The Art of Simple Decadence
SOLEMNIKO is a brand that believes in exploring the art of simple decadence. Why is simple decadence an art? Because it marries the two arts of simplicity and luxury together - which are in themselves complete polar opposites in today’s society. SOLEMNIKO’s aim as a luxury handmade stationery brand and as a brand in general is to show that - actually - luxury and simplicity are closer to each other than consumerism would have you believe.
Luxury does not have to mean expensive, it does not have to mean gaudy and ostentatious. To me, luxury is the pinnacle of simplicity and handmade craftsmanship. For me there is no luxury in mass-production, machine over manual, unethical practices and materials. Where is the luxury in something that hundreds of other people own that has been made by the same machine and finished in a factory on the other side of the world by someone who is paid a pittance to create a product that is sold for hundreds? At SOLEMNIKO there are no machines, no nameless manufacturers or third party producers because that simply does not align with my idea of luxury.
Why is SOLEMNIKO a luxury brand?
It’s very simple. Every item is made by hand, everything from the art that features on the cards, to the notebooks that you write your journal entries in, to the hand-drawn invitation sets, hand-marbled bookmarks and hand-cut, hand-sewn page holders. All of it is produced by hand by me, and - to me - that is the pinnacle of luxury. True luxury does not belong anymore to the big couture houses, it does not belong to the department stores that society places on a pedestal; it belongs in the Ateliers, in the workrooms, studios and stores of independent artisans.
Luxury has always been quantified with the best of something. Luxury travel is the best that travel has to offer, luxury clothing is the best that clothing has to offer, luxury stationery is the best that stationery has to offer. SOLEMNIKO strives to always give the best that stationery and bespoke design have to offer, not only through design but also in material, practices and ethos.
In keeping with the theme of luxury, SOLEMNIKO’s slogan The Art of Simple Decadence speaks to that feeling of something that feels it should almost be a treat rather than a daily ritual. However a daily ritual it should be. My hope for SOLEMNIKO as a brand for now and for the future is to showcase that decadence is something everyone should enjoy every day, no matter how mundane or small the moment may seem to others. I do not believe in guilty pleasures, only pleasures. I do not believe in deferred gratification, saving the best for ‘special’ occasions or that true luxury can be found in the hallowed halls of such places as Harrods, Hamleys, Selfridges, Chanel, Gucci, and other lorded houses. Luxury is personal, as is decadence.
For me decadence has always felt like something rather rebellious and naughty. Something like two eclairs in one sitting rather than saving one for after dinner and the other for the next day. But there’s something so delectable about decadence; having a bubble bath on a Tuesday, a glass of Champagne with a bland rice dish on a random Thursday, a lunchtime sunbathe in between filing audits, tearing off all your clothes on a bright summers day and running into the sea in your underwear, reading a book with your phone off…
But I believe in decadence every day, in the simplest things. And I believe in making an Art of it, because - well - why the hell not?