2023-08-28 00:08:57
Blending traditional techniques with a bold and typically Brazilian design, the designer surprises with unique creations
Minas Gerais designer Regina Misk stands out as one of the most fascinating figures in current Brazilian design. Her work, marked by creativity and deep respect for the creation process, is highlighted at fairs, events and specialized publications, and is also a highlight of Artsoul’s design marketplace.
When you get to know his creations, the reason behind this recognition becomes clear. With mastery, Regina weaves a unique connection between tradition, contemporaneity and Brazilianness, using ancestral techniques such as knitting and crochet, combined with a bold, modern and unique design. The result is the creation of timeless works that harmonize sophistication with warmth, elegance with affection. To delve deeper into Regina Misk’s artistic vision, we spoke to the designer, who shared excerpts from her journey, as well as the inspirations and concepts that guide her work.
Regina says that her interest in textile arts began in childhood. “Curiosity for the arts and manual crafts was already very much my thing,” she comments. And this curiosity manifests itself constantly in the creative paths that the artist follows. From the knitted pieces she made to order when she was a teenager, to her career as an original designer, curiosity, affection and true love for traditional arts are always present.
Born in Belo Horizonte, Regina explains that manual production was almost a family tradition. “My mother liked knitting. She did the basics and I learned the basics from her”, he shares. However, it was in Portugal that she came into contact with other techniques and was able to expand her creativity. Her family moved to the European country when she was just 2 years old and remained there for more than a decade. In Portugal, textile arts have a large presence and, thanks to the period of colonization, to a certain extent Brazilian production has Portuguese heritage. Brazilianness, in fact, is a central theme in Regina’s work, which, by reinterpreting techniques and traditions, updates manual making, with designs, patterns and weaves from different influences.
Authenticity is, in fact, a fundamental characteristic to describe Regina Misk’s work
When she returned to Brazil as a teenager, Regina was already involved in various forms of creative expression. “I liked playing with various crafts. I made beaded bracelets to embroider on dresses, decorated candles, various things…”, she says. Despite the simplicity with which the artist narrates her experiences, these experiments go beyond trivial details. They reveal the curiosity that defines Regina and that has accompanied her throughout her career.
His career began early, when, at the invitation of his mother’s Portuguese friends, he began creating pieces for stores in Belo Horizonte at around 17 years old. What might have been just a teenage adventure turned into a solid and successful career in the world of fashion. With creativity, Regina began creating pieces of knitting, crochet and other textile materials, always exploring her limits. At the age of 21, following graduating from university, she launched her own brand. “They were very exclusive pieces. Everything was done by hand, with a lot of experimentation with colors, graphic effects… a very original fashion”, he recalls.
Authenticity is, in fact, a fundamental characteristic to describe Regina Misk’s work. Her creations are easily recognizable, presenting a mix of inspirations, techniques, proportions and shapes.
However, consolidation in fashion was not enough to satisfy his creative spirit. “There comes a time when we want new things, right?” jokes the designer. The inspiration came from Brazilian furniture, which she reinterpreted in her creations. “My son had moved to São Paulo and I started going to a lot of antique stores. Brazilian design, furniture from the 50s and 60s, has always really attracted me. I would see a piece and think: what if I renovate it? I’m going to customize it, make a knitted upholstery, change the color… Create a new look for that piece, with my technique”, he comments. As in its beginnings in fashion, these experiments might just be a joke, as there was no commercial intention. However, the novelty, sophistication and revival of traditions present in Regina’s work attracted the public’s attention and she saw a new way to explore her creativity.
From the initial pieces an exhibition appeared, In addition to the form, at Amém Casa, an important design space in the capital of Minas Gerais. This event sparked interest in the design world. “It was something very unusual, different”, remembers Regina. From then on, she began to participate in fairs and events related to the theme, where her work, which has always balanced tradition and contemporaneity, gained prominence. “In the beginning, it was very intuitive,” she comments, when talking regarding her style. Its furniture was predominantly reminiscent of Brazilian modernism, known for its use of wood and iron, with striking lines.. The combination of these materials with knitting, crochet and other techniques, influenced by Regina’s inventiveness, created contemporary, cozy and uniquely Brazilian pieces.
“My research comes a lot from traditional weaves and design. I like researching Brazilian crafts, our native peoples, markets, local crafts, the colors”
From that point on, Regina dedicated herself exclusively to design, as she felt she might express herself fully. Despite the aptitude for creation, it was essential to study. “There was a lot of study, research. I have always been very inspired by Brazilian modernism. Then it’s studying, getting to know each other, buying books… Little by little, I found out more regarding it”, she comments. The strength of his pieces lies precisely in the fusion of studies, instincts and interest in ancestry. “My research comes a lot from traditional weaves and design. I like researching Brazilian crafts, our native peoples, markets, local crafts, colorful crafts,” she says.
“When building, there are always surprises. You think you’re going to do one thing, it turns into another. The moment you put your hand on it, there’s a transformation that happens.”
The way Regina’s creative process works is equally careful. “When I design a new collection, I have my moment. I start a few months in advance and choose colors, make samples, cut little pieces of each material, each color and create an identity.” Today, Regina has collaborators who help in the development stages. From the restored furniture, she now creates her own furniture, with the help of carpenters and artisans. “When I put some pieces together to become reality, I draw them. I have a process notebook, I sketch the things I want to do,” she says. The fascination of manual arts occurs precisely in the unforeseen events that happen when the idea comes to life. “When building, there are always surprises. You think you’re going to do one thing, it turns into another. The moment you put your hand on it, there’s a transformation that happens.”
An example that highlights the exclusivity of Regina’s work is in her renowned chains. Made of knitting, crochet and various materials, they are among her most notable creations. “It was one of the first pieces I created, when I started going to fairs,” she says. At that time, much of her work revolved around revitalizing furniture from antique stores. “There were chairs, benches, large pieces. I felt like I needed smaller things. I needed some decorative, more neutral piece,” she recalls.
Then the famous chains appeared, which gained the designer’s characteristic creative touch. “They already existed, but in other materials, wood, iron. So I thought, I’ll do it with my technique.” By changing the material, the pieces also gained versatility. “At first, people didn’t understand very well. They asked what it was for. Then I explained, you can hang it on the wall, put it as an adornment, on the table centerpiece…”, she says. In a short time, they were a bestseller.
The combination of a theoretically rigid and cold object, such as chains, and knitting and crochet techniques provide a welcome, a special affection, intrinsic to Regina’s work. “I believe this has an appeal, an enchantment”, says the designer. And, in fact, it’s difficult not to be enchanted by her pieces. The creative design, developed using ancient methods, brings a pleasant surprise. Knowing that each piece went through a careful manual process, through work to rescue transformed techniques, adds more charm to Regina Misk’s creations. Thanks to her exceptional curiosity, the experiments did not stop. The designer now explores braiding, tying and basketry techniques with different materials. With his inventiveness, it is impossible to predict what will come out of his hands.
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#tradition #contemporary #harmony
