Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, I developed my artistic skills in an environment that emphasized creative choice and boundless forms of expression. In a social and economic circumstance affected by communism and the lack of freedom of expression, my family, artists as well, provided me with a thinking background and atmosphere that allowed my young mind to develop beyond the imposed rules. Playing and dreaming in worlds of colors, shapes, and textures, I learned to expand my skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, and crafts.
In my family studio I was also first introduced to specific art fields and design. My father, a visual artist and a fashion accessories designer, opened up new avenues and interest in engraving, lithography, graphic design and illustration, as well as a multitude of leather working techniques. My mother, a fashion designer specialized in modern interpretations of Romanian folk costume, established and nurtured my lifetime love for style, fearless experimentation, and heritage. With such a history already part of my being, my natural course for education was enrolling into art schools from an early age.
With a high school diploma in Graphic Arts and a Bachelors Degree in Set and Costume Design, I had the opportunity to understand more of the history of elements that created today's society, as well as the needs born with evolution. A career in accessory and fashion design was imminent, as it combines all these values with aesthetic interpretations of shape and structure, as well as the love for traditional crafts that bring richness and character to industrial products.
Launched in early 2008 in Toronto, Canada, my home since 2003, Imperfect Indulgence is the fruit of all the artistic mediums I have accumulated over time and it represents my dedication for style and innovation. I have always dreamed of bringing unique and vibrant designs to life and translating them into finely handcrafted creations, while at the same time infusing them with teachings from all my artistic experiences. Imperfect Indulgence freed my dreams and indulged me with welcomed creative challenges that naturally resulted in my creation of handmade bags, belts and jewelry built on sculptural volumes, complex manual braiding and weaving, leather painting and patinas, sculpted accessories, elegant interior decoration objects, and decorative and wearable masks. Beyond these already established pieces, I also embrace the development of custom projects.
My design philosophy is to honor individuality in a way that is playful and free of imposed rules, sustainable through the permanent commitment to natural, long lasting materials and superior craftsmanship. I treat each and every one of my creations as works of art with built-in functionality and take pride in creating a perpetual, public, interactive exhibition with your help, the art and fashion lover who chooses to wear or display my statement.