Interview with a star - Irina (Chopard)

Please, welcome our team member Irina who runs Chopard shop on Etsy with great felted items.


Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, My name is Irina and I live in a beautiful place near Baltic sea, in Riga, Latvia, with my daughter and my husband. I am an economist and I work as an accountant in many companies. But I am lucky, since I work part-time, so I can work from home and have time for my hobby.


How long have you been creating? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?
I have started when I was 7 years old. I knitted my first dress then and my grandma embroidered it. I have been knitting for a long time, and there are knit dresses, hats, sweaters and other items in my collection. But 2 years ago I started looking for something new to do and found some information about felting. It sounded very interesting and I decided to try. My relatives told me that I was crazy.

My felting collection started with a scarf. It looked like a thick carpet on my neck :) But now I am much more skillful and in my shop you can find scarves made in the cobweb technique. Cobweb felt is deliciously fine and airy and has a beautiful glossy appearance when made with silk fibers.



What items do you carry in your shop?
In my shop you can find a lot of different items. There are dresses in nuno-felting technique. This dress collection took part in 3 fashion shows – the first one was in Lithuania, and the other two in Latvia. You can find different ladies hats, bags, scarves and wraps, even slippers. By the way, the thickness and strength of the wool being felted keeps your feet cozy and warm during the cold season. The natural fiber will also wick moisture away keeping your feet cool and dry in warmer weather. These slippers are perfect all year round.



What inspires you?
Nature, everyday life and happy clients inspire me to create new exclusive works.


Do you take custom orders?
Yes, I think it is the best reason to make something interesting and original. You can be sure that your item will be one of a kind, and that you won’t ever see another one just like that! But until now I had only one serious custom order – it was an evening dress. I made it in Riga, but my customer was from Moscow and we contacted each other only by e-mail. My client wanted an exclusive dress for a wedding of her best friend. She was very happy when she received the dress!!!


What items in your shop do you most enjoy making and why?
Most of all I like to make hats




A stylish hat plays just as an important of a role in woman's wardrobe as do clothes and shoes. For centuries a pretty hat was a requirement for fashionistas all over the world. A great hat will certainly make your look unique and unforgettable.

What would you say makes your shop unique?
Most of items you can find in my shop are one-of-a-kind. I could not copy them even if I wanted to. Every item is unique starting with its statement, the story it tells and the mood it conveys.


Any sales or promotions?
Currently I am running a sale on this interesting blue bag


Name 3 things you can’t live without?
Family, coffee and felt!!!

What would you say to your clients?
Dear ladies, don't be afraid to look original, different and exclusive!

Story by Irina Chopard and Alla FleetingStillness