Modern uniforms as upfront and intentional as the women they adorn are Natalia Altewai’s sartorial bread and butter. The Stockholm-based designer and creative director, currently residing at cult brand, Totême, designs celebrated collections that are inspired by practical, modern living, occupying the intersection of craftsmanship and comfort.
01 THE MATERIAL I LOVE WORKING WITH THE MOST
linen fibre – I just love the durability and foreverness of it.
02 A TECHNICAL PROCESS THAT FASCINATES ME IS
the process of creating shoes and shoe lasts. The craftsmanship involved in sculpting a shoe last is a wonderful thing to witness, making you truly appreciate the effort, precision and materials required to craft just one shoe.
03 THE WOMAN I DESIGN FOR IS
mature, bold yet comfortable: a woman who is aware of her surroundings.
04 MY FAVOURITE THING THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT MY WORK
Reporting on a small capsule collection I recently designed for Totême, one article wrote, “with 15 pieces of sublimely curated evening wear, the exclusive capsule is the embodiment of understated elegance with streamlined silhouettes, luxe materials, and immortal styles." I really felt like they grasped the essence of what I was trying to emulate and it made me truly happy.
05 THE DESIGN I'M MOST PROUD OF IS
I’ve been very lucky to have had the luxury and opportunity to create so many designs for so many different brands and clients in my career, so it’s hard for me to pick one design I’m most proud of. I feel the most pride knowing that my designs are appreciated and that women love how my garments make them feel.
06 THE HOMEWARE ITEM I'M EYEING RIGHT NOW
we’ve been renovating our apartment for over one and a half years, so I'm really looking forward to shopping for homeware when we eventually move in! At the moment I cannot stop thinking about this table and benches from furniture company Figura. They were designed by the Halleroed duo: I absolutely love everything they do.
*Image © Cerruti Draime.
07 THE PLACE IN THE WORLD I AM LONGING TO VISIT IS
my grandfather's house near Gdańsk in Poland. With the recent covid restrictions, we haven't been able to visit for a while. My grandfather is a very old man and I really long for him. At his age, time is of the essence and I really want him to meet my kids again and see how much they’ve grown.
*Natalia's grandfather photographed by Lo Vahlström.
08 I OWN A COLLECTION OF
DuPont lighters and canes.
NATALIA'S FAVOURITE THINGS
01 Charlotte Rampling: a woman whose style she'd love to emulate.
02 The work of Egon Schiele.
03 The "Shell No.1" necklace.
04 The gym S.P.R Athlete Factory in Stockholm.
05 The restaurant "Prospero" in Stockholm.