Tanya Hayek: Bana Studio
So, I am from that generation that wore business casual to the club or heavily layered our clothes and accessories because, you know, fashion. We really had a knack for accessorizing, and we took expressing ourselves very seriously! But also, you get to see just how creative people got with ideas, and I absolutely love that!
While my style has changed quite a bit, my love for accessories and finding new ways to add detail to my outfits has endured the test of time, and I notice this within my friends as well. I recall a conversation over drinks with a friend who introduced me to the concept of layering necklaces, a technique she playfully dubbed "Mr. T.” Whether it be a statement piece of jewelry, a headscarf, or statement sunglasses, I’ve come to rely on my favorite accessories to bring any outfit from blending-in basic to head-turning chic. We can make a parallel of accessorizing to food, as both involve combining elements. Just as dishes have main ingredients, your wardrobe has its stars—like dough, sauce, and cheese for pizza or pants, shoes, and a dress for an outfit. Sure, you can wear the basics, just like eating a bowl of noodles, but adding accessories is like spicing up an avocado toast with bagel seasoning and feta cheese or cherry tomatoes. Consider this: toppings make a dish memorable, and they're often the cheapest ingredients. Similarly, accessories are the affordable staples that carry your outfit. I believe an outstanding outfit requires accessories, much like how toppings define a dish. When done right, styling tells a story, creating a narrative of who you are and what you represent.
Now, picture this. Where does this whole process of accessorizing begin? With the designer, right? And this goes through its creative process, the conceptualization before it becomes the feta cheese on your avocado toast. I met Tanya, the founder of Bana Studios, one such designer who has incredible designs in her accessories, and we had a conversation with her on her journey and creative process.
Tanya, is there anything you are currently reading?
Waiting for a new book to arrive I can’t wait to start! The power of your subconscious mind.
Where do you look for creative inspiration and is it hard to stay innovative?
Bead stores—usually, when I travel, I look for beads and crafts stores, and fabric stores. I don't necessarily find what I need, but it gives me ideas of what colours, materials, and styles I'll create for my next collections. It's not hard to stay innovative me, as the world offers so many choices, but I constantly need to travel in order to find new ideas. For example, a moment in a new city where I'd imagine a specific shape of sunglasses, lens colour, with a contrast of flowers on top of it. That's why some of the collection represents geographical places. The names of the sunglasses can represent a feeling, emotion, place, or object that initially inspired me. Innovation can be as easy as a walk in my neighbourhood or a coffee with a friend.
Where does your creative process as a fashion designer start? Can you share a little about the inception of Bana Studio?
It’s hard to describe how it starts, as the ideas just come to me very randomly. It starts with a glimpse of an idea my mind offers me. For example, it can be a random moment where I’m sitting at a cafe, seeing a person walk by and imagining her wearing a very specific sunglasses. It’s already very detailed in fractions of seconds. Then the hard part comes, where I need to clearly remember and keep this idea in my head, as I need to find the specific shape of sunglasses, the colour, and finally the most challenging part, the flowers. For this, I need to find a store where they can potentially sell those, as I need to touch the material and see in real life the size, the depth, if it can be actually glued on the lens or if it will just fall after a few wear. Since the lens is a slippery material, the quality of the flowers needs to adhere to the lens. Once I found enough flowers to test on the sunglasses and I got my final result and was happy, the name of the sunglasses just appeared by itself, like it was meant to be. Then, I need to go to an aesthetic place to take pictures and videos, and publish it on the website, and be ready to post on social medias.
Do you recall your first project design? Whether it was a gizmo you worked on as a little kid or something sold on a large scale?
I can’t! I've been creating since I can’t remember when, but one of my earliest souvenirs is from when I was about 8 and already selling my paper-made planes and boats at school. The supervisor had to call my parents to tell them it was not right to sell at school, haha. I used to make all kinds of shoebox houses, theater sets with an audience that later translated into actual house maquettes (I'm an architect, so that explains the love of creating fictional houses).
My love for dogs made me create a dog hotel, with miniature dog figurines, where they each had their own luxurious box. I recreated Lynette Scavo’s house from Desperate Housewives when I was 15. I designed my dream California house, a two-story house on the beach, with every little detail you needed to live comfortably (the bed sheets, the computer with the keyboard, shelves with frames and stuff, etc.). I also created a Seychelles overwater bungalow when I was in my obsessed phase of living in the islands.
What is the one material that you’d really like to work with, or explore the possibilities of using?
Definitely gold. Some of the sunglasses are designed with gold-plated leaves (the César). There will be a line of 18k jewellery inspired by shells and pearls, as I'm expanding my brand to fine jewellery (very soon available on the website!)
We’ve seen fashion and design go digital in recent years. A lot of innovation and technology going into showcasing different products. How do you see video as a means of communicating a message or communicating design?
Videos are the most powerful tool to communicate a product or an idea. They combine the physical result with emotion, music, and a background. So much can be told and felt through a video, and I use them in the majority of my posts. You can understand the whole identity of a brand through filmmaking.
Is it important for you to be part of a network or community of other creatives or designers in a way?
100%! We need to help each other and share tips and tricks, recommendations, or just an open ear. I love to hear about other designers' projects and see their final products, and I love to hear about challenges, failures, and successes.
It must be quite inspiring to see people making your designs part of their own identity.
So much—it’s what keeps me moving. Whenever I receive a tag or a message from a client, it makes my day. Last week, a client from Australia (from when I was living there in 2017) wrote to me that she is going to the Cook Islands soon and will be wearing her BANAs. I was so emotional that after all those years, she still has them and is excited to showcase them, post on social media, and promote the brand on her own. It’s really a pride to see old and new clients excited by my products! It makes me happy that my sunglasses make women happy, and feel allowed to belong to a very specific (and a bit crazy) universe! We all have that spark inside of us, and I feel my sunnies let women show that craziness.
Are there any challenges you encountered when you started your own brand?
Yes, and to this day, I feel like I need help, but I don't know how to ask. I definitely need more exposure and more quality control. My introverted side sometimes blocks me from networking more; I'm working on that.
Your work shows an embodiment of love and appreciation of quality. Is this something that extends to your life outside of creative design?
Yes! As an architect, I'm fond of beautiful things yet functional. So, the combination of quality and beauty is reflected in my everyday life. My workplace needs to be aesthetic and organized so my head can follow. The same applies to places I go to and people I meet. I like things to be well-designed and organized, and I appreciate people with a clear mind and a chill spirit.
Many designers or creative people seem to have a very strong sense of confidence. Is that just a façade?
Yes and no! I think, like everyone, some days are better than others. For me, when I'm confident, it’s 10000%, but when I'm feeling down, confidence is far from being seen! I think also, as a woman, we face cycles men don’t have, so it’s waves throughout the month. I try to increase the “volume” of confidence when I have it to optimize my work to the fullest, as I know it won’t last, and try to feel okay when it’s down and don't put pressure on myself, because I know in a few days it will come back. But for sure, the stress of not having a monthly security salary plays a role in confidence.
Are you more intuitive or more analytical when you are designing?
100% intuitive witch here hehe!
In unscripted fashion, if we had 5 people designing sunglasses, how would we know which one is yours? What sets you apart?
The colors, the vibe, the story! You’ll find the sunniest, dreamiest combo of colors and packaging yet, in a classy and unique way. You’ll feel fine materials with funky, bubbly emotions. You’ll feel like you’re at a beach, even if it’s the stormiest day outside.
Where can we find Bana Studio?
You can find us on our website and Instagram in the links below…
