Today our guest for this blog post is Irena, she works in our stores and has been with us since 2009. She knows Vaho’s philosophy, the way our client thinks and its wishes. In a certain way, she is in our heart. Today she’s going to talk to us a little bit more about herself and about her experience within Vaho… Are you ready?
In just two words you are...
Joyful and stubborn.
How did you end up in Vaho?
A couple of my friends already worked in Vaho when I was just about to start my studies and was looking for a part time job that I could do while studying. They recommended me for a position, I was interviewed and right after the interview I started working. To be honest, at that time (2009) I didn’t even know that there were brands like Vaho, brands that used recycling in such an uncommon way and so close to the costumer. I started on 2009 and I have been working at Vaho ever since, while doing my undergraduate studies and during my masters as well. I have spent so many hours in the stores that they are to me like a second living room.
I have learnt a lot helping people from all around the world and the relationships with the team members have always been really good. We have always had an excellent relationship between employees and I have very good friends within Vaho. I’m even the godmother of my goddaughter Mia –her mother use to be my boss at Vaho. It has honestly been a very positive personal and professional experience for me.
Your studies...
Social and Cultural Anthropology undergraduate studies at Universitat de Barcelona and Biological Anthropology Master’s Degree at Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Your favorite color...
All shades of blue...
Where are you from?
I was born in Samokov (Bulgaria) and I lived there for half my life, the other half I have lived in Barcelona and to be honest I could not pick a city over the other. I consider myself from both places.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
To be happy is an attitude not an estate of mind.
One piece of advice for Vaho?
If it is true that everything starts with a good idea, to make it happen and to constantly improve it is very closely related to the communication between all the parts that participate on a project. My advice is that the communication between the designers, the producers –the people that makes it possible for the products to get to the stores–, the team that sells the products and the final customer has to be very clear and stable. In my opinion, that is what helps a brand to make the best products and what makes possible for a brand to offer the most complete possible product.
Your working day is…
Unpredictable, but always very dynamic. As I work straight customer oriented in a city like Barcelona every day is different because I deal with many kinds of people and that is why my working routines are so different every day. The music that keeps you company changes with the moods that the days bring you. And every day the feeling is different, during Christmas time you can feel much more the Christmassy mood in the people, during the summer the city is much more active with people from all over the world here in vacation and you can feel much more how busy it is.
Last book you read...
“The Empathy Exams: Essays” by Leslie Jamison.
A song?
“Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones.
Your favorite city...
Barcelona (No doubts).
Morning or afternoon?
Morning.
Cat or dog?
Cat.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
Your dream is...
To travel around the world without reason or cause. Just to travel and to know different places and ways to live.
Your hobby is...
To dream about how I would do those trips, to plan them in my mind even though sometimes I do look for real data about those places and how much it would cost me to get there for example.
Introvert or outgoing?
Outgoing.
5 words about Vaho...
Unique designs, sustainability, a local and responsible production process and usefulness fit in a single bag.
6 words about Vaho’s customer...
Vaho’s customer is a responsible person concerned about his ecological and economic impact so they are usually very thankful.
How do you feel when you wear Frida, the Vaho’s bag?
I feel it is a very modern design that combines very well the use of innovative materials with the shape of a classic handbag. The fact that you can use the longer strip or the shorter ones gives the bag a lot of possibilities that make it very easy to create different looks either more conservative and elegant or more urban and casual. It is very practical because of its size and shape and I can use it if I only have to take the basics or if I need to carry my laptop. Personally, I don’t like to make it hard at creating a look when choosing the bag I will carry, that’s why I like Frida. It takes out of my mind such process because of its practicality and adaptability.