Feature Designer: Nudio Studio

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

We can’t get enough of bespoke menswear labels here at FK, so you can imagine our delight when we received an application from Nudio Studio for our markets last year.  Today, we chat to Fika about the motivations behind starting Nudio Studio and get an insight into the labels creative process.  

Tell us a bit about Nudio Studio and what we can expect to discover?
Nudio Studio is a lifestyle brand focusing on men’s fashion leather accessories.  The concept behind Nudio Studio was to design and create premium and comfortable leather accessories for men that can be worn for both casual and dress-up occasion (Hence WORK x PLAY is our motto).  All items are handmade in small quantity by leather artisans in Indonesia.

Who are the team behind Nudio Studio and what are their roles?
The brand was created by a group of friends, who had shared the same passion for leather.  I am in charge of marketing and design, whilst my husband is looking after IT and accounting.  My very good friend a.k.a. business partner in Indonesia sources all the materials and looks for workshops that are suitable for our production.  He happens to own a leather tannery and his place produces some of the best leathers in the world!

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

What do you love about working with leather and Men’s accessories and what keeps you creatively motivated?
The thing I love working with leather and men’s accessories is that leather enhances masculinity and coolness in men’s modern fashion.  Leather creates unique characteristic and depth to the item’s appearance.  Working with leather doesn’t mean that the design has to be vintage.  It can be as contemporary as you want it to be.  And who doesn’t love the smell and feel of genuine leather? ☺

Keeping me creatively motivated sometimes can be really hard.  Some days are great where your ideas just keep flowing out; some days can be a struggle.  Usually I take inspirations from simple yet practical things such as Melbourne’s street arts and what guys wear everyday.  When I see someone dressed nicely on the street I would take mental note on what sort of accessories that would suit those clothing or style.  It is the similar case with my husband.  He is very selective when choosing outfit and from him I usually imagine the design that will fit with modern guys like him.

What is your workspace like and what is your creative process?
Right now I am working from my apartment in Southbank, Melbourne.  My apartment is sort of crossbred, I have Parisian vintage framed posters and decorations right next to oriental antique chests and my husband’s B&W photography, Barcelona lounge chairs paired up with some vintage leather cushions and minimalist TV cabinet from IKEA.  Café style dining chairs with a commercial looking kitchen.  Plus the leather samples and boxes scattered on floor.  I love all those styles so I decided to mix everything up.  Because of the proximity to a lot of trendy suburbs in Melbourne, sometimes I would just walk or take a public transport to check things around.

My creative process has 2 approaches.  The first one would be sketching and drawing the pattern then choosing the suitable leather.  The second one would be when I see a type of leather that I really love I will then think what sort of accessories or design will suit the leather best.  After the design is drawn out I will consult with my partner and the leather artisan to produce a sample.  This normally takes the longest, where we need to do countless tuning with the pattern details until we get it right.  I frequently fly to Indonesia to choose the material and check on the work-in-progress.

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

What challenges have you faced starting your own label, and what are some things you love about it?
Challenges… Where do I start?  I guess the biggest challenge is starting everything by ourselves from scratch.  Not everyone was supportive with our idea and it is a struggle to be positive when bad situations come.  Keep believing in our passion and what we want to achieve, yet be realistic about it.  Basically challenges have been my learning curve and it will always be.  However once we pass a storm there will be some satisfaction and proud moment.  The thing I love most is when I see someone buying or wearing Nudio Studio’s product, I feel so delighted that my hard work is appreciated.

What new projects are you working on and where would you like to see Nudio Studio in the future?
Currently we are trying to venture into women’s accessories.  We are testing some of the products to see the response and get feedback.  We are also working on our first lookbook and we can’t wait to see it!  With men’s accessories we hope to create more products like folders, bags, and if possible some interior decoration items.  In future, I would like to see Nudio Studio’s products going global and yet maintaining the craftsmanship and quality we have now.

www.nudiostudio.com.au
instagram.com/nudiostudio

Nudio Studio Mens accessories

Leave a comment