“Les vacances d’Irina Is All My Vulnerabilities, All My Beliefs and All My Dreams”: In Conversation with Irina Moroșanu

Photo: Les vacances d’Irina

Les Vacances d’Irina: a timeless pact between a brand and its founder’s name. I can not think of Irina Moroșanu and Les vacances d’Irina but as one.

A brand like a poem. A life’s choice. She’s the Peter Pan who got away with growing up and figuring out what to do with his life. In an eternally childlike way, Irina seems to always create thinking “do something that you love”. Her creativity always anew, her imagination always in motion propelling her forward, her mind meandering wherever it needs to go, her courage without limit in being herself and nobody else. I can understand how Irina’s tender language can survive in each of her creations. Timeless elegance with a twinkle in its eye.

Clothes that reflect the spirit of the maker, but also of the wearer, with Irina’s personal style evolving into that of every woman who does not want to look like everybody else on the street. It expresses a high claim to individuality. It is a claim to quality that goes beyond the material, processing and design of clothing, it is a claim that includes values. That’s why when I speak of Les vacances d’Irina, it’s a story bigger than clothes that seamlessly resurfaces, it’s clothes that breath, speak and inspire stories, it’s a life’s vision. It’s a rare elegance, simplicity, intelligence, passion and class.

Made in Romania, Irina’s creations champion artisanal skills to carry on a timeless, glamorous style. There’s art behind these clothes. The art of cutting a fabric, but also the art of true elegance, the art of being yourself. Every great brand has a few items that shape its basic style, and yet, Les vacances d’Irina seems to have managed to achieve this unitary vision, each new piece instantly finding a voice and becoming part of the brand’s aesthetic and identity. Each new and old at the same time. Irina’s modesty, unconscious flair and quiet elegance stem from a deep understanding of life and of the self.

Les Vacances d’Irina sells in very select shops around the world, from Tokyo to London to Bucharest to Antiparos. But Irina wears her success lightly. And more than hardwork and craftsmanship, it’s her attention to detail and to those around her that ignites this worldwide recognition. Light and details perfect each dress, cape, velvet sack, skirt or blouse. Despite her success, there is a mystery that lingers around Irina and her creations. Les vacances d’Irina is unequivocally Irina Moroșanu, but each creation, each design leaves room for the imagination and for the personality of each wearer, just like a good children’s book, artfully illustrated, leaves room to each reader to create their own little universe within its pages.

I wanted to end the year with something special and I am happy and grateful to have Irina as my guest today.

Photos: Les vacances d’Irina

The 2010s: the birth of a name and a brand. What is the story behind that name and what was the defining moment for creating Les Vacances d’Irina?

It was January 2018 January when the brand started. Les vacances d’Irina was initially inspired by a wicker basket found in a French flea market and a sailor collar. Our vision was to revive the essence of leisurely Mediterranean vacations, reminiscent of days gone by.

The name was born during an evening stroll through the city – a serendipitous moment when something greater than anticipated took shape.

“This brand is an extension of myself,
it is all my vulnerabilities, all my beliefs and all my dreams.”

Your designs reflect a very unique point of view, a feeling of freedom and individuality, embodying an unwitting and fresh temperament. And although there are many independent fashion brands out there who do their own thing, yours (and I’d rather use the word clothing, or design, instead of fashion when in comes to Les Vacances d’Irina) feels so distinctively personal and truly revolutionary. A stylist, as well as a storyteller. I feel there is a well of inspiration behind your designs and aesthetics. Can you talk a little about that?

Thank you! I am deeply touched to read this. You had me at “I’d rather use the word clothing, or design, instead of fashion when in comes to Les Vacances d’Irina”. The choice to define Les Vacances d’Irina as more than just “fashion,” but rather as clothing, design, it’s a compliment and it’s true – it reflects an intention for something deeper, more enduring.

We never wanted to be trendy, we never wanted to do things that are easy to sell – we wanted to communicate this aesthetic of slow living and modesty, a state of a modest luxury through our stitches, to our fabrics, to our easiness.

This brand is an extension of myself, it is all my vulnerabilities, all my beliefs and all my dreams. When my creations come alive, they transform into something more exquisite in motion, akin to a dance of liberation. I see them like waves, flowing and breathing, inviting you to embrace yourself in the graceful movement.

Photos: Les vacances d’Irina

Portrait of a woman. “To get to where I am, you have to go back to where I came from,” someone once said. Does that ring true to you?

For me, it resonates deeply. Progress often demands a return to our roots, the very essence of our being. There is no chance to move forward if we don’t go back. Back to the roots, back to what made us.

