Pieces with a story: the vintage blouses and accessories from Spanish brand Sabellar

A few months ago I came across Sabellar, a beautifully curated online concept store for artisan made products and vintage clothing. I fell in love with their philosophy and their gorgeous vintage blouses and was so excited when the founder Maria agreed on an interview.

How would you describe Sabellar in one sentence?

Sabellar is an online fashion and decoration concept store that pays tribute to the Mediterranean way of life (my family and I are Spaniards), to our history and the craftsmanship of local artisans.

When did you decide to create Sabellar and why?

I founded Sabellar two years ago. I wanted to celebrate Spanish craftsmanship and show how contemporary, glamourous and artistic it can be, even if they same techniques have been used for centuries. I started to source and meet several artisans and realized how important it was to tell the story behind their products. I wanted people to know how much time it takes to make them, and how much care and skill there is behind the production process.

What products do you offer and where do you source them?

Most of our products are from Spain, in particular the Island of Mallorca. All products on www.sabellar.com have a story. We offer beautiful, locally crafted products. They range from women’s accessories to home decoration and come from small family run businesses.

We also sell unique vintage clothing. The majority is made of beautiful Majorcan cotton and linen blouses from the early 20th century. I would say they are our bestsellers.

Where are your products available?

Online on www.sabellar.com but also in a few selected Japanese stores such as Mariet, World, Sen to Sence and Pamie.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I wake up at 6am and always have a glass of warm water with lemon juice and some ginger. Then I meditate for 5-10 minutes before I plan out the day ahead. Once my daughter has left for school (that is usually at 8.15am) I begin to work, either from home or in a café close by. It is important to go out and see people now and then.

I am definitely a morning person so those first hours in the day are the most productive ones for me. I use them to source new products, write and carry out any other creative tasks I need to do. At noon I go to Bikram yoga or exercise at the gym. After that I see my husband for lunch and then continue with work. My afternoons are usually filled with admin tasks and wrapping orders.

I pick up my daughter at 5.30pm and make sure I can spend the rest of the evening with her. Before I go to bed I check my inbox one more time (as a lot of my clients are in the US and Japan) and think about things I need to do the following day. I then read a bit or watch a series on Netflix.

What is your favourite part of being a business owner?

That I can control my time. Having my own schedule and being able to work everywhere is a luxury (but also a double-edge sword!).

What would you recommend new to business owners? Is there anything in particular they need to consider before they start their own company?

Setting up your own business is not easy and can become quite lonely sometimes. Don’t underestimate the work load. You definitely work more than when you work for someone else as you always think about new products, new campaigns and things you need to sort out etc. It can be exhausting and that is why it is so important that when you work on your business schedule that you also plan in time for yourself and your family.

Also, communicate! There is not much point in having a great product if you nobody knows about it.

What is your definition of Heiterkeit (cheerfulness)?

It’s my daughter’s loud laughter. Heiterkeit to me also means to have my mind at peace, to be happy with myself and what I have in this moment.

Images: dosmasenlamesa.com for Sabellar

Interview: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine

A seed to table story: an interview with Margrit De Colle, founder of Vom Hügel

It was her love for wild flowers that led Margrit De Colle to start her own business Vom Hügel, the first (certified) organic flower farm in Austria, in 2010. Since then many things have changed and the once simple farm has turned into a place where craftmanship, teaching, learning and indulgence meet on a regular basis. Margrit explains in an interview with heiter what Vom Hügel stands for, what it offers and how it adds cheerfulness to her own life and the lives of others.

Tell us a little bit about you and Vom Hügel

Vom Hügel is German for ''From Hill''. In Italian it’s De Colle which is also my surname. My first name is Margrit as in marguerites, flowers I already loved as a little girl.

I run my small business Vom Hügel in the province of Styria, Austria. The farm is on three hectares of land, surrounded by another three hectares of meadows, forests and nature. We cultivate organic flowers, herbs, edible flowers and old types of vegetables.

People and nature play key roles in our business, as do flowers and craft. We have a wide range of products on offer including, floral decorations, workshops and trainings. Last year we also opened our own little garden café.

Margrit De Colle

When did you start Vom Hügel and why?

Our project started in 2010 and stems from my love of flowers, in particular those that can be found in gardens and on meadows. Picking flowers and turning them into something beautiful was my dream as a little girl. Even though it is part of my daily job now, I remain very passionate about it.

I started off by studying fashion and then sociology. Following my studies I had several different jobs across different sectors, PR, vocational training and event planning. In 2003 I had my son Marco and in 2005 my daughter Maria.

In time I began to work with flowers and the more I worked with them the more disappointed I got. I hardly spent any time on meadows anymore. All I got to work with were industrial flowers that had never seen soil or sun. I had no emotional connection to those ''produced flowers'' and yearned for more.

I wanted to learn about the story behind flowers, the people who work with them and also Mother Nature and the seasons. I wanted to create something beautiful that was seasonal, fair and organic.  In order to get there, I had to start my own project and plant my own organic flowers. I wanted to teach about the things you find in nature and what you can do with them, so I gave the first workshops in my kitchen at home.

What sets Vom Hügel apart from other businesses?

We only work with things we produce ourselves. All our wreaths, products we sell on markets, everything we create for weddings and everything we use in our workshops is cultivated and harvested by us. To me, seasonal limits are creative challenges and particularly special because of our location. (Vom Hügel is located in South-Eastern Styria, Austria). Even in January you can find so many natural things you can use, you just have to look out for them.

We have a wholesome approach. Everything we use for bouquets or salads that are served in the garden café have a ''Seed to Table'' story. We plant the seeds, look after the young plants and harvest with love and respect.

What can one learn in your workshops?

We teach how to plant your own organic flowers and vegetables as well as edible flowers. You can also learn how to make bouquets, table decorations and wreaths for yourself, intensive courses are available for a number of things. Now and then we also invite guest speakers to teach about arts and crafts. All workshop attendees gather the things they need for their pieces themselves. They experience what it means to tread lightly and make things themselves. It’s always a joy to watch them proudly go home with their pieces after a workshop with us.

What else can one discover on your flower farm?

Cats, dogs and a lot of nature.

We give guided tours in our garden, organise workshops for children, serve homemade treats in our garden café (you can also book it for small parties) and invite people to watch us make our table decorations, bouquets etc. (Thurs-Sun, 8am-8pm)

What flowers are ideal for a spring wreath?

I love to keep it simple and use branches from willow trees or cornels. Something natural made from pussy willows, dried grass and moss is gorgeous too. Around this time of year it’s also great to use blooming hellebores, small hyacinths and daffodils finished off with moss and branches from fruit trees.  

What can Vom Hügel expect this year?

New workshops, for example ''Edible Flowers'', ''The Return of Dried Flowers'', ''Bringing Nature Home'', ''Lettering and Sketching Notes''.In our café we’re going to introduce the Creative Breakfast which is obviously ''Seed to Table''.

How would you describe the perfect heiter (cheerful) moment?

Watching the first flowers bloom, which is particularly lovely after a long cold period.

Interview.Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine

Images: vom huegel