Interviews with Alsu Biryukova

I was interested in textiles from early childhood. But I have been professionally engaged in design since 2011.

I have always shown a great interest in art and creativity. I always had a desire to improve the finished items bought in the store, sew something special, remake something and rebuild to fit my needs. With the advent of children, it became possible to draw and create, as well as on the advice of professionals to receive additional education in the field of design.

First of all, when designing, I start from solving a specific problem. Design should solve a specific problem and make life easier for a person. Secondly, the design must be visually perfect. In any case, the starting point is the problem being solved, which, like a grain of sand in a shell, is overgrown with mother of pearl. A really good design is the grain of sand that has turned into a pearl. But at first it’s just a grain of sand.

In my work, I prefer manual sketches and drafts, as well as layouts. I like to realize that I can materialize my thoughts with my own hands.

I like to see the birth of a product. This is real magic when your thoughts gradually become tangible. It's amazing when you can create tangible thoughts with your own hands, you can touch your thoughts. It is like your dream come true.

I think that the ability to contemplate and observe, as well as curiosity and the ability to correctly describe some events and phenomena, the ability to understand their logic, had a great influence on my design work.

It is also very important to be able to describe your thoughts not only using words, but also in other ways, for example, using a picture.

I would like to become famous as a designer who has her own style. I would like to create collections that will be successful and memorable. I plan to create my own fashion house.

I would like to advise young designers to listen to their hearts, hone their skills and not strive for material well-being, but to look for their style. It is very important to remain yourself and not give in to public opinion, as well as not to be afraid of any difficulties.

All the limitations in our head. You need to be bolder, not be afraid of someone else's opinion, go your own way, be true to yourself. Despite the conventional wisdom that creativity is lightness, design is a lot of work, intellectual and physical. In order to achieve a lot, you need to work and improve daily.

Every day I try to do something that brings me closer to my goal. Before my eyes, I often have a list of goals and the moodboard. The phone always has an album for inspirational photos. At hand is always a notebook for sketches.

I do not follow design trends. My design is most affected by the situation in the world as a whole, the processes that occur in the world.

I like to convey my inner state and perception of the world around me through my projects.

Good design is primarily visually determined. If I like the item visually, I begin to evaluate the usability of it.

This is difficult to explain, just at some point I like everything - the design is ready. But it happens that you want to improve the finished design.

My largest and most important project to date is the design of our apartment. This project takes into account the needs, hobbies and characteristics of each family member, places are provided for storing everything necessary, so everyone is absolutely comfortable in this house. The interior used a lot of antiques, a lot of handmade items, many items we created ourselves.

Of modern designers, I would like to meet with Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier.

I would also like to meet with designers who have already left this world - these are Karl Lagerfeld, Erte, Leon Bakst, Alexander McQueen. If we talk about architects, then most of all I am close to Antonio Gaudi, Zaha Hadid

The most inspiring city on earth is Venice and Rome, in my opinion. I am at home now. Not a single day in my life passes without design - every day is busy improving the atmosphere around, quality of life, creativity. My culture and upbringing are directly related to my design. My design always goes along the border between East and West, because I live in Western culture, but have oriental roots.

It is easy for me to work both as a team and alone. The main thing in working with people is honesty and openness. Important qualities of employees should be: desire to learn, accuracy, responsibility, empathy. It must be remembered that design is created for people - this is the main thing for a designer.

About once a month I conduct various classes for adults and children. This can be a lesson in creating small accessories, or lectures, or small meetings, where I talk about my experience in design.

Participation in the competition is always a challenge to yourself, your skills, it is always growth above yourself, as well as the opportunity to look at yourself from the side when you find yourself in a single creative environment. Participation in the competition is also an exit to a new level.

I was glad to participate in this competition and would love to be the designer of the day.

Most of all I am inspired by people, their traditions, characters, stories, fates. And of course, the extraordinary beauty of our planet.

I was very inspired by the idea of the Great Silk Road. This adventure, and surprise, and anticipation, and loss, and knowledge, and new discoveries, and extraordinary nature, and the most important idea of uniting East and West, which is very close to me. I wanted to tell you about it in a beautiful design language that is accessible to me.

The bulk of the collection has already been sold out, but I plan to expand this collection. These new things will be lighter, inspired by dawn and spring.

It took about a month to develop the concept, and the collection itself was created about a year.

First of all, I was looking for inspiration, but this collection is very convenient in everyday life.

