On Thursday evening, the Rūdninkai square of the old town became the center of attraction for Vilnius residents. In it, clothing designer and landscape designer Renata Mikailionytė presented a project that was very dear to her and united her two great passions in life - square roses inspired by the latest clothing collection "Miesto sodininkas" and nurtured during the summer. "Plants and green spaces are the link between us and the places we live. It is a more ecological approach in the urban environment between man and the earth", said R. Mikailionytė at the event, who also invited a group of famous people to admire the greenery created and nurtured almost all summer long.
Kristina Sabaliauskaitė, Benediktas Vanagas, Simona Burbaitė, Arnoldas Remeika-Bomberis, Viktorija Pocienė, Eglė Andreikaitė, Giedrė Čeponytė, head of the Želdynai Department of the Vilnius Municipality, who gave the opportunity to renew Rūdninkai Square, and many others gathered to congratulate Renata Mikailionytė and spend one of the last afternoons of the summer in the newly blossomed Rūdninkai Square.
R. Mikailionytė, who used to walk on the catwalk and is now more often seen in the garden or flower bed, created the "Miestos sodininkas" collection and renovated the greenery of Rūdninkai Square in cooperation with the active leisure wear brand "Audimas". In the green spaces of the square, flower gardens were newly formed and expanded, where 62 bushes were planted with roses alone, as well as willows, oregano, yarrow, yarrow, meadow and spice plants. A total of 22 different plant species.
"I really wanted to have a rosary in the city. I didn't choose roses by chance: there are many meanings hidden in their flowers. For me, it is a symbol of aristocracy, sacred, love and death, femininity - the flower queen. We, "Sodo Botanika", planted the flower beds, the roses all came from "Sibirka Rose Garden". Varieties selected are resistant to cold and diseases. Each plant tells its own story, so it was not easy to connect them. I was interested in the juxtaposition of world-old rose blossoms with perennial plants found in the meadows, spices - it gave modernity and nostalgia, eclecticism. At the same time, I wanted to say that the rose is not a luxuriant and pretentious plant, that it can perfectly fit into modern and historical urban spaces, ring and bloom, and make people happy. The non-static flower beds will change throughout the seasons," says R. Mikailionytė about the Rūdninkai Square rose garden.
R. Mikailionytė: "A new generation of gardeners is coming"
While presenting the renewed greenery of Rūdninkai Square, a well-known woman who discovered a passion for gardening said that she noticed that a new attitude of city people towards conservation, sustainability, and lasting value is being formed.
"While observing the environment, I realized that a new generation of gardeners is coming. Vegetation is chosen as the life form. A city person is looking for contact with green coziness, warmth. Plants require attention and care, which encourages us to be more intuitive and to encounter the natural worlds," observes R. Mikailionytė.
During the renovation of Rūdninkai Square, the aim was to preserve the habits of the people who visit here and live in the neighborhood. New flower beds are formed in place of the old ones, slightly expanding them and setting stricter borders of the flower beds. The company "Stebulė" moved the old plants to other areas of the city, prepared the ground for a new rose garden. The plastic borders for the flower beds were donated by the Baltic IPL company, and Audimas provided the seedlings. In addition, not only the green spaces were renovated, but also new benches and trash cans were built, pits in the paving tiles were fixed, and dry branches of the Swedish rowan trees growing in the square were pruned. According to R. Mikailionytė, the renovation of the square required the work of many hands, but the work does not end here - attention will need to be paid to the square in the future as well.
The renovation of the square was inspired by the desire to leave lasting value
The renovation of Rūdninkai Square was inspired by the latest autumn/winter capsule collection "City Gardener" created by Renata Mikailionytė together with "Audim". While nurturing the outer garden and her environment, the designer encourages us not to forget her inner garden - the world of inner harmony. The latest collection combines R. Mikailionytė's favorite and time-tested products with the functionality and developed technologies of an active leisure clothing manufacturer.
"A person's identity is very important to me, and everyday clothes should not overshadow it, on the contrary, it should serve it. Therefore, the functionality of the garment is one of the most important features. Another no less important feature is the easy adaptability of the garment to fit into a person's wardrobe with the things they already have. This is important both when buying and designing clothes. The fabrics were well thought out so that a person would feel cozy in autumn and winter. All this combines both my experience as a gardener and as a clothing designer," says the designer about the collaboration that united two of life's great passions.
This collection stands out for its asceticism and the versatility of clothes. As the designer says, while creating models, she tried not to manipulate women's and men's bodies, so the shapes are simple, suitable for both men and women - some of the clothes in the collection are unisex. The collection includes unisex jumpers and trousers, blouses with an asymmetric button, vest, jumpsuit, different types of dresses, handbag with belt. The combination of essential colors is chosen in the collection: black dominates, it is complemented by gray, red, yellow and white.
"We are happy that we have created more than a clothing collection with Renata Mikailionyte. We wanted this collaboration to leave lasting value for people, the city, and the environment, so we decided to invest not in the traditional presentation of the collection, but in the renovation of urban spaces. This idea was beautifully connected with the concept of the collection itself - the cultivation of an inner garden. We hope that this will inspire other businesses to invest not in temporary and short-term emotions, but in longevity, sustainability and the creation of a more beautiful environment," says Roberta Šemetaitė, marketing manager of the Audimo brand.
