• Image: Mikael Dahl

    An interview with Blugiallo

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    Swedish brand Blugiallo recently opened their Stockholm showroom, We took the two flights of stairs up to “Två Trappor”, the exquisitely designed home of the brand and asked co-founder Daniel Apler some questions about managing a made-to-order brand in a ready-wear world.

    Please tell me a bit of your backstory, I know you founded Blugiallo in Borås in 2016 but what had you done before that and what was the idea behind Blugiallo?
    I am born and raised in Sweden’s textile Silicon Valley, Borås. After business studies in Lund, which is the same period as when I first met Alexander, my co-founder, I worked as a business controller.
    Alexander and I shared a common interest in style and tailored suits but generally felt that the category was too traditional and inaccessible, lacking good digital solutions and the ability to fully express yourself. The idea for a business plan was born, and after a long dinner down in Bologna in 2015, the company Blugiallo was born – “blue and yellow” in Swedish. It also refers to another shared love we have - Italian football, where teams often have a color in their name. Blugiallo was incorporated as a company in Borås in 2016.

    You offer tailored pieces; how do you combine tailor made clothes with a world of fast fashion?
    It is a challenge, but our aim is to transform the fashion industry. With our custom made offering we want to encourage people to slow down their consumption pace, shop for clothes in a more conscious manner, and help individuals find their personal style.

    What are the steps of buying a Blugiallo piece?
    As a new customer to Blugiallo, you can either book an appointment for measurements at one of the company's physical showrooms or place an order online. If you order digitally, we have advanced data technology that can calculate the chest measurement, which is a vital part of tailoring, with 99.1 percent precision with a margin of error of +/- 1 cm.
    During a first visit to Blugiallo's showroom, your personal needs and preferences are discussed to help them find their personal expression/style. The visit takes about 1.5 hours – going through 40–50 different measurements –  and then your measurements are saved digitally on an account so that you can conveniently order bespoke garments and accessories directly through Blugiallo's e-commerce platform whenever you want.
    After placing an order, the garments are delivered within 5-6 weeks, either to the showroom or directly to your home. As a first-time customer, Blugiallo always conducts a “fitting,” where they assess the fit and quality of the garments, and if there is a need for minor adjustments in the fit, this is done by the company's tailors. The measurements are then updated in the customer's digital profile to ensure that all future orders are perfect.

    What is your inspiration behind your designs? You have four different collections, what are the inspirations and diversions between the collections?
    I find inspiration in numerous brands for diverse reasons. While I deeply admire iconic names like Ralph Lauren and contemporary innovators like Aimé Leon Dore, our greatest source of inspiration often stems from observing everyday individuals. Rather than solely focusing on renowned designers or luxury brands, we draw inspiration from how ordinary people confidently express themselves through clothing. Whether it's the precise tailoring of a suit or a bold mix of colors and patterns, it's the genuine authenticity and individuality embodied in their style that resonates most strongly with Blugiallo.
    An essential aspect of our style is ensuring excellent comfort for the wearer, allowing them to genuinely enjoy the product they're wearing. This comfort stems from the personalized fit tailored to each customer, inspired by our house cut for the specific product category. Additionally, it arises from aligning the style and quality of the product with the customer’s preferences.
    Our collection setup is structured into various levels of creativity regarding materials, colors, and designs,and functions as inspiration of how we like to demonstrate styling depending on the customer’s context.

    You recently started offering womenswear as well, what were the thoughts behind that decision?
    Our goal has always been to make personalized garments and high-quality tailored fashion more accessible to more people. Initially, the suit was our main signature, but today our range extends from tailored jeans and chinos to knitted garments, without waste materials. Launching our concept for women has long been a dream for us. We see great potential and look forward to more women being able to create their own unique style and express their own story through tailored garments, which we’ve seen has been a gap in the tailoring segment.

    You also recently opened up this showroom, tell me more about that?
    We have always wanted to create a Blugiallo home, rather than a classic store or showroom. With 'Två Trappor,' we have created a space where design, decor, and architecture are a direct reflection of who we are and what inspires us. Our new home is a place where all the wonderful personalities we encounter, whether they are existing or new customers, can feel at home. The showroom is located on top of Riche at Birgir Jarlsgatan 2.

    What would you say are the 3 core values for Blugiallo?
    Expressive luxury
    Personal service
    Quality
    With these values, we believe one can enjoy fashion more and not feel the need to look to new trends and garments for each season.

