Undina Wear - Natural Clothing made by mother and daughter

The story of Isabel Reis and her daughter Anastasia: about the connection between times, environmental care, aesthetics,“croche” and “salt flowers”.

Isabel Reis is an interior designer, a person with an insuppressible thirst for aesthetics in all its manifestations, from early childhood. She is the creator of several art projects that are the reflection of her personal life philosophy and views. For example, Isabel believes that any design begins with the being of a person - the self expression with the hairstyle, clothing, attitude and so on. “You are the design and all that surrounds you is a reflection and manifestation of yourself.”

Isabel is the mother of Anastasia. Last year Isabel and Anastasia created the first collection for their joint brand Undina Wear. “Undina” (known to be a mermaid in the european folklore and in Latin meaning “from the waves”) is a story about two generations, the brand of mother and daughter, in which modern times and old times are interwoven, Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa, basic and vintage.

But let's get it in the right order.

“My aunt was born physically disabled and since I can remember her, she was knitting lace, using an old technique with a one hook needle called ‘crochet’ in French.” Crochet is a technique through which especially airy, weightless and smooth textures can be created. “Once I took my favorite and simplest shirt, made of natural linen, and added lace to it. This became the prototype of our future clothing line Undina Wear. In a surprising and unintentional way, I targeted the style of Tel Aviv youth. These young guys love simplicity and mostly wear jeans and T-shirts made of good quality and natural fabrics.”

Interestingly, in 2019, the gothic trend of integrating lace was rediscovered and reborn, this being visible on runways of designers such as Missoni, MSGM, Alexander McQueen and other top designers.

“This is when my ‘hunt for lace’ began, I started walking around flea markets and searching for crochets - napkins, tablecloths, curtains and anything else I could find. This technique became the identifying mark of our brand and the reflection of our identity, fully meeting the principles by which we are guided in our everyday life - environmental friendliness, conservation, manual production.

As an interior designer, I often use vintage elements in the design of modern apartments. Also, in my personal wardrobe, I combine today's brands with clothes and accessories from the 80s or 90s. People invested their creativity, soul and time in these items, while slowly, manually and precisely creating them. I believe that we do not have to constantly produce and buy something new, over and over again, there is so much which already exists and which can be improved and reused.”

“As mentioned before, Undina is a brand shared by my daughter and I, but in fact, the initiator was Anastasia.”

Anastasia’s story of Undina began with the extraction of exclusive marine salt in Crete. Anastasia lives in Crete seasonally and manages two tourist accommodations in the west side of the island: 1. Kritamos Holiday - Experience Southwest Crete in quiet hospitality on a hillside away from touristic areas. Discover virgin beaches, lagoons and breathtaking sights around every corner, reconnect with nature and rest your mind.

2. El 38 Rooms Chania - Boutique hostel in historic Chania city center offers nostalgic accommodation throughout the year. Prime located to the old city, center and the beach.

During her 2019 summer stay on the south-western part of the island she was invited to join locals in search of natural salt by the sea. While visiting Israel she brought home a small amount of the salt she had collected, crispy, crystal-like and amazingly white. This salt is known in the culinary world as fleur de sel (from the French “flower of salt”). It is collected directly from the sea near Crete from the months of May until October (unlike the mass production by giant corporations in artificial pools). Anastasia collects the salt by hand, the way it used to be collected, then dries it in the sun and places it in jars made of the real onyx. After all, this salt is a unique mineral containing useful trace elements essential for our life.

Fleur de Sel by Undina is sold in health food stores as well as online.

http://www.undina.co

“The large flakes of salt reminded me of my beloved ‘crochet’, so my daughter and I decided to unite in creating the image of a kind of modern mermaid - the heroine of our days with her natural beauty, connected to Mother Earth, nutritioned by her fruit and awareness, acceptancing the cycles of nature and dressed in her own style, without chasing after fashion,

carrying lightness and energy.

The first collection of 50 T-shirts was quickly scattered among friends. Starting from the second collection, we manually added inspirational inscriptions - delicate and neat, in the style of tattoos, not only on skin, but on clothes, our ‘second skin’. I chose my first favorite phrases from books, films and popular songs, and now it is constantly replenished with phrases from life offered by friends and clients."

Today the Undina Wear line offers several types of shirts made of cotton or linen, and available in two colors, white and black, both for women and men.

“We pamper our female clients with light white dresses which are perfect for day and night, any joyous event and even dresses for the modern bride asking for a light, informal and non-expensive wedding dress.”

"Lately we are taking more onto the direction of upcycled fashion by using dead stocks. Often we reuse high quality items saved in good shape from our own collection gathered over the years".

