Meet Tove Ohlander
Tove grew up in Sweden and has worked in glass design, product development, and illustration since 1994. As a creative professional she wanted a garment that made her feel empowered and organized. Out of a personal need for practical clothing that looked good, could get dirty, and could hold things, surfaced the Maker Skirt.
Together with Rich Arentzen (and 3 Norwegian glass artists), Tove ran a glass studio in the Oslo area for 8 years. The couple moved to Burlington VT with three kids in 2007 and started AO Glass, a glass studio factory providing high-end lighting designers and companies in North America with handblown glass. Tove shares that deep appreciation for authentic materials that most makers and designers have in common. Moving between glass, fabric and illustration comes naturally as she has a unique artistic sensibility and a strong form language.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE DESIGN?
For 25+ years I’ve worked in design and manufacturing within the glass blowing industry. Throughout my creative career I looked for durable, feminine clothes that had a designer and maker look. I designed the Maker Skirt for women to feel empowered and organized in. We all work on projects from time to time and need to carry things around, but don’t always want to bring a bag. A classic wrap-skirt that looks good, can get dirty, and can hold things, is the answer to all the above.
“The garment I wanted has 2 pockets in front, one phone pocket on the left, and a loop on the right. The skirt overlaps in the back, as opposed to the traditional wrap-around skirt. “
HOW DID TOVE WEAR COME TO LIFE?
In 2017 I had the opportunity to meet Annika Axelson who guided me through the trade of working with fabrics and introduced me to our production eco-system in Bangalore, India. I had the good fortune to connect in person with one of the founders and we have been able to grow the collection of sustainably-made garments, from the organic cotton seed to the last stitch on a finished piece. Today our production team runs the factory on 100% solar power and is one of the leading manufacturers of organic and fair trade garments. With the Maker Skirt we have an opportunity to create awareness around how garments affect the environment, and the people working throughout the production chain.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR TOVE WEAR?
I am continually inspired and shaped by the people who WEAR our garments, and by the people who MAKE our garments.
We think that garments need to serve a purpose and last a long time in order to justify their creation. We also think that brands hold the responsibility of producing as ethically and sustainably as possible. Between our own high standards and the demands of the modern consumer, we have set down a course of embraceable challenges. We want to do it the right way, and use our business as a force for good.
Together with our production team Tove Wear addresses 11of the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. For us the most important goal is Nr 17 - Partnership for the Goals: We can't do it alone! We work alongside other sustainable brands at The Canvas and partner with gender-equity non-profits like Vermont Works for Women to amplify our impact.
I really appreciate my local and global communities that kept me inspired and accountable over the last 5 years. Stay tuned -and see where we go from here!
Tove.
