Q&A Vangelica Cola Paritsi | Creative Director
Meet Vangelica, Creative Director at Melbourne-based fashion label Halsinky and Co-Owner of store Halsinky Project. She completed her bachelor degree in Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne, has worked freelance in event management, photo shoots and film production and has directed Halsinky from the beginning.
Name: Vangelica Cola Paritsi Nick name: Vun
Profession: Creative Director at Halsinky and Co-Owner of store Halsinky Project
Location: Fitzroy in Melbourne, Australia
Passions:
Travel travel travel, taking photographs, discovering new and old music of different varieties.
I get my inspirations from:
The divinity of the world and all it has to offer, my dear friends and family, being challenged by said dear friends and family, getting back to roots, Fellini’s films, passing on joy and positivity to others, and life in general with its little eccentricities, you just never know who or what’s around the corner.
And this clip called Prisencolinensinainciusol by Adriano Celentano:
How I got my break: My sister and business partner Vicky, I have a lot to thank her for.
My top tricks of the trade:
Be positive, surround yourself with people who are inspiring and positive, learn from your mistakes and strive to create the perfect life balance of work, rest and play.
My style in a sentence:
Love a good high waisted skirt, love my head gear, throw in a silk or big chunky wool scarf , love my mum’s hand-knitted attire, don’t forget the floral, sunglasses are always necessary, only red lipstick and I don’t think I can ever have enough dresses.
Bet you didn’t know I can: Speak Arumanian
My latest project is about: Ideas for photographing Spring/Summer
My last purchase: A spanakopita from Melissa’s
My current favourite mecho items: Tattooed Lego and United Nude Shoes
Travel destination and tips:
Destinations: Rome, Napoli, Dubrovnik, Berlin, Budapest, Arizona, Phi Phi Island… too many divine places to mention!
Tips:
1) Be alert not alarmed
2) Get thee to as many different music festivals as you can in the European Summer.
3) If you’re in the States, don’t get fat because it’s actually easy to do, and further to that if you’re in the States, you MUST take a road trip. Doesn’t matter where – just get out of the cities. The USA is a feast for the senses.
Pssst… One time I… met Pauline Hanson
The mecho team invites you to continue the conversation below with Vun during September… Make it fun! Post comments with your own free personal Gravatar
NOTE: ARCHIVE ONLY from Sept-10. You may leave a comment but please note Vun is no longer actively responding to any questions post 30 Sept-10.
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9 comments
9 Comments Add your own
1.
Shiralee Coleman | September 1st, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I heart Halsinky x
2.
Anna | September 1st, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Love your name Vangelica Cola Paritsi! It’s so exotic! What made you guys name your label Halsinky by the way? Sort of reminds me of Helsinki – the Finnish capital, is there any correlation there??
3.
Tegan | September 6th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Hi Vangelica,
How does a typical week look like for you? I want to be you!
Tegan
4.
Vangelica Cola Paritsi | September 8th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Hi Anna,
Thanks re my name, I love it too! We named the label Halsinky for the phonetic sound (we loved the sound of Helsinki but as I soon discovered you can’t trademark a city)! So then we changed the spelling to reflect the sound but then it also became a play on the way Melbournians speak – apparently people can pick a Melbournian via the fact that we pronounce our e’s as a’s??
5.
Mia | September 13th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Love your stuff! Are you going to open any store in Sydney?
6.
Kaylie | September 14th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Love you’re work! Halsinky clothes rock my world! xx
7.
Vangelica Cola Paritsi | September 14th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Hey Tegan,
Thanks for your comment!
I don’t really have a typical week so here’s a list of things I do in general:
a) manage all production/creative elements of Halsinky and this includes a number of things such as liaising with design team, sourcing and selecting fabrics, sample fittings, spec measurements, working closely with our production company overseas to ensure QC
b) frequent travel to Sydney, Hong Kong, China and Europe for business
c) trend research and analysis
d) maintaining all online communication for Halsinky/Halsinky Project – Website, Facebook, Twitter
e) Liaising with PR to raise media and public profile of Halsinky/Halsinky Project
f) Styling, producing and photographing look book and wholesale photo shoots
g) Set up of trade show stands and attending trade shows both in Australia and abroad
h) Hiring, training and managing of staff and rosters
i) Sourcing and buying items for Halsinky Project both overseas and from local designers and suppliers
j) All administrative tasks related to operating a business
And really, the list goes on…
XX V
8.
Vangelica Cola Paritsi | September 14th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Hi Mia/Kaylie!
Thanks for your positive feedback! It’s this kind of feedback that keeps me motivated! Thoughts have crossed our minds about opening in Sydney as Sydneysiders love our stuff but we shall see….join our mailing list and stay tuned via our website! http://www.halsinkyproject.com
9.
Charlie M | September 20th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Hi Vangelica,
Great work – what are the trends for Spring? Love your hats and wish people would wear them more often – not only to the Races and on beach holidays – but on the street as back in the 30′s! Charlie M xoxox
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