Fluevog For Your Walls (Win!)

Otto Studio, Canada’s premiere peel-and-stick wallpaper company, has launched its newest collection with none other than shoe/design guru John Fluevog. The range includes three PVC-free wallpapers and a set of vinyl decals. This renter-friendly wallpaper can be removed leaving paint intact, making it a quick and easy way to personalize your space with limited-edition designs from the venerable Vancouver footwear and lifestyle brand. We chatted with Arabella Barros, design director at John Fluevog Shoes, to learn more. —Vita Daily

Hi Arabella! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start!

My interest in design and making things started very early as I always had fabrics, sewing and art supplies around growing up. I was born in a family of very creative people who influenced and taught me how to sew, knit, embroider, etc. I’m originally from Brazil where I went to Fashion Design school and specialized in Footwear Design. I moved to Canada in 2010 and the first time I visited a Fluevog store I felt an instant connection with the colors and silhouettes, it really inspired me. I joined Fluevog 11 years ago and currently lead the (amazing) Design team, bridging John ’s creative direction and channeling it into our product lines. I’m very obsessed with color combinations and surface designs, probably one of my favorite stages of the design process. I love how the use of colors, materials and textures enhance the product silhouette and allow us to tell a visual and tactile story every collection we release.

Can you tell us about the collection, products offered, and the inspiration behind the designs?

Our creative team used company archives, elements of product design, retail design and other signature creative assets to inspire this wallpaper collection. The first pattern, called Rebel Petal, is based on a daisy motif that has historically been used as an appliqué in shoe design. The second, Fluevogian Florals, is based on a mosaic painted in our Kitsilano and New York retail stores. The final pattern in the collection is a montage of images from 1970s, ’80s and ’90s Fluevog catalogs and advertisements. The vinyl decals are a collection of classic Fluevog motifs like daisies shoes and angels as well as other shapes that can be arranged on walls or furniture in countless patterns.

What role did you play in Fluevog’s new collab with Otto Studio?

I brought to the mix some of our signature color combinations, coordinating it in a way it would be cohesive with some of our current and future products. It was a very collaborative process. We worked very close to the Otto Studio team, to ensure the repeats, scales and colors were the best for decor purposes, while keeping it unique, colorful and bold like Fluevog designs.

What made this partnership a perfect fit for Fluevog, which most people know for fashion rather than decor?

Our line has expanded from footwear to accessories and lifestyle in the past few seasons. Our customers are a strong source of inspiration for our team. As we see how creative they get by matching their outfits to their shoes and even creating custom shelves to display their Fluevog collections, we thought this would be the perfect way to take our colors and prints to the next level and bring (even) more color and joy to our “Flummunity”.

Why will Fluevog super-fans get a “kick” out of this wallpaper range? Any tips on how they can apply it in their own spaces?

Taking a shoe-selfie in front of our store mirrors is a must, you can have your own “You look great <3” mirror now! Fluevogers are unique very creative souls, we know this is the perfect opportunity to expand their aesthetic from outfits to their homes, computers and tablets. An accent floral wall is of course a fabulous way to add joy to any room. We also picture the prints applied to kitchen cabinets, bathrooms and for all Fluevog collectors, they can add a custom background to their shoe nukes/special shelves/shoe closets making it even more special.

How does the Fluevog team bring joy, colour and fun into its own spaces?

We all have in common a love for thrifting and making new things out of old things. Just like our shoes, we are individuals who express creativity by mixing different layers of inspiring elements. There is always some sort of contrast in our creative choices, being that by use of colors or as an usual combination or two different design aesthetics. In our homes you can find vintage rugs, ceramics or small pieces purchased during a special trip, handmade patch-worked pillows, vintage concert posters, record collections, a DIY fun picture frame, a great find colorful accent piece from marketplace or all that combined!

thisisottostudio.com

Win! A John Fluevog X Otto Studio Prize Pack!

Congrats Gar Ming H. of Maple Ridge, BC, who will receive two Fluevog x Otto Studio laptop skins (choice of patterns) and a set of large vinyl decals! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.