    How would you describe the Blugiallo customer?
    Over the years, we see that the community has grown and we now see many different sorts of people wearing Blugiallo, something which I am very proud of. The Blugiallo customer likes to express themselves through fashion, and is willing to invest in long lasting high quality garments. The Blugiallo customer also has belief in us – for instance, 100 % of our investors are customers.

    What have been the most challenging aspects these 8 years at Blugaillo?
    To get e-commerce to work – a big nut to crack for a brand offering custom tailored pieces. We tried many different ways, but landed a working solution in 2019 which made us accessible globally. We use some of the most expensive, prestigious fabrics available. Therefore, it was a challenge to get down to a reasonable price point.

    What can we expect from Blugiallo in the near future?
    We are also now launching our Signature Made collection. It is ready-to-wear products, yet produced with high quality garments to ensure longevity of the product, that have been developed based on our customers' desire for faster delivery and a smooth purchasing experience.
    We see a big growth internationally, for instance the US is our biggest growing market. To see a version of Två Trappor in another city is something one can expect within the coming year.

    Image: Mikael Dahl
    Image: Mikael Dahl
  • photography Sandra Myhrberg

    fashion Jahwanna Berglund

    all clothes MASKA
    Huma organic cotton jumpsuit - Terracotta
    MASKA special

    Odalisque X MASKA - Waves Of Elegance

    photography by Sandra Myhrberg
    Lark organic cotton sweater - White
    Ako printed long satin skirt - Garden blue
    MASKA special

    Liana organic cotton sweater - Pomegranate
    Arden midi skirt in Pima cotton - Cream white

    Vika leather belt - Black

    Nilo organic cotton kaftan dress - Adriatic blue
    MASKA special

    Mina linen silk blend sweater - Oat beige
    Liza high waisted linen trousers - Navy

    Drew no buckle belt - Black

    MASKA special
    Erna cupro organic cotton dress - Terracotta
    Alix linen blouse - White
    Abbi linen cotton shorts - Night sky blue
    MASKA special
    Aina linen cotton shirt dress - White Pleated
    MASKA special
    Tina linen sleeveless dress - Taupe
    MASKA special
    Viva t-shirt in Tencel organic cotton jersey - White
    Thea flowy tencel pants - Terracotta coral
    MASKA special
    photography Sandra Myhrberg

    fashion Jahwanna Berglund

    hair & makeup Elva Ahlbin

    model Arianna / Elite Spain

    all clothes MASKA

    Alix linen blouse - Black
    Cali pleated linen shorts - Black
    MASKA special
  • Harriet Allure: An Interview with Founders Alex and Freddy

    Written by Jahwanna Berglund

    Alex and Freddy, the creative minds behind Harriet Allure, have shared a remarkable journey that began with a lifelong friendship. This deep connection paved the way for their collaborative venture. Despite pursuing different career paths, they maintained close contact, leading to the inception of Harriet Allure in 2019.

    Their story took a transformative turn when Alex joined an exchange program in Sweden, and Freddy took a job in Berlin. Experiencing new, unfamiliar environments highlighted the importance of creating a sense of home. This shared experience underscored the power of fragrance to evoke comfort and familiarity, inspiring the creation of Harriet Allure.

    From their unique backgrounds and shared experiences, Alex and Freddy have crafted a brand that bridges continents and evokes cherished memories through carefully curated scents and artisanal craftsmanship. Harriet Allure stands out not only for its distinctive, handcrafted candles but also for the rich, cultural stories each fragrance tells, making every candle a journey in itself.

    What inspired you to create Harriet Allure, and how did your personal backgrounds influence you to the start?

    Freddy and I have been friends from birth. Our parents were Friends way before we were alive, so we always had this strong brotherhood bond our whole life. We grew up together and always stayed in contact, even if we both pursued different career paths in life. So the initial spark that later turned into Harriet Allurer was back in 2019, when (me) Alex started an exchange program in Sweden and Freddy accepted a job offer in Berlin as we both pursued to live in a completely new and unknown environment. Feeling at home in a new environment is not always immediate, and scented candles play a crucial role in making each new place feel like home. Especially during the dark winters in Sweden and the heightened indoor hours due to the pandemic, the comforting aroma of a candle became an essential part of our routine. The ritual of settling into a new, possibly empty apartment with a scented candle became a source of comfort and familiarity.