This design has already been produced. Each item is handmade in a single copy. But, I think, you can think about increasing production. How this will be done, I have not decided yet.

I like to work with fabric, especially silk.

I try not to be inspired by the work of other people. This allows me to remain genuine and unlike others.

My target customers are women who love sophistication, beauty, charm.

I did not compare different designs. But this, like a fingerprint, each person has his own.

If initially you didn’t copy someone’s design, but created your own, grew it like pearl from a grain of sand, then your design will be unique.

The Great Silk Road is not just a trade route, it is a unique historical phenomenon that introduced two different worlds - east and west. This is the emergence of new cities and countries, this is the spread of science and culture, this is the path to the unknown and new discoveries.

This is the story of my inner state. An attempt to find a balance between the European way of life and oriental roots.

The work of the project needed the help of a professional tailor

When creating the project, a large role was assigned to manual production.

Before the creation of the collection, no studies were conducted. It was an inspiration.

There were no particular problems when creating the collection, except for a lack of time. But this is a common thing in any job)

I decided to submit my design at a competition on the advice of friends. They convinced me that my work deserves an international award.

While working on the project, I delved into the study of history, mastered some techniques for working with fabric.

My design is always connected with what I am experiencing inside. I do not take any story in its purest form. I rethink it and tell it in my own language.

I just like to decorate or change everything around for the better, if it is in my power.

The fact that I became a designer is fate, and I am very glad about that.

I design garments, sometimes do home decor and product design. But fashion design interests me more.

Young designers should not be afraid to be unique and different from others, even if others do not understand them. They must find their own style.

A great designer always thinks about people first.

For me, a really good design is always convenient and harmonious. Nothing should interfere with enjoying the thing.

A good design always solves problems of an individual person or humanity as a whole.

I would like to create clothes and turbans for Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the Duchess of Cambridge.

I also dream of working with large fashion houses that create couture clothing.

I dream to create a fashion house Bloombia

There is no secret. You need to do what you love and love what you do.

I try to be inspired not by the works of design masters, but by nature, impressions, books, music.

If we talk about fashion design, I admire the work of Valentino fashion house and Ulyana Sergienko fashion house.

If we talk about interior design, I admire the work of Jean Louis Deniot

I think my best design is yet to come.

I think that you need to create a design that people need, draw a lot.

If I did not become a designer, I would continue to create for my family.

Design, in my opinion, always tells a story, makes sense and it does not go unnoticed.

My biggest supporters are my family.

Belief in myself helped me, as well as the faith of my loved ones

A lot of time was spent studying economics at the academy and working at a bank

designers need to tell about their design.

I came up with several technologies for textile processing and I want to create a collection of clothes in the new technique.

I would like to influence the fashion world

it expect new collections, new inventions from me

Good design, like art, fosters harmony in man

Now I am working on a new collection of clothes.

The greatest pleasure to me was the design of headdresses

I would like people to consume less and care more about the environment

Design is heading towards smart consumption.

Implementation of a design project can take from one week to one year.

Any design I start with sketching

A designer must love and respect people.

If the design is very bright, then the design creates a trend.

Very often technologies are born when you solve a problem or answer a question. For example, one day I received an order. It was supposed to be a special scarf for theatrical performances in the museum. In addition to the artistic idea, it was supposed to be very comfortable, lightweight, flexible, breathable, made of certain material and similar to the scales of reptiles. When I combined these conditions, I came up with a new fabric processing technology.

Sometimes in design I use a computer

The role of these things is huge.

I like to talk about my design. I love different questions about my design.

When I see a great design, I silently contemplate and admire. You can also contemplate sakura blossoms.

I had no experience in collaborative design. But I know examples of successful joint projects.

The greatest influence on my design is made by clients. They do not interfere in my work, but at the same time pose complex creative tasks for me. The harder the task, the more unique the design.

There are a lot of these books. I like to view well-illustrated books. But at the same time, I love the lack of illustrations. This greatly develops the imagination.

A very important quality for development is responsibility, first of all to oneself.

I would like to meet with Bakst, Chanel, Erte, Audrey Hepburn, Lagerfeld, the Duchess of Cambridge, Grace Kelly, Solomon, Nefertiti, Moses.

I don’t know yet when I will become famous, I can answer this question.

My favorite color is turquoise, I love mountains, forests, deserts, my house by the lake. I love simple food, sandwiches, soups, vegetables, fruits, berries, what I cook myself.

