The Conscious Design Co.
In Conversation with Glaucia Stanganelli
Creative Director,
Philosofée
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Since a young age, I have communicated in an artistic way. I used to be a ballerina for 12 years before I started fashion. I always painted, drew, and wrote stories for fun. The ballet discipline, beauty, and femininity definitely shaped up my world, as well as all the places that I lived in and experienced. There were different cultures and aesthetics. I’m originally from Sao Paolo, Brazil where I was born and grew up. Then right after college, I lived in London for a year and a half. I worked for Topshop where I learned a lot.
Apart from that, I’ve lived in Florianopolis, an island in South of Brazil, in New York, Philadelphia, and now I’m based in Los Angeles.
Which past experiences would you say have shaped your work, design sensibilities, & aesthetic?
The ballet of course, the world of dance. The elegance, the femininity. Also, I can see the base of my work has so much of the English tailoring influence, and also that Londoner deconstructed edgy style that combines conventional with rebellious.
What is your personal philosophy in life?
I think we are all connected and that says a lot. We have to take care of each other and we have to take care of ourselves to have energy to take care of all around us. And we have to take care of the planet. And that we as conscious creative being have the mission to come up with ideas that will make things better. That will light up the way for future generations. I never compromise my values, beliefs, or moral code. I think those are everything. And yes a business is meant to be profitable, but there are many ways to be profitable. Doing good for the planet and the people, we can make profit in an ethical and sustainable way. The biggest way to change is I believe through a product. If you want a better world you should start consuming better products. Products that were made respecting people and the environment.
How would you define your personal style?
I think I’m like a chameleon. Some days I’m very street style, other days I’m super ladylike in tailored clothes. I think about being practical with a touch of personality. We all have busy lives going from errands to work and vice versa. My clothes have to be versatile, easy, and in line with my current mindset.
What inspires your work?
I know I have to feed my soul to keep up with things that recharge me like arts, inspiring people – like you, music, meditation, yoga, nature. I feel I’m most connected with myself when I’m surrounded by nature. Then I receive the most creative vibes in a clear way. I think ideas come from the inside-out, not the other way around.
What is your vision for your work?
I chose to go into tailoring as it is a special way to create fashion – going against fast fashion and the trend to make clothes that last only for a season. I design with the aim to make timeless pieces. I usually begin with classic shapes and then I start a little deconstruction towards a contemporary and individual interpretation, most of the times resulting in a very feminine look.
Who are your favourite artists and designers?
I love what Alexander McQueen did with fashion. I think he opened the doors to so much more creativity in the industry. I love Morgane Le Fay with that fairy tale like visual. Iris van Herpen that mixes art with fashion and technology, that’s beautiful. And of-course Stella McCartney, teaching us ethical fashion in the luxury world, I think that’s beautiful. I think these designers are making much more than fashion, they are making statements, sending a message through their collections.
What is your favourite travel destination and why?
I always love to go back to Brazil, especially Florianopolis. It is recharging for me. I feel very connected there. I have so many friends, family, and nature is just beautiful there and so raw.
Your favourite book, film, activity - that motivate & inspire you.
At the moment, ‘The Secret’ the documentary is my favourite film. I want to remind myself as much as possible that we are all creating the universe around us all the time, and this documentary shows it beautifully. And also ‘Inner Worlds Outer Worlds’, I think they are both very inspiring and enlightening in that way. I also like this documentary on Quantum Physics.
In music preferences, I love Indie and Alternative music, I listen to Imagine Dragons, yoga mantras, and so on.
Tell us something about your brand.
Philosofee is about unique beautiful pieces, both inside and outside, with meaningful details. Everything is tailored to flatter, and elevate our confidence so we can be the best versions of ourselves. The purpose is to empower women to be graceful yet powerful. We all have this inside us, I think we just need to activate and cultivate it, be aware of it.
The aesthetic is to be elegant at all moments, fabulous, and chic.
What value are you trying to create through your work?
Definitely do business in an ethical and sustainable way, being practical and successful. As I said before, the biggest way to change is through a product. If we want a better world, we start consuming better product. It is a cycle, trading fairly and respectfully across the entire production chain, it comes back to us. Knowing that you are giving your money for a company that does the best for people and the planet makes you feel good. It will come back to you. We are planting the seeds all the time. I don’t want to wear something that was made in an unfair hateful environment, or to consume from a company that contaminates the soil for example. I want the opposite. I want to know that I’m doing everything in a regenerative way as much as possible. Like if I took out a tree I plant four back, and so on.
The last thing, I touch so much the point of being feminine in my aesthetic, but I think that goes beyond that for me. I value being a woman, understand the importance of honouring ourselves so we can have the world shaped to a more matriarchal society instead of trying to be like a man. No, we can be a strong woman in a woman way, in a feminine and graceful way.