    This experience taught us that ‘home’ is not confined to a single place; it can be embraced in different locations and among different people. The realization of this privilege struck us during a taxi ride in Bali in the summer of 2022. Inspired by the power of fragrances and the way they transport us to distinct places, we understood the deep impact of scents on memory. Specific events, like childhood, the aroma of a market in Accra, Ghana, became powerful memories—a fusion of humidity, tropical vibrancy, earthiness, and bustling market aromas. It was within these shared experiences that Harriet Allure was born, a brand founded on a shared journey

    Can you share some insights into the journey of sourcing and incorporating scents from different cultures into your candle collection?

    Our journey to source and incorporate scents from diverse cultures into our candle collection was both challenging and deeply rewarding. Extensive research was required to find suppliers and production artisans who shared our commitment to sustainability.
    Drawing inspiration from our diverse backgrounds, including German, Ghanaian, Swedish, and European influences, we aimed to create fragrances and shapes that resonate globally. Our primary goal was to develop a distinctive and recognizable shape for our candles, reflecting our brand's ethos of celebrating diversity and individuality. Leveraging our experience in pottery, we were drawn to organic forms for their unique beauty, showcasing the uniqueness of our journey. Simultaneously, we aimed for the jars to be reusable after the candles burned out. To achieve this, we collaborated with artisans in Portugal, known for their expertise in sustainable practices. Clay as a material is sensitive and goes through many steps. Achieving consistency in handmade, organic shapes while ensuring an optimal burning experience required careful consideration of the jar's irregular dimensions and form. Collaborating with sculptors and 3D designers, we explored various shapes until finding one that met both our aesthetic preferences and practical burning requirements. Coordinating closely with candle production, we ensure compatibility between jars and scented candles, scaling up production while maintaining quality. After thorough evaluation, we visited our selected production in Portugal to verify their capabilities firsthand. The 'ah-ha' moment came when we realized that the organic, sculptural shape not only reflected our brand ethos but also allowed for unique, handcrafted pieces that celebrated individuality. While each piece appeared similar at first glance, the subtle differences resulting from the handmade process reinforced our brand essence. This realization motivated us to use recycled clay and collaborate with artisans to bring our vision to life. Collaborating with perfumers in Grasse, France, we refined these cultural scents, blending them with precision to create evocative fragrances that tell stories.

    How does the process of crafting a Harriet Allure candle reflect the brand's ethos of bridging continents and evoking memories?

    The crafting process of a Harriet Allure candle truly embodies our brand's ethos of bridging continents and evoking memories. Drawing from our German and Ghanaian heritage, we infuse each candle with a blend of cultural influences. For instance, our founders, Alex and Freddy, born and raised in Germany with roots in Ghana, imbue their diverse backgrounds into every aspect of our candles. We source recycled clay from Portugal, paying homage to European craftsmanship, while collaborating with perfumers in Grasse, France, to blend fragrances that evoke nostalgic memories. Or use earthy color tones which reflects our heritage Ghana’s nature. This fusion of cultures and craftsmanship results in candles that not only bridge continents but also resonate deeply with individuals, capturing the essence of home and cherished memories.

    What sets Harriet Allure apart from other candle brands in terms of craftsmanship and scent experience?

    Our candles are handcrafted with precision, using recycled clay sourced from Portugal, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and quality. But furthermore the idea with these handmade organic shapes is to display different journeys of each person, meaning every candle comes in slightly different shapes which should indicate how diverse each of us is. Each fragrance is carefully curated to tell a story and evoke memories and emotions. This dedication to craftsmanship and scent composition ensures that every Harriet Allure candle offers a unique experience. Furthermore, by sourcing fragrances from Grasse, we pay homage to the rich heritage of perfume-making and uphold the highest standards of quality and authenticity. The scents we blend in Grasse not only evoke memories and emotions but also transport our customers on a sensory journey around the world. Each fragrance tells a story and contributes to the unique identity of our brand.

    Could you tell us about the significance of Grasse, France, in the production of your candles, and how it contributes to the brand's identity?

    Grasse, France, holds a special significance in the production of our candles at Harriet Allure. Renowned as the perfume capital of the world, Grasse embodies centuries of tradition and expertise in fragrance creation. Our collaboration with perfumers in Grasse allows us to access the finest quality ingredients and unparalleled craftsmanship, ensuring that each scent in our candle collection offers a beautiful experience that reflects our story.

    Grasse's contribution to our candles extends beyond scent; it represents our commitment to excellence and dedication to creating products that enhance everyday experiences. Through our partnership with perfumers in Grasse, we infuse each candle with a touch of luxury and sophistication, inviting our customers to indulge in moments of relaxation and sensory delight.
    By mentioning “Grasse” or “perfumers in Grasse,” we emphasize the level of quality, craftsmanship, and tradition associated with the creation of our unique products.

