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Do you love all things social media, fashion, beauty, nails... and ISLA??  Then come join us!  We're looking for an intern to work on social media, community management and much more.  You'll be a key part of our awesome team and have the chance to learn all about the business 🙂 Responsibilities:- product photography- content creation- community management- assisting on creative projects - helping with interviews and photoshoots- working on advertisementsRequirements:- good communication skills- basic understanding of graphic design and photography- interest in beauty, social media, fashion and trendsDuration: 6 monthsContact shop@islaberlin.com with your CV and applicationWe look forward to hearing from you!

  We visited the amazing Felina and interviewed her on her creative process, inspiration and goals. Here is what she had to say about her designs and brand aspirations. Prepare for an interesting read!!!! Q: Tell us a bit about yourself A: I'm 25 years old from Berlin and studied fashion design at the Lette-Verein Berlin. I grew up in a very artistic family, everyone has and had something to do with painting, theatre, photography, design. And I have always had the urge to act creatively, so it was actually clear from the start that I couldn't do an office job. Q: What got you into designing and inspired you to create Felina‘s? A: My mom also studied fashion design and taught me how to sew and knit at an early age. So I've somehow got into design without really thinking about the fact that it could one day become my career. My decision to study fashion design was also guided by the fact that I had an incredible desire to learn the craft. After I finished that, I suddenly realized that I really don't want to become a fashion designer. Our world is flooded with newly produced clothes, it just didn't feel right to be one of the people who contributed to it. I knew that sewing and tailoring were my passion, but I wasn't sure where my place was in it all. I don't even know how exactly I came across handbags, but somehow I started sewing bags out of everything I could find at home. And that's how my concept for Felina’s came about. Q: We know besides being a designer you're also a model: does that influence your brand? What, in general, influences you?  A: In some way, everything I do in life influences me and my designs, so probably also the modelling and the people I get to know through it. But actually I model because I just enjoy it! At the moment my focus is completely on building my handbag business. I'm generally less inspired by other fashion brands, but I find inspiration in many other areas, such as nature, music, art and culture, fashion epochs, the people who surround me.  Q: Repurposed fabrics are the distinctive trait of Felina's bags. Can you tell us a bit about the process of sourcing the fabrics and constructing the bags? A: A lot of people now contact me if they have sorted out clothes and then I see what can be used. I often go to second hand shops and see what is smiling at me, when I see a material that I find great, an idea usually arises in my head. Or I have an idea beforehand, such as for my latest collection: Denim Drop 01, and then I start looking for who might want to get rid of materials in that direction. Another possibility is that someone has a jacket at home, for example, that they no longer wear, but still find the material really great. Then you can come to me with the material and get a Customized Felina’s handbag from me. Q: How did the creative process evolve since you started the brand?  A: In the beginning it was just something that I try out and see what happens. There are so many ideas in my head and at the beginning I simply tried to implement as much as possible. Meanwhile, I take an idea and focus completely on it, I work on it The good thing about the fact that I don't produce in bulk is that I can still implement my many ideas because there is always only a limited edition of bags. I think I just take it much more seriously than at the beginning, I see it much more than what it is: my business, my job.  Q: Do you have new projects coming up? Any collaborations with other Berlin based designers?  A: Oh yes, quite a lot. I think I mapped out the next two years. Also some collaborations are not only with designers but every kind of artist. It is also something that I just really enjoy working with other artists and creating something that I could not have done on my own. You can definitely look forward to a lot!  Q: How do you see Felina's and yourself growing and what are your goals for the brand?  A: Definitely my goal is to get a little bigger so that I can get a few more people on the team. But my concept will definitely remain the same, that means no mass production, the bags remain unique and handmade. But who knows, maybe I will expand my range at some point.  Q: What's your favourite thing about Felina's?  A: To have found a way to express my creativity, to show people a part of my personality through my designs. And people seem to love it!! That is the most beautiful thing for me!  Q: What advice would you give to designers looking to start a business?  A: To be ready to invest all your strength, energy and time in the business. If you do it half-heartedly, it won't work. And: make a plan and a structure from the beginning! It is much more difficult to bring structure in retrospect Thank you so much for this amazing interview Felina!!! Check out her Instagram @felinas_handmade. Her gorgeous bags are also available in our online shop and in store, so come and get them before they're gone xx

