Brazilian expatriate Vera Ribeiro and his partner Rhett Hutchence are the creators of largest souvenir store skull of the world, where works of art and mode are all connected with the age-old theme of human skulls and skeletons. Vera reveals his fascination with bones and the story behind its highly successful store SKULL Bali.
Vera Ribeiro
Vera, tell me about your career in fashion.
At 18, I was the assistant and stylist for a fashion photographer. I soon became the youngest editor of a leading fashion publication in Brazil at the age of 23 years. I went to fashion shows throughout Europe; Milan, London, Paris and learned a lot about the industry. When the economic crisis hit Brazil closed the magazine. I opened a public relations firm specializing in the fashion industry with 16 clients. Then I fell in love, renounced everything and got married.
And how your chapter Bali start?
I moved to Hawaii and that's when I started coming to Bali, it was 20 years ago. My husband was a surfer and for five years we lived on the North Shore, Oahu, and traveled here a lot. I started to buy things for a small shop, I had in Hawaii. After five years living there I moved to Los Angeles where I started a very successful wholesale company named Seven Violet (Purp7e). We manufactured tops in the mesh in Bali because I loved Bali. I did five collections a year and sold in 750 stores around the world for five years. Finally, the constant travel back and forth became too despite the success. So I closed the business and I stayed in Bali.
How the concept of Boutique SKULL happened?
Three years after moving to Bali I met my partner in life and business, Rhett Hutchence. We wanted a store together, but we did not want to just make clothing and accessories. Rhett had been representing artists, so we wanted to combine fashion and art with a strong theme to promote both. I say why not a head shop? People thought he was a crazy idea. In August 2013, we opened our first store in Petitenget; a small shop which quickly filled with art skull and immediately did well, won the Yak Award for best retail shop, and get writing in Vanity Fair as one of the Top Ten Places to visit in Bali.
I knew we needed to expand but did not know how to do this and a lot of thinking about what to do next. I had literally a vivid dream where I saw a huge skull covered with green leaves on the window of a friend! He was our friend who had the Italian boutique, SKS (Simple Concept Store) on Jalan Oberoi. I'd never even talked to him, and nobody thought it was possible because it was a beautiful shop successfully. Six months later, my girlfriend mentioned my dream to him, just for a laugh, and he said he was ready to go and would love to meet. After a month, we closed the transaction, and here we are, two years later! It was good for everyone.
This shop is a landmark on the road now Oberoi.
Yes, it took right away! The huge green skull draws much attention, as do all the skulls and skeletons. It really is a visual treat.
At 200 square meters, we are the biggest skull shop in the world. We sell everything for a full range of prices from Rp.30,000 to our Skull Laced Rp.26 million for a work of art, but most things are kept at a reasonable price.
Skulls, being emblematic, have a timeless appeal around the world. In all the colors of our skin and hair; we all share the same part of the skull and bones. Every culture has used these images.
And because we have such a wide range of skull art, fashion and decoration, there really is something for everyone. Nothing scares or gnarled, more welcoming and attractive. One third of the store is our brand SKULL, so we put a lot of thought into it. I think the shop we reflect, as well as it just skulls. It is different from Petitenget, which was our first, our baby, cuddly and cute. Oberoi is more modern and contemporary in style, but equally fascinating.
The works of art are amazing. Tell me how you get such knowledge very well, but with unusual creative themes?
Rhett My partner did all this. We display works of local and international artists and vicars. But he is also an artist and seeks artisans and directs many of these parts. For example, this piece was carved teak ball that Rhett took and had a carved skull so it seems to emerge from a world of detailed sculpture. He had carved these skeletons; some holding flowers, others with cell phones or yoga positions. It goes directly to the villages of sculptors and make her amazing designs. Rhett also brings different woods and materials from all over the world and inspires artists to be more creative and develop from traditional images they have mastered.
What most inspires your fashion creations?
I approach fashion from different aspects, but I design what I want and what I would wear. Sometimes I will buy clothes and editing. I love vintage but mostly I buy again and add to it, cut it, reshape it. If I draw what I wear, I'm a perfectionist about it - it must be good! My fashion is a reflection of myself and what I have come to love over the years in this business. There are styles here I have been selling for three years because they are classics. After years in an industry that promotes change, I came to appreciate that which surpasses the seasons and trends. I am also influenced by Bali and our way of life here.
What are your future projects?
I love being in Bali because the world is here! I get requests to open more stores, especially in other countries or in Jakarta. For now, I want to focus on what we do here. We will keep all positive! We are the SKULL store, but you can see that our skulls and skeletons are all positive, happy and spiritual. They connect us all as one and the same.
We have so many creative visions between us I see we just better at what we are already immersed in; expansion, bringing our creativity in an international market wholesale. Our website will be soon so our plans evolve in time. We will be here in Bali promote what we like and what all the actions of humanity - Skulls and bones
Thank you, Vera. Email info@skullbali.com for more information.