June Members: Meet Rut Otero, NAEITA and Whirl & Whittle
This month we welcome three talented powerhouses hailing from the US to Italy and Canada. Formally trained in architecture, these founders have transcended to new crafts with the utmost elegance, beauty and precision.
All projects shown here will also be exhibited at Gubns Architect-Maker Pop-up during the London Festival of Architecture next month. Usually exhibited online or across different parts of the world, don’t miss the chance to see these works in-person for a limited time.
First up, meet Rut Otero, the architect turned fashion designer whose namesake brand is born from experimenting and drawing new connections between raw materials, craftsmanship and technology.
Rut’s fashion sensibilities are rooted in meaningful creations and a slower approach to design with special emphasis on history, process and handcrafted works. All of her items are handmade by artisans in Spain who hold great passion for their work and treat each piece as a work of art.
With Gubns, Rut brings her newest collection, FORM, designed in collaboration with Frida Martinsson, founder of ‘by FRIDA EM’, who creates modular art wear from upcycled bicycle tubes. Together, the two designers combine the ethereal femininity of silk and the gritty intensity of bicycle tubes to create a striking collection:
“The brand was founded with a great sense of responsibility for our planet and its inhabitants.”
Up next, NAEITA, is a design brand founded by Nicole Passarella, a New York-based practicing architect who brings a keen sense of detail and form.
NAEITA supports a slow fashion philosophy. There are no seasons to the collections, but rather each piece is designed to be timeless and quality is a top priority. The 2022 collection is the result of a year-long design development in collaboration with expert artisans from a fine-craft leather manufacturer in Italy.
Q. How does your background in architecture influence your designs?
Nicole: As I’d mentioned before the creative process to develop a bag is not so different than designing a building. Geometries, materials and textures are the main ingredients of our recipe. As an architect I’m experimenting a lot with shapes in my projects. NAEITA takes some of those geometries into our design to create a sculptural but functional product. They are almost mini architectures.
Q. Why have you decided to join Gubns?
Nicole: Architecture projects in general take a long time to see the light, so many architects have the need to develop projects that can be realized in a relative short amount of time—something you can touch and produce quickly. It could be a sculpture or a recipe or fashion piece. A place where all these designs come together seems a great idea!
NAEITA’s collection on Gubns currently includes:
“Sculptural, fluid and functional designs infused with an ethos of sustainability.”
All the way in Ottawa, Ontario - our first member in Canada - we have Pooja Pawaskar who launched her brand Whirl & Whittle in 2019. While some designers strive for flawlessness, Indian-born, Canadian-based Pooja creates wooden and ceramic pieces that honor the inherent beauty in each object's peculiarities.
Her formal education is in architecture and furniture design, a path greatly inspired by her grandfather. After working for a few years as a furniture designer, her love for starting her own studio came calling. We’re proud to be exhibiting two of her pieces, Yuna and Liv and the Nila Sculpture.
“Handmade objects that share the story of Wabi-Sabi. Designed for those who appreciate humble luxury.”
All projects shown here will be available to browse and purchase at Gubns Architect-Maker Pop-up as part of the London Festival of Architecture from June 24-30th.