A scarf designer could not be absent from our French-designer interview series. Bonana van Mil takes the indispensable must-have item for any genuine Parisian wardrobe and gives it a fresh, ethnic look inspired by her diverse background. After traveling around the world for almost half her life, she settled in Paris to launch her own label of sustainable silk scarves – they are hand-painted with non-toxic dyes and made entirely in France. We sat down with Bonana to discuss the inspiration behind her company and the importance of encouraging local production.
What is your background and how did you come to be a fashion designer?
I was born in Botswana, and moved to the Netherlands at a very young age. Until my 19th birthday, I was traveling and living between Africa and Europe. I started with Fine Arts in the Netherlands, and graduated with a Master in Fashion specializing in Textiles.
What inspired you to set up your own collection?
I have always been inspired by my background, being raised in two total different cultures; Africa with its chaotic structures and vibrant colors, and Europe with its practical minimalism and industrial thinking have given me lots of inspiration for my future work as a designer. Becoming a fashion designer was just another way to express the emotions I experienced growing up.
Why did you decide to keep the production local?
I want my customers to know where their purchased product comes from.
How do you come up with the patterns you use for your scarves?
Again I use my background as my inspiration. I use lots of geometric forms which I find in African arts and crafts. I combine these shapes with vibrant colors that come from memories I made traveling as a child – colors found in the countryside or deserts, in dresses worn by local women and men, colors from trees and wild animals; I can go on forever. I consider these memories as a kind of dreams that still travel through my mind, hence, the floaty shapes.
Tell us a bit about your philosophy as a designer.
As a designer you are there to change people’s minds; inspire but also nurture them on what is happening around us. Designers capture what has happened in the past, what might be happening now and what could be expected of us in the future. We are just messengers passing essential information captured in the form of art, design and craft.
How is Paris inspiring to you?
Paris is a melting pot of these two worlds I have lived in; Africa and Europe.
What was the inspiration for your latest collection?
My concept and themes kind of stay the same. Sometimes I change the material or techniques I work with, just to show how I can manipulate these shapes differently. The techniques I use are hand paint, weaving, beading and screen printing. Among the materials are silk, leather wool or any other natural fiber.
Which is the most flattering way to wear your scarves?
As the scarves are really bold and colorful, the best way to wear my scarves is to choose a simple but elegant single-color outfit to let the colors do their work. Also skin tones, eye color and hair are important when choosing one of my scarves.
What are your future plans?
I would love to inspire more people by going local. And by going local I mean wearing unique and handmade products.
Images © Bonana Van Mil
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