Favorite time of year is spring.

Favorite thing is a beautiful dress.

I can’t recall the funny situations.

What motivates me most is goals. I like to keep a diary, to paint in it affairs and goals, and then rejoice at their fulfillment.

From early childhood, I created something. These have always been high quality items. My dolls were provided with the most necessary things handmade.

I think that in a thousand years people will learn to value and protect nature, will produce less unnecessary products and consume less. Or maybe they will live like ancient people. This is an optimistic forecast. A pessimistic forecast is, perhaps, there will be more robots and fewer people in the world. But robots will never be able to create and invent something.

Many say that my works carry incredible energy and there is a feeling that they are alive. To understand my work, they need to be seen and touched.

My design is an attempt to unite the East and the West. From early childhood, I created something, first for dolls, then for myself and loved ones.

I create different items of clothing in a small workshop in my house.

my nickname on instagram Bloombia. By this name I sign my work.

Design is a way to improve, lighten, or brighten the world around you.

Most of all I like the interior design and the design of garments

I like different works, in different styles. I can’t single out one thing

handmade scarf similar to reptile scales

My favorite material is silk of different textures.I love handmade products

in silence

The main thing is convenience and beauty.

Design is a thoughtful and meaningful work, analytics, scrupulousness and responsibility.

When a thought materializes, it's always magic. I feel happy.

Design becomes successful when it solves a problem

Ease of use and beauty

Create useful and beautiful things, while taking care of the environment

The development of design takes place together with the development of technology. Designers cannot be replaced by robots.

My last exhibition was held in 2018 in Russia, the city of Samara, I would like to hold the next exhibition in London in 2020. An exhibition of hats, for example

The source of inspiration is primarily nature from a small branch to the mountains, then books.

My style is at the junction of East and West cultures. This is the mystery of the East and the accuracy of the West. In my works I try to take the best of these cultures.

I live in a place where the East conditionally borders on the West, so my work is a synthesis of two different cultures. Every day I read or hear happy reviews from my customers.

My works are in private collections.

There was no experience with companies

The designer should have his own style. The designer must be consistent and confident in his work.

First comes a fleeting idea. Be sure to fix it on paper. Then work through this idea, create various options for its implementation, then consider the details and proceed with the implementation of the idea.

My five favorite designer items in the house are pouf, handmade curtains, handmade rugs, consoles and mirrors. In general, most of the items in my house are unique, a lot of antiques, a lot of handmade items.

My usual day looks like this: I get up early, take my children to school and kindergarten, return to the workshop to work, or go in search of ideal material, or meet with customers. In the afternoon, the whole family gathers at home. Often I work in the evenings, then my two daughters are also involved in the design process. I try to walk a lot and be sure to read before bedtime.

In my opinion, the most important thing is to listen to your heart, not to go out of your chosen path, to love what you are doing, and to be able to see beauty in everything.

For me, the work of a designer has only positive aspects. I can’t recall anything negative.

In my opinion, the golden rule of design is to be useful and necessary, open to new, but at the same time consistent and true to your idea. Design should improve everything.

The basic skills of a designer are the desire to improve something in using or in the appearance of something, this is empathy and the ability to hear, this is the ability to notice the beautiful in everything.

My most important tool is pencil and paper, as well as images with beautiful color combinations. It could be books, photographs, Pinterest. Sometimes I use computer programs such as Photoshop.

Yes, design takes most of the time. But the more you think through the design in more detail, the easier it will be to implement it. My most important design assistant is a diary. I like to describe the purpose and details of its implementation. When there is a checklist, it’s very easy to manage time.

It all depends on the complexity of the project. If a project solves many problems or is it a complex technology, then the project takes a lot of time. I have experience in the design of interiors, shop windows, clothes, jewelry, all of these designs solve different problems.

The most common question is: how did you come up with all this?

The most important work experience is the creation of things for the children's museum in our city

My clients are women who value beauty, quality and personality.

I like to solve difficult and unusual tasks, think over the details of their implementation and bring them to life.

I plan to create a new collection, arrange an exhibition, and also plan to collaborate with other designers or companies.

I create my projects alone. At times, I need the help of specialists to implement the idea.

I have plans to implement several new techniques in my design. I deal with them

You can contact me using instant messengers (+79276087308), e-mail (biryukovalsu@gmail.com) or through Instagram (Bloombia- it's my nikname)