Welcome to today's special interview with the talented designer, Anca Cernea. Known for her practical and decorative creations, Anca skillfully blends Romanian traditional motifs with modern functionality. Whether it's elegant accessories or refined design objects, her works exude a unique beauty, where traditional elements intertwine with everyday utility.

During this interview, we will explore Anca's creative journey, discovering what inspires her remarkable creations and how traditional crafting and decorative techniques are incorporated into her contemporary works. We'll have the opportunity to uncover the stories behind each design and how Anca continues to carry forward Romanian traditions in a way that embraces the demands and tastes of the modern world.

Together with Anca Cernea, we'll embark on a fascinating journey where aesthetic beauty meets practical functionality, and cultural heritage becomes an endless source of inspiration for contemporary art. Let's delve into this captivating adventure and discover the distinct charm of Anca Cernea's creations, where art and utility blend in a remarkable way.

Pillow with traditional embroidery 29 Euro, BLOUSEROUMAINE-SHOP.COM

How was the ROZMARIN brand born and what inspired you to create scarves and products inspired by Romanian folklore?

It was a natural process, the idea grew slowly over a long period of time. I worked for a long time as a theater set designer and as a costume history teacher. I thoroughly documented myself for every show and every lesson. I thus discovered a series of visual languages ​​that delighted me.
He then happened to work on a few performances inspired by Maramureş folklore. I was amazed to discover the extravagant outfits and strong colors of the popular Maramureş port.
I resonated with the geometric, essentialized style of popular Romanian and universal motifs. This is how ROZMARIN CONCEPT appeared. Rosemary is the herb of remembrance. But ROZMARIN CONCEPT is not a nostalgic brand, concerned only with the past. It is a brand that analyzes the roots to find out the essence of which the trunk is built and the direction in which the branches will grow.
I take care of the concept and creation part, but I share the other aspects of creative entrepreneurship with my colleague, Gabriela. Because joy is greater when shared, and obstacles are easier to overcome.

What kind of research and documentation have you done to better understand the folkloric motifs and symbols you incorporate into your product design?

I have developed special antennas for detecting folklore resources. I have anthropological friends, I visited ethnographic museums, antique shops, villages, listened to the stories of grandparents and great-grandparents.
The most precious treasure, however, are the ones woven and sewn by my grandmothers, their sketches and notes. We have a silk skein in the family, sewn so finely by my grandmother, Virginia, that it could only be worked at noon, when the sun was high in the sky. This made the process very long. The other grandmother, Ana, gave us a beaded goat: she worked on it day and night, a week's worth, for next Sunday's hora (Romanian traditional dance).
I have fresh memories of my childhood, when I learned to sew, crochet lace, weave for war, take care of the animals, work in the fields and attend Sunday service with the elders in my family.

How do you choose the colors and patterns for each scarf or individual product and what significance do they have in the context of Romanian traditions and culture?

I like all colors, I like to play with the most extravagant combinations, I like to create all kinds of chromatic harmonies.
Some of the drawings are inspired by traditions, Romanian and universal fairy tales. And others are inspired by contemporary realities and rituals.
I instinctively choose both colors and themes. Sometimes they are a symbolic translation of events in my life. For example, I drew the TREE OF LIFE during a period of mourning, it was the best way for me to say goodbye to my parents. The COLȚ DE RAI scarf is part of the same collection, of the same process of healing and acceptance, of translating into beauty what had been painful. I drew birds when I felt the need to take it easy and flowers when I felt good.
I am also inspired by Which of your collections inspired by Romanian folklore do you think was the most successful and why do you think it was so appreciated by customers?

Customers are very diverse. Some let themselves be seduced by the colors, others analyze the symbols, patiently read the stories on the labels before making a choice. Usually the last model created is the most loved and best selling. But the old models are not forgotten either.

the biographies and dreams of my friends or people I meet occasionally, I like to ask and listen.

What techniques and materials do you use to produce these folklore-inspired scarves and products, and how important is sustainability in your creative process?

First I make the pencil drawing. Then I add color using digital tools. Our collaborators make, in small local workshops: the print, the hem, the packaging, the labels with a story.
Accessories are a sustainable wardrobe option in themselves. Natural silk is as delicate as it is durable over time. Favorite outfits can always take on a new and original look by the way they are accessorized.
Our collections are open: we supplement them every year with new models. Meaning is important to us, which is eternal, not trends, which are seasonal.
In the FIR DE ROZMARIN collection we have scarves that I designed 10 years ago (long before the launch of the brand), but also scarves that are still on the work table.

Which of your collections inspired by Romanian folklore do you think was the most successful and why do you think it was so appreciated by customers?

Customers are very diverse. Some let themselves be seduced by the colors, others analyze the symbols, patiently read the stories on the labels before making a choice. Usually the last model created is the most loved and best selling. But the old models are not forgotten either

What advice do you have for young designers or entrepreneurs who want to create their own culturally themed brands?

I want them to be authentic, to listen to their instincts, to listen to the voice that guides them from within.
Before launching the Rozmarin concept brand I was told that my style of expression was too poetic and that I should change if I wanted to be successful. I continued to be myself, to express myself in my own language. And the customers reacted warmly and welcomed us with open arms.
If the passion for what you create is genuine, people resonate and get into the game.

The collection is available on BLOUSEROUMAINE-SHOP.COM