Paint-à-Porter art to wear: an interview with the designer of Marie Nouvelle 

Flowers blooming, geometric patterns, paintings that migrate from frames into notebooks, bags or fluid dresses. A lot of silk, dreams and passion are put together into beautiful wearable pieces of art: scarfs and clutches signed Marie Nouvelle. “Each scarf designed by me carries within itself a mood. It captures the exact moment from the canvas. Intricate designs, shapes and forms remind us of our common inheritance. It is through art that mankind, the holder of infinite choices, becomes a Universe in itself”, says Maria Tureanu, the artist behind Marie Nouvelle brand. I talked with her about art, artistic dreams transposed into scarfs and about the efforts that are necessary to make a fine and absolute dreamy Art to wear, Paint-à-Porter piece. 

Marie Nouvelle products are available on… https://marienouvelle.ro/ro/, Galateca Shop (https://neogalateca.ro) and on Molecule-F website (molecule-f.com). Instagram @mariatureanu

The photographies are made in Galateca, in Author Chamber “Stări pe străzi” of the talented street artist BARTO (on display until January 2023 at Galateca). 

Why painted scarfs? Why drawings (because now you are not only making scarfs, but other things, deco & other stuff)? 
I am a painter. I used to be a lawyer who made a significant shift in life. The idea of making art more accessible has always been a huge desire of mine, therefore I created a new Marie: Marie Nouvelle. The expression of this art comes to life in remarkable scarves, dresses and accessories that define the concept of Wearable Art. It is an applied arts project in which all of the products embody patterns and visuals from my paintings and personal exhibitions.

Your favourite paintings (themes) for your items are… 
My favourite theme is nature, more so, the flowers and how they bloom, how they are perceived by me. Also, geometry takes space in my art and together, flowers and circles make a world of their own.

Your first love story with fashion was…
Ever since I was a little girl, I was exploring the artfulness of everyday life, leading me years later, into pursuing the creative path and becoming a full time visual artist. Art and design, in all its forms, draws you out from everyday life and brings you back to the natural flow of emotions. It holds you tight and whispers “never lose your innocent soul”! I would say I love design and fashion is just a way of expressing art through materials and textiles. 

What was the biggest challenge in the last years, as a designer? 
My challenge was to educate the public. I wouldn’t say that it is the biggest one but the most constant concern in my artistic endeavour. How to properly communicate my intention as an artist and how the clothes and accessories convey my message. 

There are some other brands that use the paintings on fabrics. Why yours are special, unique, from your point of view? 
I would say that all art and its application is special and different because of the different style and message that gets across. However, one point of differentiating the brands is the quality of the material, the mass production or the small editions released on the market as well as the artist itself and who she/he is. 
Marie Nouvelle is an applied arts project in which all of the products embody patterns and visuals from my paintings and personal exhibitions. My art has been carefully transposed on precious materials – pure silk, cashmere, with sophisticated applications. The unique prints are transformed into wearable pieces of art that transcend time. Art to wear. Paint-à-Porter. The classic edition scarves are specially printed on both sides like no other here in Romania. The silk is the best in the world, the heaviest twill that allows this kind of print technique.

Which are the stages of making a perfect piece? 
All the fabrics and dyes used by Marie Nouvelle are guaranteed 100% certified to be ethically sourced and non harmful to the environment. We send the digital versions of my paintings to our silk printing house. Meanwhile, our tried and tested Italian suppliers send the silk. 

Silk is a natural fabric and the weave is sometimes irregular, especially on finer fabrics. The hues and tones may vary from batch to batch. When printing, the fabric comes directly off a roll, is fed through the machines and adheres to a permanent adhesive belt. At this stage the fabric cannot be manipulated of adjusted during printing. It goes through three stages of treatment -pretreatment, printing, post-treatment and finishes by drying the fabric. That’s why sometimes the scarf is a bit stiff when you buy it but after you wear it for a time, the natural oils of the silk come back and will become more soft as the time passes. Silk is a naturally varying fabric that is woven in traditional ways. 

Once the magic happens, our exclusive Romanian atelier adds the finishing touch and crafts a product you’ll cherish forever. Everything that gets to you is hand finished, hand embroidered or hand embellished. There is immense passion and dedication behind my work. I want you to get a personal statement, a contribution, a unique point of view in this great big world.

For me, a scarf keeps holiday memories. What a scarf means to you?
A scarf is an extension of my personality. It’s not just a holiday thing, I wear it almost all year round and it is a useful accessory as well as a statement of my persona. 

Each scarf designed by me carries within itself a mood. It captures the exact moment from the canvas. Intricate designs, shapes and forms remind us of our common inheritance. It is through art that mankind, the holder of infinite choices, becomes a Universe in itself. Man sleeps at the edge of reality, shaping again and again its own vision. A painting that speaks to you will always possess something you hold inside.

About Maria Tureanu we should know… 
I believe in passion, in the beauty of nature and in the beauty of the human soul. My work is about all of the above and I hope you will enjoy being part of my world.