BERRIES&Co x MUSES. LARA GESSLER
We meet Lara in her apartment in Warsaw's Mokotów district.
The apartment is light, sunny, filled with unique items that say a lot about their owner.
After a few minutes of conversation, we have the impression that we have known each other for a long time. There is no room for artificiality and pretense, the conversation flows naturally in a calm rhythm, we don't have to repeat shots, and everything Lara says sounds as if she had prepared for this meeting, even though we completely surprised her with all the questions.
WHO ARE YOU LARA?
“At the moment, I most often define myself as a confectioner and a mother, but in fact some time ago I allowed myself to admit that I am inconsistent and that I will do many different things in life and that there is nothing wrong with that. It's just what I need. I really like doing new things and these are things from different fields. I like to create, I just like to create, but I feel best as a confectioner and as a mother.
I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE INCONSISTENT.
Lara has never had such freedom to create.
There was a time when she really wanted to work - "really" - in a team, without the pressure of her surname. She has worked every summer since she was 12.
Working in London as a confectioner - from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 6 times a week made her realize that two things were killing her - monotony and the lack of contact with people and the ability to see how the effects of her work affect them. And then she realized that she couldn't live doing the same thing every day and that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. That we no longer live in times when we are defined by the field of study we graduated from. Lara, for example, is a sociologist and she also loves it. And if it weren't for her passion for cooking, she might have stayed at the university.
She realized that she could do anything, and the time for "everything" would come when the time was right.
MONOTONY AND LACK OF CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IS KILLING ME.
WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO CREATE?
"Creativity is always the result of some abundance. And that's why it's best to create when we have an abundance of emotions. Some people are influenced by an abundance of negative emotions, i.e. strong traumatic events, some people are influenced by good events. I am clearly one of those influenced by good events. When I am happy, then I draw the most from the world, I want to draw the most from it, my eyes are widest open and I absorb everything. I also really like talented people and I think that there are plenty of such people, there are plenty of them in Poland too, that's why, what happens What is happening on the Polish brands market is excellent to observe and very very inspiring.
So apart from the fact that I love traveling, I love art, I love interiors, I love design, I love flowers, I also love people who do something sincerely and with passion and are not afraid to take risks, because it is also a matter of the fact that we really need crazy people, and crazy people inspire us."
WHEN I'M HAPPY, THEN I GET THE MOST FROM THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET FROM IT THE MOST, MY EYES ARE OPEN THE WIDEEST AND I ABSORB EVERYTHING
MORNINGS WITH LARA
How we start the day says a lot about us. We were curious what Lara's mornings look like and what her favorite rituals are. As a young mother, she did not surprise us with the fact that her most important and beautiful ritual are the moments when she takes her daughter to the bedroom and starts the day with half an hour of cuddling and cuddling with her daughter. Then breakfast together – by candlelight and with sweet grandma's tea. Since the three of them are together, meals at home have become especially important.
MINIMALISM or MAXIMALISM?
He chooses maximalism. But such a question raises her objections.
“I have the impression that some terrible harm has been done to people because of the word minimalism. This word has become a buzzword and I have the impression that everyone is a minimalist now and likes the minimalist style. This is very harmful because it is very imprecise and very broad. I don't consider myself a minimalist, although I like a certain asceticism in style, but it's not the same. I like the rawness of materials, I like natural materials, I like earthy colors, which does not mean khaki or olive. Does not have to. I like stone, I like paper, I really like clay. I am a maximalist because I like good quality. Without being snobby, because there can be wonderful things, high quality, not necessarily super expensive, and I like it when there is a lot of beauty, so I am on the side of maximalism.
Lara follows the same principles when choosing all the objects she surrounds herself with. She has no problem being the next owner of anything, but she certainly doesn't want to be the last one. He chooses high-quality items that will stand the test of time.
"It seems to me that vintage circular fashion, second-hand fashion, whether it be clothing or jewelry, allows us to have things that, because they are second-hand, are at a much better price than if we had to buy new and To be honest, I wouldn't spend money on a new branded item, and at the same time I can have an item with some history, which is of great quality, is 20 years old, is beautifully maintained and I will either pass it on, or it will stay in my wardrobe until the end, or it will be kept for my daughters."
I LIKE HOW THINGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF GENERATING HISTORY, AND ONLY GOOD QUALITY THINGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF GENERATING SUCH HISTORY.”
Her father taught her about heredity. On her 18th birthday, she received a ring that was given to her by her grandmother on her 18th birthday, and on her wedding day, she received a ring that was her grandmother's engagement ring as a gift. She intends to collect and protect the things she owns, so that Nela can then choose what she wants to take over. Just like Lara, she recently dug out beautiful high heels from her mother's closet and wears them with pride.
YOU MENTIONED THE RINGS YOU RECEIVED FROM YOUR DAD AND HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTION, ARE THERE SUCH THINGS THAT RAISE SPECIAL SENTIMENT TO YOU AND ARE IMPORTANT?
“There is one thing that I have recently owned. I'd rather not have it, but I do. This is my father's watch, who passed away recently. And this is a watch that I remember forever, because it is from 1992. "my dad wore it when I was a very little girl and it's such a beautiful old omega on a brown leather strap and that's what I want to have with me always."
Something that is very important among Lara's jewelry is the signet ring. It's a signet ring
with the family coat of arms. Every family member gets such a signet ring when they turn 18. It is a non-hereditary signet ring, everyone literally takes it with them to the grave. Lara has been waiting for hers for a long time, and in a few years she plans to get one for her daughter. And even though she is the female part of the family, she intends to maintain this tradition.
She wears jewelry every day. She is a big fan of jewelry and attaches great importance to it. On holidays, she wears jewelry that is fancier, better, older, more festive. But she is a fan of everyday jewelry and wears a lot of it.
------
The Berries&Co.x Muses project is a project in which we present women who particularly inspire us. #berriesmuses
Those who support other women in their work and everyday life choose unusual paths and achieve success. Women who, thanks to what they do, give strength, inspire and encourage other women to make their own, independent choices