You now have several imperfect. But they are unique objects or collections?
G: At first we thought we'd do one or two of each. A limited number. After what happened is that we started to have more custom orders. What happens? As we placed the doll features the person turns out to be unique.
IF: We do not buy fabric. We reused many materials.
GM: They never become equal.
IF: So, we started to see that would not result in collections. People are never having that doll, because we don't use the same fabric and ends up being another. It's never the same. We have customers, who order the same doll from the site, but we have to tell them that can be like the model, but it will not be the same.
GM: Yes, but the vast majority, 95% ask to customize.
IF: yes it is rare ask the same model. At this moment we have no stock. What we do is people's requests.
So how do customize the imperfect? How do capture the essence of people? What do you ask, are there any photos?
GM: In the beginning it was just an idea how we were testing. It was more trial and error. We asked people to send a short text about which they were saying things, I'm blonde, I'm short, I'm creative and then all these features become complicated moving to the doll. Then in a second phase, we asked the same so people, its characteristics, but then added the picture and this is the basis of the job. What helps.
IF: Then we ask person to speak a bit about their personality, what kind of clothes they uses, so that the doll is as close as possible.
When the imperfect is to gift and not to the person that makes the order, how the process is set in motion?
IF: Much is to offer. It's rare ordering for them. Normally is for someone's birthday, or is a couple. Especially because we are very pleased to be in favor of love (laughs). We have one campaign for couples. We have family orders.
GM: Sometimes they ask for a larger imperfect, where are all the elements that want to transmit.
Who are these imperfect people? Can you identify this public already?
IF: I honestly do not.
GM: No, because we have a little bit of everything. At first we thought that the people of our area would adhere more, but we have requests for young people, older people from different areas. It is always variable.
IF: What surprised us, at the beginning we thought that only people of our area realize that this is a lot of work, but no. Customers are interested and want to offer a very personalized doll.
How long does it take to make it?
IF: It takes approximately 4 to 5 days, but the same applies when are two dolls at the time, because the process ends up being join. People provide the information, we created the imperfect digitally and then choose the fabrics in a retail box that we have at our disposal. People also give us fabrics and we reused everything, then choose what fits with what the person sent to us and then we sow.
You show the drawing before to the customer or only present the final version of your imperfect?
GM: We don't show it before, because we liked the surprise effect.
IF: Also the design never goes out equal, is only a vision. Generally they don't want to see it. Sometimes asked to see the drawing when the order is a family and don't want to be surprised by the negative.
When people do choose to order the dolls is because they are imperfect? Or because there are not cute, has an unfinished look.
GM: I think there are two reasons. One of them is that, to identify with the concept of imperfect beings. The other is the customization. Unique pieces.
You have a series of imperfect for sale. Now you are thinking extrapolating from here?
IF: We are always ruminating. But time does not help.
GM: We have lots of ideas and partnerships with others.
IF: We would like to make an imperfect in plus size. And then we don't have our own imperfect, which makes no sense (laughs). Ideas abound. We liked the concept of the design together with the craft. When developing design projects for our customers and we think of developing the manual side of a work. We appreciated this factor and the imperfect are the perfect result of this joint.
How two young designers who founded a workshop look at the future in Portugal?
IF: Honestly, in our case was quite natural. We have our work in parallel. This turns out to be a hobby for both of them. Now it is more serious, in my case is full time, Gonçalo still is in a studio. It is very funny, but there is determining fact, at the moment we have a lot of work, but you never know ... one of us should be on the other side, in this case is Gonçalo.
GM: We did not think much of it.
IF: We did not put too much weight in that decision.
GM: We have no plans in the medium and long term. They come along every day. For one year we had always work with the imperfect and we cannot complain. Of course, the situation in the country is very poor and could be better.
IF: That worries us.
GM: But we cannot complain about how other people from our area that has never had even a first chance. It is an asset, because we started with this before the crisis and so we could raise some customers.
The imperfect only exist at a national level or have already taken the leap abroad?
IF: We have not done anything to make that leap.
GM: We have some orders from abroad.
IF: We've had individual requests, but we don't send out orders.
GM: We set an objective, we began by Portugal and our language.
IF: We are only two and liked to be here at home.
GM: We like the idea of small and homey, because to expand it becomes larger and lost.
IF: Everything goes through our hands.
GM: It's more controllable, even in terms of the moment of crisis which we live in.
What are the objectives of inelo?
GM: The main objective is to keep the customers we already have going and expanding this list.
IF: Always the two of us.
GM: Innovative and exciting projects, because there are always those more normal and a little more boring and have had works with a very interesting component.
IF: Something funny happens now is that people come to us because they identify with our image. At the outset we do what we liked and the customer trusts us. So far this is running very well.
