TRENDING
HOTELS : How do you decide on product lines to best match the Aman brand essence , experiences ? Kristina Romanova : I have been fortunate to have visited most of the Aman destinations across the globe and this has informed a lot of the inspiration for the product development , not just of the ranges overall , but the specific items within each collection too .
My creative process sees me draw inspiration from the Aman locations themselves . For example , I think of the desert surrounding Amangiri , or Amanpuri ’ s iconic coconut palms , as well as the experiences and activities within each of our properties . From there , coupled with the demand and requests of our clients , we started developing product ranges like the Aman Skincare as an extension of the Aman Spa experience , while our first ready-to-wear collection was focused on celebrating the Aman lifestyle through a timeless collection of contemporary , classic pieces .
For example , guests enjoying their time at Amanyara or Amanpulo can wear our activewear with the signature A at the gym or hiking , spend time in a bikini or swim shorts on the beach – that will often be in our monogram or classic Aman color palette such as deep greens inspired by the jungles of Amanjiwo or the terracotta of Amanjena , and then change into our classic linen shirts , or silk slip dresses , which are perfect for the evening .
We also know from our client feedback that our guests value their time more than anything . Often , they want to travel light and knowing we can cater to everything they need when they are on property and curate a wardrobe for them based on both their tastes
Aman Essentials ready-to-wear
and their itinerary is something they consider to be a great luxury .
H : What is the best approach for working with manufacturers ? KR : With the creation and evolution of Aman Essentials , I am not only committed to developing the finest quality products but also looking at how we can have the smallest impact on the planet . This is an integral part of the work I am doing with my suppliers and owing to this , as a minimum requirement , every supplier is required to sign an Aman Code of Conduct which sets out clear standards in relation to environmental consideration and working conditions .
All suppliers must also have relevant sustainable practice certificates from independent bodies such as Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standards , and we are always on the lookout for the most up-to-date sustainable materials that keep coming to the
market . We will continue this search so that we keep improving in this area as well .
This approach and transparency with our manufacturers and suppliers from the beginning of our relationship with them guarantees we are all aligned with our ambitions surrounding the product , our ethos , and long-term ambitions surrounding sustainability .
H : What is the biggest challenge to market these products ? KR : The global supply chain crisis . This has been having a huge impact on so many industries , but for us , it has primarily affected our ability to plan our collection launches with certainty that the supply chain challenges will not impact our target live dates .
Fortunately , as our operating model is to produce low stock quantities of our seasonless collections , we have in place strong contingency plans which means we
20 hotelsmag . com Nov / Dec 2022