Your “artist name”: silje
Your Website: www.mio.webd.pl
How did you get involved in Asian Ball Jointed Doll clothing Designs?
One girl asked me, whether I can draw dollfie for her. I asked what is it? So began my adventure with dollfie.
Describe your line and what styles you create?
I create different styles. I sew that, what I want in the given moment. You can find gowns and simple casual clothes in my collection. Hmm…but I do sew more gowns. J
What do you think people know you best for (like a certain style or size or certain look)?
Really I don’t know ^^’ But…I hope that people think so and know me from good quality clothes and interesting designs.
What Inspires You?
Various things inspire me. It can be other dress, fabric, books and even flowers.
What do you want people to think when they look at your Designs?
I just want that they like my clothes. And it is nice to read: I want such dress for myself! J
What do you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years?
It would be nice to develop my mark and to be more recognises, something like: „Oh! It’s New dress from silje!” „Yes, I know her designs.”
What sorts of things do you enjoy the most about your designs?
I can invent and sew all I want. Only, what limits me are my sewing abilities.
What are your other favorite clothing brands/designers for dolls?
I do not look at the clothes of other brands and designers.
What’s the Best thing about designing and selling doll fashions?
I can buy next dolls and doll accessories such as wigs and shoes for money from sold clothes and commissions.
What’s the most difficult thing about designing and selling fashions?
It is difficult to sew something, that people will like and want to buy. I can design nice dress, but sew it from pink fabric, and not everybody like pink…And I don’t sew one dress in 2 or 3 different colors.
What type of dolls do you enjoy designing for the most (male/female/brands)?
I like sew for girls, SD and MSD.
What is your favorite style to create?
I don’t have favorite style, but most I like to sew dresses, gowns. Dresses for queens, princesses, long, short, short on the front, long on the back etc.
Is there a color palate or patterns that you tend to stick with? Stay away from?
Well…I like red, bordo, pink and black colors most, but I do sew clothes in all colors.
Who would you love to collaborate with? Is there a mold, doll, or company that you prefer to work on?
I would love to collaborate with Rosette School of Dolls.
What is your background? Have you had any special schooling (art school, fashion design, sculpture, painting, fashion, etc)?
I`m a self-taught designer and. I didn’t finish any sewing school and didn’t study fashion. I learn cut-and-try sewing for dolls.
Who are some of your favorite human designers?
I don’t have favorite human designers.
Are there types of fabric that you hate or try to avoid? If so which ones?
I try to avoid fabrics with stretch.
What fabrics do you love to use? Accessories?
I like 100% cotton fabrics and fabric mixed with cotton.
What outfit do you think was your best and worst? Why?
I don’t have best or worst clothes. I like some more, and other less. I sewed once dress with peacock feathers, or several weeks ago I sewed dress in which I formed the fabric as the petals of roses. There was a White Queen and Red Queen dress from my Wonderland Project. Those were one from my most difficult and favourite dresses.
Any tips for the beginner doll fashion maker?
Don’t get discouraged if something goes wrong, if clothes you’ll sew will not fit etc. That happens. Be patient, and don’t think, that you must finish fashion school to sew. The practice acts the master.
When you were a child did you ever work on dolls or create with similar things? If so, what were they?
I sewed for Barbie. I didn’t have purchasable Barbie clothes, just hand made.
Do you have any other interests that might have helped you in your development of customizing ABJD (like customizing other dolls, action figures, etc)? Please tell us about them.
No. I have now interests only for dollfie. I wanted to buy pullip, but don’t know, whether I’ll have time to occupy with that doll.
Do you have any other interests? Collections?
I like to read books. I read often. There are books, which I read several times. I drew, painted and played on the keyboard, but I don’t have much time now to do it.
Tell us about your own dolls. Do you have any? If so how many and which ones? Has your collection impacted your fashion business and if so in what way?
I have now 6 dolls. Topaz Honey Dew, Volks Kun, Zaoll Luv, Rosette Fir and Marguerite, MNF Shushu. Soon I’ll have Topaz Morning Star.
Why choose clothing design as a form of Self Expression?
I always liked to sew and I always liked dolls. Dollfie + sewing is a perfect connection for me J
How long does it take from start to finish on a typical outfit to create and complete?
Usually I need 2 weeks. It can be longer for difficult clothes or less for simple. I don’t hurry with sewing. I want to give so high quality as I can for my customers.
How do you like to work best with a custom order for a client? With total freedom to create your vision, or do you like some feedback/interchange with a client who might have an idea or theme they would like to see realized?
I do like have total freedom, but I want to know, whether the dress should be long or short, color. I like too, when I have some examples, pics, to know what kilent likes.
Are there fashions or styles you would like to make, but haven’t? Why haven’t you?
Not fashions or styles, but my designs. There are some dresses I want to sew, but I don’t have time.
How important are fashion trends to you (i.e. what is going on in real life/human wear) and to your doll clothing? Do other doll seamstresses or fashion trends on the board (or even on other boards, etc) influence you at all?
No. I do not follow trends in the fashion and other doll seamstresses clothing has no influence on this, what do I sew.
Do you take on commissions? If so have you ever turned down any? Are there certain commissions you like or dislike?Yes, I do take commissions.
I have turned down some commissions. I don’t sew for smaller dolls than MSD. And I don’t take commission, if I know, that I will not sew it as good as I want.
Tell us about your family. What do they think about your dolls and your business?
I think they are proud, that I have orders from the whole world for my clothes.
Thank you for the interview, Silje. Our readers will appreciate learning about you and seeing your designs.