    With a focus on warmth, home, and travel, how do you ensure that each candle captures the essence of these themes?

    We try to translate the memories or moments we experienced into scents. So all of our scents are inspired by different memories that my business partner and friend Freddy and I have witnessed during our journey together or individually. Working with a perfumer from Grass was a fun experience as we got to translate our memories and feelings into each unique scent. Describing emotions and memories was quite challenging sometimes because we had to go through several scent notes that reflect the particular memories.

    We choose ingredients, such as floral, fruity, or woody notes, that reflect the desired mood or atmosphere. For example, warm and comforting scents like vanilla or amber may evoke feelings of home and nostalgia, while fresh and citrusy notes like bergamot or lemon can convey a sense of energy and vitality. By experimenting with different combinations of notes and adjusting their proportions, the perfumer creates blends that effectively capture the essence of the intended emotion or memory. For example, Ama is the name of Freddy's mother and pays homage to the warmth of home, motherhood, and childhood. It is a scent that should resemble the warmth of home, motherhood, and childhood. So we conveyed our emotions to the perfumer from Grasse, who guided us in trying and mixing sweet and flowery scent notes together which reflect the essence of Ama. This process could take hours, sometimes we would have to take a break to let the created scents marinate on us before coming back to evaluate them.
    We remember presenting the Ama scented candle to several unknown people who were unaware of our brand's values. They shared that the scent evoked feelings of home—a warm embrace, a sense of ease, and safety from their past. This made us happy  as it indicated that our intentions with the “hero” scented candle had resonated with them. Fragrances are highly subjective, so it was nice to see people connect with the message without prior knowledge of our intentions.

    Tartu CandleInspired by the nature of the Estonian city Tartu during our production visit. The scent should resemble calmness and balance.

    Faiyaz - Conveying a feeling rather than a memory. Like with anything in life, in order to achieve dreams, one needs to be determined. Such as stepping outside your comfort zone like our parents did. So we wanted a scent that embodies those attitudes.

    Minuit - Means midnight in French. Midnight usually signifies the unknown, as does a journey that you are about to start. Leaving our comfort zone comes with a lot of uncertainty, but you need to embrace it anyway.

    How do you balance maintaining the uniqueness of each scent while ensuring a cohesive brand identity across your product line?

    Balancing the uniqueness of each scent with maintaining a cohesive brand identity is paramount for Harriet Allure. We thoroughly craft each fragrance to tell a distinct story, drawing inspiration from a variety of memories and emotions. From the comforting warmth of “Ama,” reminiscent of home and motherhood, to the serene tranquility of “Tartu Candle,” inspired by the nature of the Estonian city, each scent embodies its own character and essence.

    To ensure a cohesive brand identity across our product line, we carefully consider the scent profile of each fragrance. While each scent is crafted to evoke specific emotions and memories, we strive for consistency in the overall sensory experience. This means balancing the unique notes and accords of each fragrance with a shared olfactory language that reflects our brand ethos.
    Thereby our perfumers play an important role in this process, expertly blending scent notes to create harmonious compositions that align with our brand's values and aesthetic. Whether it's the rich complexity of “Faiyaz,” conveying determination and ambition, or the mysterious allure of “Minuit,” evoking the excitement of embarking on a new journey, every fragrance is carefully curated to resonate with our customers while contributing to a cohesive brand identity that is Harriet Allure.

    What does the future hold for Harriet Allure, and are there any exciting developments or projects on the horizon?

    In envisioning the future of our brand, we see a continued journey of innovation and growth, driven by our commitment to producing more meaningful products. For now we want to stick to the scented candles and expand our collection a bit with new colors and scents which narrates different stories but keeping our signature organic shape. So for now that is the next step before we introduce a complete new product.

    Our aspiration goes beyond simply creating scented candles; we aim to redefine the perception of what a scented candle represents. Traditionally seen as ordinary, we seek to infuse our candles with a sense of excitement, luxury, and purpose.
    Moreover, our brand evolution extends beyond product development; we aspire to make a significant impact on the fragrance industry as a whole. By challenging conventional norms and pushing for inclusivity, and authenticity, we hope to inspire positive change within the industry.
    Overall our goal is to craft fragrances that transcend time, allowing individuals to revisit treasured memories and create new ones with every scent. But we don't want to reveal too much, stay tuned to follow our journey, we have some cool ideas in the pipeline that we are excited about sharing with you.

    www.harrietallure.com

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