Who is Ioanna Liberta? What is a Green Box? How can you be in love with a feather? Can you run around with a sandal hanging on your neck?
Well, Joanna is one of the most promising, young, Greek jewelry designers. Every single (and I mean e-ve-ry si-ngle) jewel she creates, makes us go WOW.
And how come every jewel she creates, makes us go WOW? I really don’t know. This girl has only recently decided to launch her own jewelry business: a small yet very elegant workshop in downtown Athens where, day by day, she finds herself becoming the darling of the fashion-conscious youngsters of the city.
She is very happy with her decision. «Even in the middle of a heavy economic crisis which makes everything much harder than it actually would be… I haven’t regretted following my dream one bit», she says.
It’s August and she is in her workshop, “Green Box”, on Syntagma Square. It’s a really hot day and I’ m just wondering how she can cope with having to work when everybody else just dreams of laying low somewhere cool till the sun comes down. 40 degrees makes you like that, you know.
“I am in a phase where I keep designing jewelry even when I’ m sleeping. I close my eyes and I dream of new designs! Whether it’s hot or cold, that’s what I’ m dreaming of.”
It’s better to work at night when it’s so hot. Are you a night person?
“Absolutely. After midnight, I become more creative.”
Tell me something about your new pendant, the one called “Hermis”.
“Hermis is an ancient Greek sandal with wings (like the one of the ancient god). I introduced it to the market exactly at the time that the retrograde Mercury (Hermis, in Greek) phase was over. This pendant has brought my work to a whole new level… The Hermis sandal and the feather before that were so difficult to make, really. I have learned a lot through their making process”.
Where do you find inspiration?
“I get inspired from Greece. I love my country. Our history, our sun… Greece is a symbol for me… a symbol for freedom. It always reminds me of the wings I have on my back. I have wings and I can achieve everything because I can fly. I know it sounds childish, but I always think of that when I get stressed or sad”.
Do you have a favorite piece among your designs?
“My feather is my biggest darling! The Hermis sandal is also a favorite. Then I’m in love with my bracelets. I adore bracelets”.
Suppose someone you don’t like wears something of yours, how do you feel about it?
“I know it sounds crazy, but all the people who choose to wear my jewelry are really chic styled people. They all look very, very nice. I remember, once a girl came at my workshop to buy something. I didn’t like her at all. Of course she didn’t find something to buy. I was happy with it. She was happy. Everything was o.k. It’s an exchange of energy, I think. I want my customers to fall in love with my creations. It’s not fun otherwise”’.
Where can we find you? Can we also order online?
“You can find me in my workshop in the Athens center on 11, Romvis str. (Syntagma area), at the 4th floor. I am there from 11.00 to 18.00. My instagram address is Liberta_jo and my facebook address is Green Box. You can also find my jewelry at the Badouvani shop in Peristeri, Athens as well as at the Oppalios Mylo at the island of Serifos, and at the Mauve shop at the island of Antiparos. Finally, from the 15th of September, I’ m going to also be available through www.inspostyle.com”
And now, tell me honestly… what’s your top 5 jewelry?
“That’s really hard to answer… but as I told you before, my No 1 is the feather, No 2 the Hermis sandal, then I put all my bracelets, No 4 is the Evil Eye, and last but not least, my fishbone jewelry”.