I am all the experiences that I have lived since I was born – I am a lover of the light precisely because when I was little, the way light fell on things was a consolation in so many tough moments.

My mother used to write poems…I adore poetry now. I call my designs, poetry. I think that there are some very powerful values that are deeply imprinted in our DNA and I think we have to observe them carefully and to catch them in the exact right moment, otherwise we will loose them as you lose the snowflakes when you hold them in your hand. To keep them and to take care of these values, sensitivities, the raw fragments of our souls — be it sorrow, rage, or healing – is pivotal. All these, in the creative process, they mean everything. Without them, you will never be able to create.

“There is no chance to move forward if we don’t go back.
Back to the roots, back to what made us.”

Your ability to create truly seems ingrained in your DNA, and I say it with the most sincere and revelatory feeling. You seem passionately rooted in things with beauty and meaning, and your brand, the clothes you create reflect that. Did you consciously choose making clothes, instead of any other artistic field, as a way to best express yourself?

Thank you for your kind words.
The choice to create clothing wasn’t so much a conscious decision as it was a natural evolution. Clothing became the canvas on which I could paint my vision of a lifestyle, of values and experiences. It wasn’t just about the fabric; it was about crafting an experience, a feeling of nostalgia, a connection to moments and places.

In a way, clothing allowed me to merge my love for aesthetics, storytelling, and the tactile nature of design. It felt like the perfect medium to communicate the essence of slow living and modest luxury that I envisioned.

Photos: Les vacances d’Irina

I love what you said about the light. The way you communicate your brand image with light makes me think of the basics of photography, drawing with light. Often when I see how you style or model one of your items of clothing I get the feeling it is conceived in perfect accordance with how the light falls, a chance to create something visual that you never take for granted. Do you think of these settings filled with storytelling from the moment the idea of a garment inspires you?

These settings, these natural events, serve as my endless inspiration. Each item sparks a vision not just of its design but of the diverse canvases life offers. It’s a natural dance of clothing and nature’s ever-changing light. I envision in my mind, how each creation harmonizes with the light graciously.

”I call my designs, poetry.”

Who is the Les Vacances d’Irina woman?

Les Vacances d’Irina woman is every woman!

She carries a natural ease while embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with being a woman.

Photos: Les vacances d’Irina

Les Vacances d’Irina… Have you always been curious about other places? Has any, besides the flea market in France, served as a source of creation more than others?

Les Vacances d’Irina finds its heartbeat in the Mediterranean’s simplicity, the purity of Greek islands’ whites, the vibrant hues of the Italian coasts, and the romance of French destinations.

While firstly inspired by a French flea market, this brand’s innocence and inspiration spring from the diverse beauty of these places. Each design aims to echo the essence of these idyllic locales, capturing their colours, romance, and effortless charm.

“We never wanted to be trendy,
we never wanted to do things that are easy to sell.”

Your pieces are hand crafted by Romanian artisans, renowned for their rich history in textiles and craftsmanship. How decisive is this locally-made element for the identity of Les Vacances d’Irina?

The essence of our brand is deeply rooted in the concept of being “locally-made”. Every design we create is meticulously crafted in Romania. This place allows us to bring intricate designs to life, and we feel incredibly fortunate to call it home for our brand.

The six years of delighting customers in one of Tokyo’s finest shops have been the ultimate validation of our dedication. It’s a testament that what we do, we do with excellence. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the talented artisans and craftsmen in Romania. They are an integral part of our growth, and their work is something I respect very much.

Photos: Les vacances d’Irina

You have a successful clothing brand yet it is the kind of brand that is bound to bring joy, quality, and glamour as it once was into the lives of the women who wear it and into the world, a brand that values the weight of balance beyond any material aim. How do you manage not to lose sight of your core values? Or, in other words, what is the biggest challenge of making slow fashion?

I think the most powerful quality that a brand can have stays in its ability to create timeless designs and to resist trends. It’s very tempting to deviate and to loose your identity. We do really small series for each item, we chose the shops we sell in to be nicely curated boutiques with really carefully chosen items.

“Embracing our imperfections is part of our humanity.”

You are doing a marvelous job at being yourselves! What do you wish people appreciated more in this time and age, not just design-wise?

My deepest hope is for people to appreciate the natural rhythms of life, the values that shaped us and the beauty in our imperfections. Embracing our imperfections as part of our humanity, valuing the authenticity of each individual’s journey. Above all, I hope we will never forget that kindness is the heart of everything, the very essence of who we are.

Shop: lesvacancesdirina.ro | Instagram: @lesvacancesdirina