The art of Jewellry Design and Women in Business with Iris Sulos, Founder of Monapetra
SIMPLE SERIES 003: Iris Sulos
Seden, the founder of Simple As Is, sits down with Iris to discuss her efforts towards a meaningful jewelry brand with a story. Iris and Seden also discuss the importance of the power of women in business, and how she manages to grow her business within this philosophy.
And a bit of her.
''With each piece, I aim to tell a new story, and make its owner strong and happy.''
Iris Sulos
SEDEN: WHAT IS THE TURNING POINT OF MONAPETRA?
IRIS: I can definitely say it is our project with The New York Metropolitan Museum.
SEDEN: WHAT’S THE AIM OF MONAPETRA?
IRIS: All of us are living in a world of heavy consumption and serial production. We, as a brand, want to remind people the importance of art, history and craftsmanship. We want people to think more, to question more, to discover more.
SEDEN: In this age of individualism and authentic inclusivity, you have taken progressive steps towards genderless jewelry. Can you tell us a bit about that?
IRIS: Any discrimination is unfair.
Ever since I was little, I didn't understand why men dressed differently from us. As I got older, there were places in my clothes where I opposed this and broke this distinction.
Later, I was very impressed by Phoebe Philo's Celine women's collection, which she prepared from male patterns and created the image of a strong woman.
I was careful not to discriminate in the collections that I created myself.
Designing for 'everyone' was my dream come true.
SEDEN: AS A DESIGNER, WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY?
IRIS: Our brand has an effective motto: “The Power of You”.
Actually it explains my philosopy as a designer. Story is something which straightens and strengthens the individual and the community.
Designers and artisans are interpreters. They tell stories that have messages.
Woman is the core of all civilizations. When she is pressured to be many things all at once, she loses her nature.
No matter what culture or what era she lives in, a woman is always the same in essence.
There’s a wild woman, there is an archetype woman, living inside her. An archetype woman is strong; she is courageous, keen-sensing, farsighted, intuitive and endurable.
She knows how to “run with the wolves.” When opressed, her vitality breaks down. And when that happens, her successors fail.
This is an unlucky chain. In fact, the power within every woman is inherited, it is always there.
This is the reason we address women with the “The Power of You” motto.
SEDEN: What are your goals on Empowering Women?
IRIS: As a women’s initiative we want to reach more and more women all over the world.
Our goal is to encourage them and to make them happy.
We want them to know that we will always stand by their side. We aim to employ more women as we get bigger.
We have been providing employment in manufacturing, workshop and shop cycles from the very first day.
You will keep on tracking Monapetra in the projects sustaining handcrafts supporting women.
SEDEN: IT WOULD BE HARD TO PICK ONE. WHAT IS ‘THE PIECE’ FROM YOUR COLLECTION FOR YOU?
IRIS: Difficult to answer! Each design is unique.
But I can definitely say it is my first design. The one I carry on my finger. The mosaic ring.
SEDEN: CAN YOU TELL US YOUR FAVORITES FROM SIMPLE AS IS?
IRIS: I love Simple as is's Linen products and Nu29's simplistic stonewares.
Urtica Wellness's Adaptogens and Anda Heal's Immortal Cream are also in my daily regimen.
