The look and feel of the sea with d.o.p design

Diorkys Osa studied English Literature and Language, and later Law; although for her creating something palpable, with more immediate results, has always been the counterpart to hours of reading and preparing texts. Whenever she took a break she would do some manual work, almost always with fabrics, wood and paints. It was always like that until the birth of her son.

“Then I became interested in learning and mastering restoration techniques and learning about different materials and their possibilities. I delved into the work of the Bauhaus precursors. Minimalism is very present in almost everything I do,” the founder of d.o.p design, a brand that turns boat sails into bags, told Negolution.

The three letters that make up the brand coincide with her initials. Thus arose d.o.p, without the intention of becoming an enterprise.

Once the pandemic arrived, Diorkys also spent a lot of time at home. The first months of quarantine were a hive of ideas and creative enthusiasm. “For me it was an opportunity to study, to design and turn some sails that I had had at home for some time into bags, a project that for various reasons I had postponed,” she explained.

“Some friends encouraged me to share the work I was doing with the sails. It was a satisfying experience, which allowed me to meet and exchange with designers, architects and other artists, and with clients of different ages who have many questions about the sail bags.

“It was an interesting response and I started to consider creating something more serious. That’s the point we are at now. I say we are, but d.o.p. design is just one person, although I have the permanent support of my husband, who helps me with certain parts of the process,” she added.

How do you access the materials?

Sails, especially for boat racing, do not have a long nautical life. In order to achieve greater competitive effectiveness, they are changed frequently. But as a material, they retain their quality. This is a light, resistant, and very beautiful fabric. I work with technical materials, mostly nautical. They are all imported. They are very specific materials, quite peculiar and very complex to work with.

Currently, the brand has two collections: The Me and Notus. In both, the designs are unique. Although the formats are repeated, the combinations are different, which is also a challenge that the creator enjoys.

“Notus is a colorful, versatile line, where I combine materials and textures. The Me is more sober, more nautical. In both lines I propose to unite past and present by using very traditional techniques on modern, very technical materials, where I recreate experiences, emotions. Nature is a permanent inspiration,” Diorkys explained.

What are your plans for the future?

“I think we will continue to be an intimate venture, with unique designs, and very limited editions. I prefer to serve customers personally. I insist that they should see the product before purchasing it. In the case of the white sails, this is an upcycled material, with traces of use, they are sails that have sailed, that already have a history.

“I think it is important for the customer to feel the material, its texture and sounds. Looking at the sea and discovering a sailboat is a feeling of immense freedom. Of joy. It’s a beautiful image. And that’s what I try to do: create something beautiful, but also durable. I intend to create with quality. I think quality is the pillar of sustainability. More than in quantity, we must always grow in quality.

“Many followers and connoisseurs of the project have expressed to me their desire to see the bags in a physical space. That is also my wish.

“I am very excited when someone recognizes one of my bags, approaches me and lets me know that the project continues. I hope to have some presentations soon, these are moments that bring people together. It is very interesting to we how any woman, of any age, can appropriate the designs and make them her own.”