INTERVIEW with Nadira Tania - content creator and social media manager

Welcome to another interview and the new web design :)

Today I will introduce to you Nadira, such a lovely person and an aesthetics queen. Be sure to check out her IG account here .

Q: Describe yourself in one sentence

A: ‘I’m a Leo sun, Libra moon, Leo rising.’ Just kidding! Hmm if I had to choose just one word to describe myself, then it would be ‘Eager’ - if you know me in real life, you may have noticed I’m a very curious person with multiple interests and really enthusiastic to learn new things.

Q: Favourite movie?

A: I’m a movie buff so this question is a very tough one. I usually try to break down my favorite movies by genre/actor/director just because it is so hard to pick one that is my favorite overall. But any movie by Jean-Luc Godard / Stanley Kubrick / Wes Anderson is always a good watch and really cinematic. (Well, I am not usually very indecisive but the one thing I am bad at choosing is my favorite movie/song/book, etc because I have so many favorites haha)

Q: Favourite museum/gallery?

A: Definitely the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark - beautiful art, architecture, landscape, culture, nature.. just wonderful!

Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?

A: If I could go back in time and give my younger self advice, I’d say ‘don’t put too much pressure on yourself’. It’s so hard for a perfectionist like me to even think about sucking, but I’m slowly coming to terms with that.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: I honestly can be inspired by everything - art, movies, music, architecture, books, magazines, people on the street, places, the city I am in, artists, designers, and influential people. Traveling is also very important to me – it’s where I get most of my inspiration from.

Q: What attracted you to go with the minimalistic style?

A: There's something about buildings and modern architecture that I really love since I was a kid and it developed my sense of style and aesthetic. I wouldn’t say I am a minimalist because I own a lot of stuff but I prefer the modern aesthetic and minimalist design. I also hate clutter and bold colors, so I need my space to have that minimalist atmosphere to calm my mind.

Q: How did you start your food IG account?

A: The foodie in me is real haha! My family and friends would know how much I love eating out and discovering new places to eat. I created @berlinasianfood just because I didn't want to spam my main account with food-related but I didn't expect it to grow this much and it has already been 3 years. Pre-COVID, I really enjoy visiting restaurants and sharing my experiences but now that we are just staying at home, I am starting a new series “home-cooking” as it’s the perfect timing to try out some new recipes. 

Q: Did your country or culture inspire your work?

A: Aesthetically no, but technically yes. Born and raised in Indonesia taught me to be humble, work hard, treat everyone with kindness, and lend a helping hand if you can. We believe that whatever you do will always come back to you and vice versa. 

Q: Fashion brand you would like to work with/for?

A: The answer is Maison Margiela. Without a doubt.

Q: How do you see the world changing in the future regarding sustainability?

A: I think people are becoming more aware of sustainability and the positive impact it can have on this planet, many young people are so invested in trying to bring a positive change, especially in the way they live and shop. We definitely need to learn, educate and then take action ourselves, as we educate others - even doing small and simple good things consistently can have an impact to save the environment, especially the 5rs, sustainable living, eliminating plastic. Just start with super small things and build up from there, it will take a big effort to turn the tide and help heal the planet we all share.

Q: How do you see the fashion industry changing after 2020?

A: The fashion industry needs to become more sustainable in 2021. Sustainable fashion is not a trend, but the future because right now the fashion industry creates a ton of waste and many mainstream brands use child labor so we need to bring more attention to sustainable fashion and where our clothes come from, and most importantly, stop buying fast fashion. There is a more mindful way to shop for clothes: buy from sustainable and ethical brands, go with higher-end brands - it will cost more at purchase but also save you lots of money on cost per wear because they last longer! Or go thrifting - I feel like the second-hand clothing stores now play a greater role than ever as people become more aware of sustainability. Also, I decided a couple of years ago to stay away from short-lived trend pieces and focus more on timeless items for my wardrobe and home so that they could stay with me for a longer time.

Q: Famous person you would like to chat with? (dead or alive)

A: Just one? I almost can't decide lol. Maybe Dieter Rams? I like his principles and he has inspired a lot more people than you could imagine.

Q: How has living in Berlin changed you?

A: I love my homeland dearly, Indonesia is such a beautiful country and I love my people there but I just feel like Jakarta is not the right place for me to grow. It’s not like I am very ungrateful or something, but the routine just wasn’t for me and I think I got too spoiled living there (At home, we had a cook, a maid & a driver so I never had to worry about anything back then haha) I can remember, from the time I was a kid, my family and closest friends told me that I was and am unique, and I always wanted to explore new things - I remember asking my mom if I could study abroad in Paris after high school because I was very obsessed with fashion, French movies, art and culture (I still am tho). Luckily, my parents supported me and they told me I could study abroad after I finish my uni in Jakarta. Not long after, I left my hometown for Italy to pursue my Master’s studies and ended up working and living in Berlin after I graduated. I am thankful for what these past six years have taught me, everyone I’ve met and interacted with, and I learned and experienced so many things... there is one big life lesson I have learned and that is to be strong in tough situations. I’ve also learned to be more open-minded about the world around me, wiser, disciplined, independent, and that I do not need to depend on anyone for my own happiness. 

Q: How do you keep yourself busy during the lockdown?

A: I like to keep myself organized and in control, so I assign a few things to myself each day that I know I can achieve in one day - this really helps keep me centered, and focused. I usually get up early so I have more time to do a 30-min workout, AM skincare routine, and make myself a hot turmeric ginger tea before starting the day.. I am mostly in back-to-back virtual meetings, brainstorming, scheduling content, and working on productions for shoots, and I always put fresh flowers on my desk, matcha latte, and light a scented candle to make my space feel positive and calm. I also find getting dressed very important, even if we are just going to the supermarket or walk around the hood, and at the end of the day, I’ll turn my laptop off, disable all notifications from my phone, make a delicious dinner, watch movies or read books.

Q: Goals for 2021?

A: My goal for 2021 is to remain present.. not rushing to the future but PRESENT. Not gonna lie, this global pandemic makes me slightly nervous but I remind myself to stay positive, follow my passion, do the work, keep going without getting distracted by the rest of the world, and it will pay off in the end.

photo from: @nadirataniaa

I hope you like this one! I definitely enjoyed reading this one!
Love, Ena