Meet Giedre Kose: SF Mama, Founder & Designer

“I always though that motherhood closes the door to career possibilities because you simply do not have time for anything but kids, but it appears it works in the opposite way. The more responsibilities you have, more disciplined you become, and you start using your time way more efficiently.”

WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS CAREER?

My journey of becoming a jewelry and clothing designer started back in 1988 when I was eight. Life in my home country of Lithuania was challenging. People would need to wait for hours to buy basic food products like flour, salt, or sugar. Jeans and clothes from fancier fabrics were only worn by the lucky ones who had relatives in America and others had to be creative to find ways to dress more interestingly.

Our family wasn’t rich, so I had to work in order to earn money for things I desired. My first jobs were beading necklaces and embroidering clothing for a local sewing factory. Even though these tasks required a lot of patience, I was keen on doing them. I could spend hours repeating the same task again and again in order to reach perfection. Soon I started making jewelry and clothes for myself. My first necklace was created using some vintage chain and a gold violin that was initially a Christmas decoration. My first outfits were made from clothes from thrift stores. I was very interested in textiles. For me the fabric of a piece of clothing was always more important than the shape of it.

Since I had a quite distinct style, everyone at school expected me to become a fashion designer. However, after graduating I decided to study sociology and ended up working as a strategic and creative planner in one of the biggest advertising agencies in Lithuania. My salary was great, I could afford buying anything I dreamed about while I was a little girl. But new things never excited me as much as unexpected finds in the thrift boutiques, so I continued collecting unique vintage pieces and turning them into something new.

My hobby of making clothes and jewelry turned into a business five years ago. Remaking vintage pieces was not creatively satisfying enough so my husband and I started developing our own fabrics and making clothes out of them. That’s how our label ANCHOVY was born. All Anchovy’s clothing pieces are hand-sewn in Lithuania from top quality, local linen by two amazing seamstresses who finish many details by hand.

I also have a jewelry line, Planet Kasumi, and I design and handcraft all pieces by myself, surrounded by kids, deers, and giant fern trees in my Berkeley-based studio. I love working with oddly shaped freshwater pearls. For me every single pearl is like a small planet that embodies a woman’s inner world — gentle and elegant, yet wild and unpredictable.

WHAT ARE THE NAMES AND AGES OF YOUR CHILDREN?

We have three children: a 7-year-old daughter, Juka, a 5-year-old son Stasys, and a son Zigmas, who just arrived at the end of April.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT THUS FAR?

Some would say that my biggest career achievement was winning the best SS18 clothing collection nomination in NYC. However, for me the biggest career achievement is receiving constant messages from various talented people around the world who love what we do and want to collaborate.

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF BEING A MOTHER?

I always though that motherhood closes the door to career possibilities because you simply do not have time for anything but kids, but it appears it works in the opposite way. The more responsibilities you have, more disciplined you become, and you start using your time way more efficiently. Emotionally, the most rewarding aspect of being a mother is witnessing the small daily miracles. To see your kids laugh, to see them enjoying food you cooked, to tickle their feet before going to sleep, to smell them in the morning, to say “I love you” and hear “I love you more” back.

AND WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?

The sleepless nights while they’re sick.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE NEW TO YOUR INDUSTRY?

The less money you have, the more creative you become.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A NEW MOTHER?

After the birth of a child, a new mother tends to give all her love to her newborn baby. It is very challenging for her partner to adapt to a new role where he or she suddenly becomes a servant instead of a lover. So my advice for a new mother is not to forget how her partner might feel and show them some love, too.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS COMING UP?

One of my favorite projects that is coming up is "Daisy," a delicate pearl jewelry collection for little and big girls who believe in magic. In these uncertain times I wanted to create something positive and optimistic that would bring joy and faith to our little ones.

Follow Giedre at @from_anchovy and @planetkasumi