The joint activities of Anastasia and Isabel are based on caring for human health, contact with nature and awareness of the unity of all creatures in this world.

“We buy already made wear that is out in the market and give it our own touch, making each piece an unique personal item. We call it UpCycling. We do not support the fashion industry as it is, massively producing too much of what nobody needs.

We believe that change comes from the people, and so we hope for all mankind to heal from the mass purchase need and ‘more means better’ lifestyle towards high quality and meaningful experiences.

Photo: Alina Voronyuk, Liya Geldman

Fabrics: 100% Linen and Cotton.

Where to buy:

Boutique Showerooms-

Natalie Walker - Beit Eshel 11 JAFFA-TLV

Eclectic by sari - Elkalai St 5, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Online - Etsy ,eBay, undina.co,

Undina on Instagram:

Undina.wear

Undina.Co .

Source:

https://beinisrael.com/social/made-in-israel/undina-dizajnerskij-brend-materi-i-docheri/

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Undina Awakening

The new decade is bringing potential that was growing for 3 years to blossom. It all started with the love my mom has for handcrafting and vintage details. 3 years ago, she created the first handmade tank top, using a clear white linen top, handley attaching a big starry crochet patch on the front, giving it the vintage and more personalized look. You can find the Undina Wear collection in our shop.

Photo taken by the talented Adi Tarkay https://www.instagram.com/aditarkay/ At that time I was far from thinking of my own Brand, in reality. I always had the dream to do my own thing, my own creation, my own firm or my own invention. But I could not imagine at all - in what form, in what way, in which direction and under which values. I was still in the process of finishing my higher education, lasting for a long 5 years period. As a Law and Business student, starting the university experience a bit too early, knowing very little about life, my own desires and characteristics, or just not mature enough to realize them yet, I had no clue where life will turn me around. Traveling has always been a big love we shared with my mother, but there came a point I had to send myself towards a solo traveling somewhere. A journey where I could totally feel and surrender to who I truly am. I thought about Thailand and of course I thought about India, but eventually I decided to go somewhere closer to achieve the full relaxation and freedom - knowing both my parents are a bit calmer for me traveling somewhere close rather than far. There began my love affair with the beautiful greek land and her surrounding seas, sizzling warm culture, picturesque views, delicious food, open hearted people, lyrical language and the rural lifestyle quality. For some years, every vacation or time off was another opportunity to explore a new corner in Greece. As my studies came to an end, followed by a short period of time working as an intern in a law office - reality has hit me, and I could no longer avoid the sounds of my soul communicating throughout my body, telling me - 'you are going in the wrong direction'. I didn't know what was the right one, and it quickly showed that none of my relatives or friends knew either, what is the right direction for me. I found myself frozen against the wall, and I knew I was the only one to know better for myself. It was time for me to be true to my inner voice and intuition - a journey ever lasting for many years to come. 3 years later since that first tank top, as I was spending the summer of 2019 working on the greek Island, Crete - as a host of Kritamos Holiday, traditional hospitality property, the activity around Undina gave its first steps. Some locals have invited me to join an Artisan style collection of natural sea salt by the shores. I was far from knowing that soon this activity will bring me to take the responsibility and state my voice with my own Boutique Brand - Undina Fleur de Sel. The idea started to shape quickly after falling in love with the crystal-like substance known in the culinary world as - fleur de sel or flower of salt. Wonderful sparkling white salt flakes caught my attention and soon I was sure that I have to share this amazing taste and texture with my friends and relatives in my next trip to my hometown - TLV city. And so it was, instead of buying some local cheese, olive oil and honey as souvenirs and gifts I decided to bring a collection of my own - small amount of Natural Handpicked Fleur de sel with handpicked wild sage and oregano growing in the area of the village kefali - south east Crete. My small natural package was happily accepted and all were waiting for the next pack to come, stating that especially the salt is a great culinary treat. My mom raised the glove and said she supports me on that idea, and the enthusiasm was on!

Day by day we came closer to the personality of our new born creation - Undina the nymph. Undina is a water nymph owning and caring for the treasures of the sea. She is a divine soul, coming to earth to serve mother nature and humankind - striving to bring them back to unity. As a human being, I approach the creation of Undina with personal attachment, motivation and satisfaction. I believe that our day-by-day activity and the thought-feeling process regarding our activities, design our life experience. I am driven to keep on expanding the awakening of undina within me - caring more for human beings and for the nature that has been given for us to enjoy it, care for it, nourish it - so that it can keep on giving us the small gifts of life.

This is the very beginning, of Undina's wonders through the journey of life.