by Cajsa Lilliehook
I have been wearing Kungler’s jewelry, shoes and clothing since 2008. In fact, I just checked and this will be the 227th post with the Kunglers tag. A Kunglers design is instantly recognizable, not just because the quality is unimpeachable, but because there is this organic fusion of urban sophistication with the reckless exuberance of the wild.—
It’s Only Fashion: What was your first day in Second Life like? What made you stick it out through the learning curve?
Ava Kungler: I made an account on Second Life by invitation of my sister, who already was “playing” a few days . After a few weeks teleporting between places, it became clear the need for an occupation, since I wanted to learn more about this new world. The first thing that came to mind was to try an old dream with fashion and design. As I already had some experience with designing tools I thought it would be a great opportunity that I could not miss.
by AvaGardner Kungler
IOF: What’s the craziest thing you ever did in Second Life? Most exciting? Silliest?
AK: Living a virtual world is already somehow something crazy … but when I remember my first fashion show , that was exciting!!… it was something surreal that made me very nervous while ecstatic to see my creations being shown on the catwalk.
by AvaGardner Kungler
IOF: When did you begin creating? What was the first thing you made. Did you save it? Did it work?
AK: I believe after a couple of months trying i came up with my first acceptable dress lol. I started making party and formal dresses … thought it was wonderful how flexi prims moved on the avatar and at that time it was the opportunity to make those princess gowns that only worked on dolls in real life. I think it worked quite well as i had a lot of compliments on it…although nowadays, when i look back, it makes me think “wtf i had in mind!” lol….but it was and still is a growing process
by AvaGardner Kungler
IOF: How did you choose your store name? Does it have a special meaning for you? If your stores is named after yourself, how did you go about choosing your avatar name?
AK: Since Barb and i had the same last name, the store name came up quickly and about my avatar name, i remember watching the movie The Killers, staring Ava Gardner, a few days before and that name was still fresh in my memory when creating my avie name. But then I never imagined that I would become a so long member of SL community.
by AvaGardner Kungler
IOF: What is the most challenging part of being a creator in Second Life? What is most rewarding?
AK: The most challenging I believe, as for all fashion artist and creators,is to be able to maintain customer interest . You must always move because everything in SL is very fast and is always improving. The most rewarding for me is to see people wanting my designs and feeling good on doing it so.
IOF: Where do you get inspiration for your designs? What is your process like?
AK: I think by now everyone knows my passion in organic lines , nature and ethnic style and it reflects my personal taste in RL . Currently, for lack of time , I have focused mainly on jewelry , which actually became my new passion . I usually make a sketch but as I am terrible at manual drawing, i try to transfer to the 3d tools the image that is in my head. Generally I already know how I want the piece to look like when i start do work on it.
IOF: How do your first and second life design aesthetics resemble and contrast with each other?
AK: Only in a few cases I risk something more audacious let’s say …. I like to maintain a very similar aesthetic to what people would like to wear in real life. when i’m working on my SL designs, i always keep in mind “would i wear this RL? where?”
by Ava Kungler
IOF: Who is your customer – the person you are thinking of when you design?
AK: My client is stylish and not afraid to dare without falling into fussy. She is a woman not afraid to make a statement but still feel beautiful and classy.
IOF: One of the challenges of creating is Second Life is dealing with IP theft and the DMCA process. Many of those problems are due to flaws in the DMCA legislation itself. What changes within the control of Linden Labs that you would like to see?
AK: I have had my account stolen but Linden Lab was very quick to recover everything. It was one of the biggest problems I faced so far. Either case of copybot but nothing that would really have turned into a major problem. soo…anyway i believe that there isn’t much to do from us as community but hope than LL continues to hear what we have to say and work on this matter together.
by Ava Kungler
IOF: How has your second life changed your first life?
AK: During these eight years of SL I ‘ve improved my English language that was terrible ( still bad .. I know..lol ) and developed new knowledge in the use of design tools and 3D tools. Both of them are useful and very important on my RL job
The Essentials
Great interview!