The inspiration for SS20: Meet the designer

MEET THE DESIGNER: ASHIANA'S FOUNDER ANASTASIA
Ashiana's founder and creative director Anastasia describes her inspiration for the collection and lets us know her go-to styles.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU MOST WHEN DESIGNING THE COLLECTION?
What inspires me every summer - the sea! This year however I focused on my childhood seaside holidays - collecting shells, dreaming of mermaids, rainbows after the rain and my favourite - lobsters. You will see those themes going throughout the collection from our Art deco lady diver print on the resortwear to mini mermaids and lobsters on bags and jewellery. 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN THEMES FOR SS20?
We have a few themes in the collection. One is tiles and patterns as seen in Portugal where my parents live  - they are in our tile print resort wear and bags. We always have a sea inspired theme  - this year its includes things like lobsters, mermaids, anchors, shells and pearls - we focus on natural, pristine white and a rich nautical blue in that line in jewellery as well as in our jute bags with gold and silver accents. After a tough 2019 for me personally I took to looking for lucky talismans and so you will find a Talisman theme in the summer range  - my way of hopefully bringing luck to everyone who wears our talisman jewellery.  

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE STYLES FROM THE SS20 COLLECTION?
I adore big earrings  - the bigger the better so any of our large earrings are always ones I will be wearing in the summer - I especially adore the ocean swirl earrings. I also have already grabbed the the Baroque charm necklace - its a great everyday summer piece and I love the pearl.   In the summer I believe a bracelet stack is a must so I will be layering up as many of our bracelet styles as I can.

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE A BEST SELLER THIS SEASON?
The Dominique earring in both small and large - its the perfect hoop and coin combo that goes with just everything in your wardrobe and they are super light so you hardly know you are wearing them. All the lobster bags we have from the beaded ones to the embroidered ones - perfect for the beach and just the happiest gift you could give to brighten someones day. 

WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO STYLES FROM THE NEW COLLECTION?
My everyday styles would be the boho coin necklace and the Gemini bracelet  - both of these are in our Classics collection and for obvious reasons. They never go out of style and are so easy to wear with anything - from school run straight into the office for me.  Most nights when I go out to meet friends I wear the Cheyenne earrings though this season I will be wearing the Ocean Swirl earrings - all big earrings which when I go out are my everyday dress up piece that I keep in my handbag. Also I have already planned a beach holiday this year and know I will be taking the Mykonos Tote bag.  I got in early this year as we sold out last year so I have mine ready for my Easter holiday to Barbados  - it will fit all my daughter's beach  things and leave some room for my sunnies and a good book!