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Personal style is an elusive beast at best
Anna Lengstrand is an artist born and raised to Stockholm, Sweden that we’ve spotted a while ago and decided to bring her into the spotlight.
The passion for beauty and art brought Anna straight to Canada, where she now lives deep in the mighty mountains of Whistler.
Want to find out more about her interesting story? Here’s an exclusive interview with Anna:
1.What’s your story and how did you first get into fashion?
I have always been very interested in creating a personal style.To show people who you are and to tell others something through your clothing. I started a fashion and photo blog in 2004 that eventually got pretty big and was well received. I always had the focus put on a personal style rather than the latest fashion trend, and never focus on branding. I bought most my clothes from second hand stores (and I still do today!) and I used my sewing machine a lot.
2. What came first: Jewelry design or photography?
Photography. Photography is my way to express myself, my art. But jewelry making has been in my life since I was born. I design Swedish reindeer and silver jewelry that are traditional Sami (Nordic indigenous) handiwork. My grandfather is Sami from the old reindeer herding Sami family Pokka, and the handcraft has been showed to me since a very young age from older family members.
3. Tell us about your body art. What do your tattoos mean to you?
My tattoos are also a way to personalize my look and style. In a permanent way. The sleeve on my left arm is made of many different kinds of Swedish spring flowers. It reminds me of my roots. And that the sunshine is just around the corner, soon the winter darkness is over. I got it at a time when life was a little bit dark, so I reminded myself that spring is here soon (lighter times). On the inside of my upper right arm is a Whiskey Jack bird. They are all over the mountains here in British Columbia and they are my best friends when I’m away on long solo hikes in the wilderness. It’s also a symbol for me that I moved to Canada and that I finally set myself free from what held me back.
5. Do you ever feel discriminated because of your tattoos?
People like to judge others all the time. And have opinions about everyone else but themselves. If someone doesn’t like my tattoos or discriminate or judge me because of them, I see it as a sign that that person is pretty close minded. However, I rarely get discriminated because of them. I have had both high up managing jobs in classic office environment as well as models jobs with the tattoos showing.
6. When talking about fashion, which is the one item you can’t live without?
A black hat! And my own jewelry!
7. As a jewelry designer, we bet you like paying attention to details. Which is the kind of jewelry you would wear daily (and couldn’t live without)?
I have worn Sami bracelets my whole life. I used to get a few from my aunt every year and have always layered them. And I still do with my own, a stack of them on my wrist every day. I also wear small silver rings in my ears, as well as a few thinner silver rings and usually a silver necklace (either my own choker or a thinner longer chain with a crystal on).
8. If you could pick a designer to work on your next collection with, who would that be and why?
I’m about to start a collaboration with my indigenous neighbours here in Pemberton/Mt Currie – the Lil’wat Nation. With one of their traditional jewelry makers Maxine Joe. I’m very excited to see what type of collaboration bracelet we will come up with!
9. Social media is really saturated with fashion bloggers. Buy who do you like to follow?
I like Anine Bing’s very simple and clean style, and I find Featherandskull Noel Bores Walker’s bohemian style very interesting. I used to follow Am Lul (Gala Gonzales) back in the days (around 2007-2008) when her style had more grunge, she was one of my favourites back then!
10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
We have just bought a ranch here in the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia, and we have 3 horses. So I definitely think that I’ll still be living here in 5 years. There’s so much I want to do with our ranch and our life here. So in 5 years I will…. train horses. Have a big garden. Paint. Shoot photography. Have my Swedish styled jewelry spread all over Canada and North America. And maybe be married? I’m 32 years old this year after all haha!
