Despite living for only 7 years in Romania, Ilinca always proudly mentions her Romanian roots. In her views, she is what she is today thanks to herself belonging to Transylvania. A creative fashion designer from Amsterdam, nowadays looking to bring something new to this industry, via her newly founded studio. Today we learn how a Romanian brought up in the Netherlands can still have strong feelings for the place of her origins.
Name: Ilinca Trif
Hometown in Romania: Turda, Cluj
Abroad since: I lived in Romania only between 2003 and 2010
Living in: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Current position & company: Founder of Trif Studio
TGR: Ilinca, you told me you still consider yourself Romanian despite being away for many many years. What is it that you love about our country?
IT: I consider myself Romanian because I still get butterflies every time I get past passport check. I consider myself Romanian because hearing people around me speak Romanian gives me a sense of comfort. I love Romania because it’s the only place in the world that makes me feel the way I feel when I go home.
What would you say about Romania to a foreign friend asking about your origins?
It’s funny because for example when I go to a job interview, the first thing I tell them about myself is that I was born in Romania. It’s the first thing that I feel defines who I am as a person. And I say it with pride. Although if we are being honest I think that some Romanians who have just left their country tend to focus on the negatives. I was no different to that. But having lived now away from my country for over 7 years, the positive things shine through and the negatives are almost none existing.
What do you mostly miss about Romania?
What I miss most about my country is spending time with my friends in the mountains and the nature. As a little girl, like many Romanian children, I spent my summer with my grandparents who had a cabin in the mountains. I become very nostalgic when I drive through the Carpathian Mountains or if I just see pictures of them.
How often do you now travel to Romania?
It depends. There are years when I visit it twice a year. But if I feel that my family needs me or misses me, I try to do that more often. Nowadays, with flight costs being so low, it makes it much easier to visit then it used to be.
Your whole life seems to be around the capital of Netherlands. What is it that you like about Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is unlike any other city in Europe! I think it has a healthy balance of everything a person would need here to be happy. A good way to explain it is through a saying they have in the Netherlands “just be yourself and then you are crazy enough”
How do you spend your free time in a city like Amsterdam?
I know that in Romania there is a big culture for going to clubs. Well, not here. What most people spend their time is by going to bars and café’s where you just catch up with friends or family over a drink. They call it a Borrel.
Tell me about your passion for fashion – where did it come from, who was your mentor, anything else worth mentioning….
Ironically, my first contact with fashion was when my mother took me to Target in America to look at their latest collection. I felt pure agony and torture, I hated it. Fast forward to my teenage and I developed an interest in garments. My mother opened a vintage shop and then later an outlet store.
Looking back, I can say that I have always been surrounded by this industry one way or the other. When I enrolled in the Art & Design University in Cluj-Napoca, I felt intimidated by my colleagues because all of them had finished the high-school of art. I cannot express what a huge role my university professor Mrs Anca Pia Rusan played. While I was not one of the most talented students, she gave me so much trust and confidence in my ability that if it wouldn’t have been for her I would have not found the fashion designer within myself. I had very strong confident women around me to encourage me in becoming the person who I am today.
What made you decide to open your own studio?
Working for fashion companies is great, but most of the time you end up designing in the style of the company. I wanted to make something that was representing my own aesthetic. To have my personal space where I can fully express my style, defined by the inspiration I find in nature, architecture, photographers, the symmetrical and the asymmetrical.
Fashion nowadays is very detached, it’s all about making profit. As a result, garments no longer have a connection with the customers. The concept for my brand is to promote slow fashion, but with a story. To involve the customer with production professionals, so they can get educated. Therefore, to create a deeper connection between the product and the customer.
Do you still get involved in design or you are more preoccupied with management duties?
Designing is my favorite process of this job but it’s only a small part. You know, like many startups, the founder is involved in many things The idea is to grow slow and steady and maybe one day bring more people into this.
OK, and if you were involved in design only, what would you change in the fashion environment?
My personal goal is to promote a fashion conscious mind set on sustainability as its foundation. This I believe is possible by promoting environmentally friendly fabric mills, ateliers and professionals that support this cause. I aspire to always work in a creative environment, where talent, imagination and an all-around sense of sustainability can contribute to strenghen the positive view on fashion.
How do you foresee the future development for your business?
My future plan at this moment is learning more about the industry and figuring a way to bridge the gap between seamstresses in Romania and the consumer in the Netherlands.
It's nice you think of promoting our local talent! Do you also see yourself living in Romania again?
I am sad to say no for the moment. There are just too many reasons to mention. One thing I am sure of and that includes my Dutch husband is that our children will need to know about their Romanian heritage and be proud of it as well.
What is your biggest dream?
One of my biggest dreams was to buy a house in the Netherlands and set my roots here. That has already come true. My next big dream is to make Trif Studio a hit in Europe. I will work hard to make this also happen.
Good, fingers crossed then, looking forward to seeing your studio top Europe!
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