the woman behind the brand
meet barbara, founder of by-bar
she has been interested in beautiful clothing and objects since her childhood. studying fashion in amsterdam is a natural next step, and so is becoming a buyer for a selection of international lifestyle brands. she enjoys exploring the world, going to vibrant cities and magical places, finding inspiration in everything she experiences, sees and feels around her. little by little she collects these ingredients for her own collection and steadily builds by-bar, step by step.
the woman behind the brand
meet barbara, founder of by-bar
she has been interested in beautiful clothing and objects since her childhood. studying fashion in amsterdam is a natural next step, and so is becoming a buyer for a selection of international lifestyle brands. she enjoys exploring the world, going to vibrant cities and magical places, finding inspiration in everything she experiences, sees and feels around her. little by little she collects these ingredients for her own collection and steadily builds by-bar, step by step.
''dream plan do''
how did you came up with the idea to start by-bar?
‘‘as a buyer of several international lifestyle brands i was traveling a lot. during those journeys i always collected small jewellery for myself. at home, i received positive response from my friends. i thought ‘i have to do something with this!’ in 2006 the journey of by-bar began. i started developing special earrings from india and they were sold out straight away. in 2009 i stopped all my other activities to fully dedicate myself to the brand we know today.’’
how do you come up with color palets, prints and color combinations?
‘‘finding inspiration happens all day long. it's an organic process. besides that i love exploring the world. india is a huge source of inspiration for me. going to vibrant cities, magical places, museums or tiny markets is what i enjoy a lot. all this inspiration comes together in new inspiring moodboards for the collections.‘‘
“we want to create this comfortable world with beautiful products, where every woman is inspired to do what she loves to do. just like we do”
how did you came up with the latest collection?
‘‘this year it’s all about dressing with a sense of adventure, indulging in new and soft pieces and mixing them with our favorites. the new by-bar collection gives you desirable pieces inspired by natural landscapes, ready to be worn again and again.
for the new spring summer ’22 campaign we went on a journey to dubai. a place known for its desert climate, popular hibernation spot and its mediterranean influences. the perfect spot for our calming & neutral pieces’’
what is your favorite look from the new spring summer collection?
‘‘for me, flowy & light trousers, like the wanda pant are a must-have this summer. they look good and feel even better on the skin. i would combine it with the lune maggio pullover, a soft eye-catcher. i would complete my look with stunning accessories like a classy suede bag and golden jewels. this is how I create a feminine and effortless look’’
what is the last place you have been that
inspired you a lot?
‘‘a few days ago i went on a trip to oman with my family. this was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. the waterlife, the coastline, the dessert and all the beautiful activities. this place made a huge impact on me and my family and besides, it was a place full of new inspiration''.
@wahiba sands
‘‘go where you feel most inspired and most alive’’
what advice would you give young girls who want to start their own business?
‘‘just go and start something that you really enjoy doing. if you do something that you really like, then you automatically become good in it. of course their will be some things that you don’t like, but my advice is to outsource those things to people who like it. work is such a big part of your life, so it’s important to have fun!
what are your dreams for the future?
‘‘of course their are always dreams. but we are very happy with how the company is now and that we continue the succes, even after the covid period. each year we set goals for ourselves and until now we were always able to accomplish them. our main goal for now is to build strong relationships and working together with our lovely partners to a more sustainable future.