Valeria Malanska is a 3rd year student majoring in International Economic Relations. During the war, she returned home and now lives in the village of Stina, Vinnytsia region. In addition to developing and spreading the culture of the village and encouraging active youth, Valeria is engaged in her own brand. We are talking about MALASHOP_BREND, namely the Ne Mala Bag shopping center. Read on to find out how her creative work began, where she gets her inspiration, and about her victory in the #ItsCraft Constant Creator Contest:
- Why did you decide to take part in the Permanent Creator Contest from It`s Craft?
The impetus was given by a training session that Victoria Kulakova conducted in Tomashpil. It was there that I first heard about It's Craft and the Creators' Contest and decided to try it, because I had wanted to start my own business for a long time, and since my mother is a dressmaker, I always dreamed of creating my own brand of something, like clothes, and then bags came to mind. Bags, because I had been interested in handbags for a long time, I liked them, I had a lot of them, and I decided: why not sew handbags myself?
And then the competition came along, so I decided to apply. My friends, who work in local government and have previously worked on projects, helped me write this project. I felt this support, that we could write it together. If I win, it will go, if I don't win, it's okay, I'll keep trying.
-How do you make the shoppers?
I'm responsible for generating ideas because it was my idea, this production, but for my mother it is her profession, she is a person who is very good at it, so she is responsible for manufacturing, that is, the technical implementation of my ideas.
We sew from natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen. Now we have diversified our range a bit and started sewing bags made of mesh. My mother sews, and I sell and paint the shoppers. Usually we sew the shoppers and can immediately apply different designs. I decided that I would be responsible for such a creative process as coloring.
We could sew 30 shoppers in a day. Together with coloring, one shopper takes 4-5 hours to make, if it is a complex pattern, and 2-3 hours for simpler ones.
-What inspires you and where do you get your ideas for your shoppers?
At first, I was looking for ideas myself. First of all, our idea was to spread the Stanyan culture, and I decided to paint the dream grass, our relic plant. From that came the concept of the project. And when people became more interested, they offered something of their own, and I started listening to people, asking what they wanted to paint or offering my ideas.
I made a collection of bags with paintings by Ukrainian girls, some with dreams of grass, some with quotes. It's gradually getting better, either because people inspire me or it's something special, like dream grass. If you buy a bag with a dream herb, you will definitely get a seed of the plant.
-Who do you make bags for?
First of all, I expected that my eco-bags would be of interest to people who like eco-friendly products and fight for the environment - this is the first target audience, and I think the largest. And tourists who come to the Wall, first of all, they want to see a local product, and secondly, they want to take a piece of the Wall home with them. And when you offer not only a convenient product, but also a product with a story, tell them what kind of sleeping herb it is and why we put the seed in the shoppers... Now a lot of locals are interested in the shoppers and have started ordering them. Recently, we had an order from a company that makes eco-friendly houses, and they decided to order an eco-friendly product as a gift.
-How did you feel when you applied for the contest?
When I applied, I understood it this way: If you have already started something, you have to do it. When you start taking more serious steps, thinking through the concept, ideas, how it will be implemented, what processes will be involved, then you understand more clearly where to go, what to do, and the competition contributed to this.
I was able to figure out how to build this small business at the initial stage. Perhaps if I had started on my own, I would not have thought about such things.
-What are your plans for the future?
I would like to expand the range, I don't want to stop with bags, we plan to make other eco-friendly products for girls. In general, I am constantly walking and being inspired by my native trails of Stina.
My brand is something very personal that has grown into something large-scale. And when you try to make a product for yourself, to make it comfortable and of high quality, it's easier to expand and make it more massive for another audience, because it's made with love, as if for yourself!
- What would you wish to all Creators?
If you have ideas, never leave them unrealized, because a lot of ideas remain in your head for life, because we have our own barriers that prevent us from moving and implementing plans. And it's very sad, because over time, that enthusiasm disappears, and you completely forget what you wanted to do.
If there are projects like This is Craft, you should definitely apply! You have nothing to lose: if you win, great, if you don't win, it's okay, you can try again.
The impetus to create your own is what is valued nowadays!
