Meet Yulia Lopardina

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yulia Lopardina and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yulia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
There is a social impact from wool felting, although this craft may be performed individually. I am offering wool felting classes for individuals or groups who seek to learn the art or to simply enjoy its therapeutic benefits. The required materials are easily accessible and the final product may range from modest to grandiose. The overall goal is to have an enjoyable experience.

The wellbeing of each individual ultimately impacts the health of social groups. The benefits of creative arts therapy are well established and employed in many clinics and progressive companies. Some advantages of incorporating creative arts therapy include improved motivation, reduced stress, and lower blood pressure. All of these therapeutic effects lead to better overall wellbeing, freedom of expression, emotional resilience, and more meaningful connections.

The journey of the product into someone’s life has potential to impact them in a positive way by bringing them warmth and softness. These attributes come from Woolez_Vous being a creative outlet and a niche to channel the burden of daily life into worthwhile products.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
– About wool felting:

Hi! My name is Yulia and I am a wool artisan at Woolez_Vous where I create garments and accessories with wet felting methods.
Wool felting is a technique that begins with turning wool fiber into solid material by agitating it with soapy water. This solid wool piece is then embellished with various other fibers and textile materials. The garments I create incorporate premium grade Merino, alpaca, baby camel fibers, and hand dyed silk. These textiles are sourced from farmers around the world who employ cruelty free harvesting procedures.

– What do you want the world to know about your brand/ story:

The story behind the scarves is about impromptu expression, therapy, and the creation of beauty from a mind predisposed to be methodical and scientific.

Artistic skills did not seem to come naturally when I was young and I had doubts about how well I could craft and generate appealing works. Drawing and sculpting seemed like insurmountable tasks only worsened by demeaning comments from my art teacher. Despite these barriers I maintained an appreciation for the beautiful and unique environment that surrounded me.

It was not until I stumbled upon a mutual friend gifted in felted wool creations that I truly discovered my artistic passion. This friend spent time teaching me her technique, which required me to let go of expectations and to enjoy the process. In time, my result-oriented, methodical, and analytical mind relinquished control and allowed expression to flow through. Wool felting became a form of art therapy for me. Unlike the sciences, there was no right or wrong answer. The colors and designs that I chose were ones that spoke to me that day.

– What sets you apart from others?

The wool felting community is modest in size since this type of craft is not widely known. In my experience, this community supports each other by networking throughout the world on social media and local workshops. This network of artisans shares new techniques, hacks, and empowers each other to tame doubts and explore individual talent. Competition is a healthy aspect of the trade, but creativeness takes priority due to the handcrafted nature and uniqueness of each creation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Restaurants: -Lo Stella
-Angelo’s taverna
-One fold
-Nana’s kitchen

Places:
-Art District on Santa Fe
-Denver Museum of Nature and Science
-Movement climbing gym
-Hike/show at Red Rocks
-Denver Yoga Social

Day trips:
-Boulder to hike flatirons and have late lunch at El Rincon.
-Breckenridge and Vail.
-Rocky Mountain National Park

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Irena Levkovich – wool felt diva and educator, Elena Wittman – millinery master and mentor,
Radmila Husnetdinova – art network guru,
John Tierney – very photogenic photographer,
Matt Mosca – tireless editor.

Website: https://woolezvouscrafts.etsy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woolez_vous/?igsh=amh3eGVtZnR4dnhr&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoolezvousCrafts?mibextid=LQQJ4d 

Image Credits
John Tierney Jane Guerreso