mahabis interviews // anika islam

Scandinavian inspired. Minimalist designs. Iconic denim signatures.

The young UK denim brand Wåven has made its mark, so we took the chance to catch up with the founder, Anika Islam. Having launched the brand soon out of University, she's been busy with its international expansion, new releases, and retail debut. We talk to her about the journey so far, and how she fits in her downtime. 

Before we begin, tell us what you do, in one sentence? 

I run a London based contemporary denim brand that creates clean yet directional pared back styles for both men and women.

What path did you take to get you to where you are today? 

I’ve always been a bit of an entrepreneur and grew up surrounded by the clothing industry thanks to my father’s business. I  started selling hoodies and polo shirts while still at school and then carried this on at university, producing custom jersey for the different social societies. After I graduated we set up a small design studio in London catering for private label orders. We quickly saw that there was a gap in the market for a conceptual denim brand at a great accessible price point, and Wåven was born. 

Launching into Wåven as a first conquest post-university must have been quite a big leap. Since starting the brand, have you been able to take out much time to chill? 

It was certainly a leap but I’m fortunate that my job takes me all over the world. Travel definitely helps to recharge and stay inspired. However to truly switch off you have to physically remove my laptop and send me somewhere very remote.

How has the journey gone for Wåven? What has been the best point so far? 

It’s been an amazing journey and one that is still evolving and growing. There’s been a lot of ups and downs and we’re constantly finding new ways to come to a solution. A personal highlight was walking into Selfridges on Oxford Street and seeing Wåven with it’s own denim display. It hit home what great work we’ve achieved as a team.

We’ve heard you described as a self-confessed denim enthusiast — What is it about denim that for you, is so timeless? 

It’s a brilliant fabric. Not only is it durable, comfortable and affordable it’s also unisex and ageless. Although denim trends fluctuate, denim itself never goes out of style. There is so much versatility with what you do with denim.

Having grown up around the expertise of denim manufacturing, where do you see the future of the fabric heading, and what’s next for Wåven? 

In terms of fabric I see it going down a more sustainable route with a fashion edge, experimenting with textures and weaves and not just basics. We’ve also been experimenting with natural indigo to produce denim which has been really interesting.

There’s clear Scandinavian influence behind Wåven — what first inspired you to integrate this kind of aesthetic into the collection? 

I have always admired Scandinavian design. It’s clean, functional but also beautiful. That’s what we try to achieve with Wåven.

How important is downtime for you, and what is the ideal way that you choose to unwind? 

I choose short breaks to remote breathtaking locations over nights on the sofa. I find it very hard to switch off so have to remove myself from everyday life every so often. It’s my way to escape and unwind. I went to Suffolk last weekend and it was lovely to get away and catch up with old friends. 

Heading international with the brand is an exciting step — on your travels, have you come across a city/ place that you’d never tire of visiting? 

Amangiri in Arizona is definitely my happy place. It’s a secluded resort in the middle of the desert. The building itself is beautiful and has been carved out of the ancient rock face. I’ve never witnessed anything like it and always takes my breath away. 

As a young brand ourselves, quite often every day is different, but equally fast-paced. When you head home, close the door, drop your bags and keys, how do you switch off (or do you?). Talk us through your evening routine. 

As boring as it sounds, every evening after work I go to the gym, I have dinner and I go to bed! I have a very strict routine during the week and wouldn’t be able to function without structure. This is something I have taken from my father!

If you had an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it? 

I would love to start reading again.

You can check out Wåven's SS16 collection and more here. Plus, keep a lookout for Wåven styling in our next shoot. 

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