Who the heck?
I don't want to say too much and talk away all the poetry so I'll just quote Voltaire: "Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position but certainty is an absurd one." I like a good surprise. I like to start things not knowing really where I'm going to end up. Yes, this is an uncomfortable position but it keeps things un-boring. I like that moment of discovery when fail turns the corner into illumination and success.
Water Air Industry began in 2012 after I left my company WAi in Italy (I'm from the US). Before that, my Italian partner and I produced a line of clothing and accessories (bags, shoes, belts, bijoux, etc…) for about 8 or 9 years in Parma, Italy. This is where I cut my teeth on designing, producing, and selling dry goods. It's a tough place to learn as Italians don't suffer fools of fashion lightly (or fools of any ilk). But there aren't many locales more synonymous with quality and fashion than Italy. It was a great foundation upon which to start the current project, that is, Water Air Industry.
Let me explain the somewhat split personality of the shop, with both textiles and accessories and not one or the other. My interest in textiles comes from the beginning period of the Italian company. Our start was actually collecting and selling old ethnic textiles and silks, and we traveled quite a bit in Asia searching them out. As we evolved, we started repurposing those items into our own creations, eventually dropping the "ethnic" flare altogether and moving distinctly into Fashion with a capital F. At the time, the bohemian look was on the wane in Europe so it was a smart move.
Nowadays, I am no longer living in Italy but in Thailand. I'm not so sure or concerned with what is trendy. I like to let instinct guide me. From a satisfaction perspective, it's a smart move.
Being closer to the source for a lot of the textiles I purchase and sell, or use to create what-have-you, has felt like a kid in a candy store and I continue to search them out. And I also keep on designing accessories, working with my hands, trying to surprise myself with a new creation of some type.
Last but not least, lest this be all about me, my wife is now an integral part of the process and company and we work together on some of the projects…and simply side by side on others.
Cool. ...I hope you concur.
Water Air Industry began in 2012 after I left my company WAi in Italy (I'm from the US). Before that, my Italian partner and I produced a line of clothing and accessories (bags, shoes, belts, bijoux, etc…) for about 8 or 9 years in Parma, Italy. This is where I cut my teeth on designing, producing, and selling dry goods. It's a tough place to learn as Italians don't suffer fools of fashion lightly (or fools of any ilk). But there aren't many locales more synonymous with quality and fashion than Italy. It was a great foundation upon which to start the current project, that is, Water Air Industry.
Let me explain the somewhat split personality of the shop, with both textiles and accessories and not one or the other. My interest in textiles comes from the beginning period of the Italian company. Our start was actually collecting and selling old ethnic textiles and silks, and we traveled quite a bit in Asia searching them out. As we evolved, we started repurposing those items into our own creations, eventually dropping the "ethnic" flare altogether and moving distinctly into Fashion with a capital F. At the time, the bohemian look was on the wane in Europe so it was a smart move.
Nowadays, I am no longer living in Italy but in Thailand. I'm not so sure or concerned with what is trendy. I like to let instinct guide me. From a satisfaction perspective, it's a smart move.
Being closer to the source for a lot of the textiles I purchase and sell, or use to create what-have-you, has felt like a kid in a candy store and I continue to search them out. And I also keep on designing accessories, working with my hands, trying to surprise myself with a new creation of some type.
Last but not least, lest this be all about me, my wife is now an integral part of the process and company and we work together on some of the projects…and simply side by side on others.
Cool. ...I hope you concur.