a site that would promote Ireland's rich creative and creative heritage, unite tradition with contemporary design and to move away from the shamrock's and leprechauns you see so often. The idea is to pave the way for the next generation of innovative Irish design and to represent the Ireland I know and love.
After the "lightbulb" moment in September 2010, The Ireland Shop was born.
NenaghGal: What is your background, what were you doing before?
Alisa: I studied Graphic Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and also at the Fashion Institute in New York City. After graduating I became a freelance graphic designer and art director for global fashion brands- art directing photo shoots, videos, branding and working with organisations at London Fashion Week such as the Vauxhall Fashion Scout which was all about finding and promoting emerging talent.
It was a combination of these experiences that brought The Ireland Shop idea together. Having a background in graphics was a bonus but when studying in New York I got first hand experience of how proud Irish Americans are of their Irish heritage, even generations who had never been to Ireland. Working for fashion brands which revolve around seasons and trends, sent me looking for classic products that go beyond each seasons "must-haves".
NenaghGal: Do you have a partner or are you doing this all yourself?
Alisa: My business partner Tracy McCarthy is also of Irish heritage and shares my vision and love of Ireland. Through my background in art direction I was able to call on great friends who are photographers, makeup artists and copywriters and who have been instrumental in helping me put The Ireland Shop website together. We also had great support from supermodel Erin O'Connor who like us, is of Irish heritage, and is a great supporter of our brand and concept.
NG: How do you see this developing in the future?
Alisa: This is only the beginning. We have plans to bring on lots more artisans, craftsmen and designers ranging from clothing, pottery, glass, jewellery, home wears and food.We want to promote not just heritage brands but emerging creatives. We will be spending the early part of 2012 sourcing new creatives and we welcome them to get in touch with us if they would like to collaborate.
Plans are underway to develop our online magazine to provide rich content showcasing the best of Ireland with articles on our creatives, interviews, features and all round inspiration. We have other ideas in the pipeline but we have to keep those top secret for now.
NG: Will you be adding other products? In the home section, a favourite category of mine, I notice you are selling Orla Kiely - I know she is Irish but aren't her products mass produced outside of Ireland? Do you think you'll be selling Irish produced pottery and ceramics in the future?
Alisa: Yes the early part of 2012 is going to be spent sourcing more products from emerging designer to heritage brands, ranging across clothing, pottery, glass, jewellery, home wears, and food. Orla Kiely is an iconic Irish designer and we feel she has contributed hugely to promoting contemporary Irish design, for this we felt she should be included on our site as we want to promote both big and small Irish creatives. Yes, we do want Irish produced pottery and ceramics in the future and are already in talks with a number of creatives.
This has been fascinating. Do check out the site- you can certainly see Alisa's fashion influence - the photography and styling is beautifully done and I look forward to seeing how the site develops and what products she adds to the mix. I'm sure many of you will see her at Showcase in 2012 where I expect she'll be "shopping" for new additions to the site or by all means contact her through the site and get on board!
NG: How did the idea for the website come about?
Alisa : I've been visiting Ireland with my family every since I can remember as it is a place we have always felt strongly connected to as my mother is of Irish heritage. We would spend our visits walking on the stunning beaches, surfing, fishing and walking into the hills. On our visits we would always bring home a car full of knitted jumpers, crystal and pottery and twenty years on we are still using them at home and they still look brand new. I now wear the Aran jumper my mum bought 20 years ago and my younger sister is wearing the knitted jumpers I wore as a child. They are classics so they work for every generation and stand the test of time.
I was after returning from County Mayo last summer that I realized there was no place online promoting Irish creatives in a contemporary way or promoting the story behind the product. I wanted a site that would promote Ireland's rich creative and creative heritage, unite tradition with contemporary design and to move away from the shamrock's and leprechauns you see so often. The idea is to pave the way for the next generation of innovative Irish design and to represent the Ireland I know and love.
After the "lightbulb" moment in September 2010, The Ireland Shop was born.
NenaghGal: What is your background, what were you doing before?
Alisa: I studied Graphic Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London and also at the Fashion Institute in New York City. After graduating I became a freelance graphic designer and art director for global fashion brands- art directing photo shoots, videos, branding and working with organisations at London Fashion Week such as the Vauxhall Fashion Scout which was all about finding and promoting emerging talent.
It was a combination of these experiences that brought The Ireland Shop idea together. Having a background in graphics was a bonus but when studying in New York I got first hand experience of how proud Irish Americans are of their Irish heritage, even generations who had never been to Ireland. Working for fashion brands which revolve around seasons and trends, sent me looking for classic products that go beyond each seasons "must-haves".
NenaghGal: Do you have a partner or are you doing this all yourself?
Alisa: My business partner Tracy McCarthy is also of Irish heritage and shares my vision and love of Ireland. Through my background in art direction I was able to call on great friends who are photographers, makeup artists and copywriters and who have been instrumental in helping me put The Ireland Shop website together. We also had great support from supermodel Erin O'Connor who like us, is of Irish heritage, and is a great supporter of our brand and concept.
NG: How do you see this developing in the future?
Alisa: This is only the beginning. We have plans to bring on lots more artisans, craftsmen and designers ranging from clothing, pottery, glass, jewellery, home wears and food.We want to promote not just heritage brands but emerging creatives. We will be spending the early part of 2012 sourcing new creatives and we welcome them to get in touch with us if they would like to collaborate.
Plans are underway to develop our online magazine to provide rich content showcasing the best of Ireland with articles on our creatives, interviews, features and all round inspiration. We have other ideas in the pipeline but we have to keep those top secret for now.
NG: Will you be adding other products? In the home section, a favourite category of mine, I notice you are selling Orla Kiely - I know she is Irish but aren't her products mass produced outside of Ireland? Do you think you'll be selling Irish produced pottery and ceramics in the future?
Alisa: Yes the early part of 2012 is going to be spent sourcing more products from emerging designer to heritage brands, ranging across clothing, pottery, glass, jewellery, home wears, and food. Orla Kiely is an iconic Irish designer and we feel she has contributed hugely to promoting contemporary Irish design, for this we felt she should be included on our site as we want to promote both big and small Irish creatives. Yes, we do want Irish produced pottery and ceramics in the future and are already in talks with a number of creatives.
This has been fascinating. Do check out the site- you can certainly see Alisa's fashion influence - the photography and styling is beautifully done and I look forward to seeing how the site develops and what products she adds to the mix. I'm sure many of you will see her at Showcase in 2012 where I expect she'll be "shopping" for new additions to the site or by all means contact her through the site and get on board!
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