A Few Moments With Giovanna's Leonora Giovanna Arslani
Spend a few minutes with Leonora Giovanna Arslani founder of the shoe and fashion line Giovanna.
It’s great to meet you. Before we talk more about your brand, how are you navigating this time both personally and professionally?
It's so nice to meet you too and thank you for highlighting Giovanna! I have been okay in both places... I am working on adopting a 'che sera sera' attitude. It's easier said than done but it's going well!
I love passion projects—ROSE & IVY was one! Would you say Giovanna is yours?
LA- Absolutely. Passion is the only justification I have for the level of insanity it takes to make up a project for yourself while already holding a full time job.
Who is Giovanna?
Giovanna is my great aunt, she has always been a source of inspiration in my family. She was very cool and very well loved.
What inspired you to start your brand?
I started questioning why I’d wanted to become a designer in the first place. Would I be satisfied working for someone else for my entire life? The fear of regret was a huge driving factor for me.
I love your raffia slides and mules, which are all handmade in Morocco. How did you land on that design and material and was it important for you to produce them there?
Morocco and raffia came first, and the design came after. While honeymooning in Morocco I was introduced to raffia and their ancient weaving technique. I thought it was so special, and sustainable. Raffia is a grass, so it is a natural product and I am able to make the shoes in small batches which I love.
You also offer made-to-order fashion pieces like the Alessia dress—the silhouette is perfect, which also makes it more sustainable. I’d love to know if that was part of your goal to shift to a more slow-fashion approach and keep the environment in mind?
Thank you! I am a fan of the Alessia dress too! You are absolutely correct. Since I am starting now, when the old trend and season ‘rules' are going out the window, I am planning for my designs to have longevity. I will remake the Alessia in a darker color way for fall and wear it with boots. Additionally, the concept of my brand is about building a closet. I don’t know about anyone else out there but I certainly don’t turn my entire closet over each season!
Where do you get the majority of your design ideas?
This is a hard question! There are so many different places/things that inspire me. What is most important to me is that my designs and concepts feel personal. The ideas have to come from a place that is true to me, nostalgia plays a huge role. I have to take something that I know and love and spin it into my concept.
If you could go back in time and live in one fashion era, which one would it be?
If I had to pick only one, I would choose the 70s. But I love the 20s, 60s, and 90s too.
How do you balance both being the Senior Apparel Designer for Lela Rose RTW and Head Designer for Lela Rose Bridal and your own line Giovanna?
Remember my first answer when I told you I was insane? Seriously, it is very important for me to do my best at work (Lela Rose) where I have so many other people counting on me and I do what I can with the rest of my time.
What is next for the brand?
Next up will be a clothing capsule for Fall, which will be a continuation of what came out for spring!