Inspirational Bali
Bali has long been a great source of inspiration for fashion design, as well as a beautiful location for fashion photography over the decades. With it’s stunning landscapes, culture and people there’s so much to feed the imagination. Also Bali has its unique batik styles, often featuring vibrant colours and the island's signature intricate patterns (used for the Bali Batik Velvet Reversible Vest Tie Top). The Balinese intricacy shines through other local art forms, like basket weaving (known as "canang sari"), the vibrant colours and designs of ceramics, and the complexity of stone or woodcarving.
Inspiration for the label
Previously known as Forest Elf, I felt the need for a change. The new brand name "Venus in Leo" was inspired by my keen interest in astrology, coupled with the presence of Venus in Leo within my own astrological chart. Interestingly, during a three-month search for a manufacturer in Bali, the celestial alignment fortuitously mirrored this aspect, with Venus positioned in Leo throughout that period. Having originally considered a few different options, this made the final choice an obvious one. The label draws significant inspiration from 1960s brands such as Biba and Bus Stop, as well as the Art Deco and Art Nouveau artistic movements.
As for the logo graphic, I didn't want to stray away too much from Forest Elfs design, and so maintaned the same side profile. You may have noticed the side profile is actually mine. Instead of having the same art nouveau Alphonse Much as style image I decided to opt for another of my favourite illustrators. John Eastman was the main inspiration for the design, with flowing strands of hair and the various shades of colour. Venus is depicted, as a bright star, just as it appears in the sky.