This Pride month we created nail art inspired by Black icons of the queer community. We felt it was appropriate to use this time and showcase where most fashion trends, and mainstream culture originated, the BIPOC queer community. Especially considering the hardships queer BIPOC face outside, and within the LGBT community.   The promotion of Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, has now become more relevant, than ever. The first ever Pride was a riot lead by queer people of colour. Let's take this time and honour them and what they have achieved for us as a community. We honour their cultural impact and will continue to lift up queer voices  Marsha P. Johnson  One of the most central figures of Stonewall, the riot, that would become one of the most crucial events of queer liberation, was Marsha P. Johnson, iconic drag queen and LGBTQ and AIDS activist. She was a member of the gay liberation front and participated in the first Christopher Street Liberation Pride rally. A fearless advocate for gay rights, one of her most notable direct actions following Stonewall, was staging a sit-in protest at Weinstein Hall for cancelling a dance after finding out it was sponsored by gay organisations. She also co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) organisation, alongside with her close friend Sylvia Rivera. When they were banned from attending the Pride parade in 1973 for “giving it a bad name”, their response was to march ahead of it.  Remember these icons and watch the short film “Happy Birthday Marsha P.” made by transgender activist and filmmaker Tourmaline. (Yes, the one the director of the Netflix doc “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson stole from. Consider supporting amazing, original creatives instead.)  The amazing Nails for the first week of Pride month were created by our fabulous nail artist  Maddy @maadnails!!! Janelle Monáe  In the second week of Pride we celebrated Janelle Monáe: singer, songwriter, actress and style icon. They are  a fierce advocate of LGBT rights and Black liberation, and use their music and style to express their intersectional identity and activism. Their alter-ego Cindi Mayweather, created for their first EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite is a great example for how this and their vision of the future come together. Janelle states that Cindi is from the town of Metropolis in the year 2719. In Cindi issues such as fear of the "other", of change and of the future, all culminate in one astonishing work of art. They explained that "[s]he's the mediator between the haves and the have-nots, the oppressed and the oppressor.” Janelle Monáe encourages us to forget our preconceived notions of race, culture, art and gender. They are  so amazing that Boston City Council even named October 16, 2013 "Janelle Monáe Day" in recognition of their artistry and social leadership! On January 10, 2020, they tweeted the hashtag #IAmNonbinary. Monáe later stated in an interview, that it was made "in support of Non-binary Day and to bring more awareness to the community." They did not explicitly confirm nor deny whether they are non-binary. I feel like I have a responsibility to my community and other young girls to help redefine what it looks like to be a woman. I don't believe in men's wear or women's wear, I just like what I like. And I think we should just be respected for being an individual.... I've been in Vogue, now, and different publications, which is cool, because I think that it just shows a different perspective of how women can dress. – Monáe, on her image and artistic freedom This stunning set of nails was created by Maddox @ballpit_addict!!! Laverne Cox  The third Icon we referenced for this amazing Pride set was Laverne Cox stunning actress and LGBTQ activist. Known for her role as Sophia Burset, she is regarded as one of the trailblazers of the queer and especially transgender community. She was the first openly trans person to be featured on the cover of Time magazine where she was interviewed for the article “The Transgender Tipping Point” and the first to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. She is the executive producer of the Netflix doc "Disclosure: Trans lives on screen", looking at the depiction of trans people in Hollywood and the cultural impact this has.  The transgender revolution still has a long way to go. Trans people are significantly more likely to be impoverished, unemployed and suicidal than other demographics. And as the trans movement has gained momentum, opponents have been drawn in to fight. Continuously denying Trans people access to health care, protection at the work place, their gender recognition the list goes on and on.  But perhaps the biggest obstacle is that trans people live in a world fixated on the binary perception of gender. It is important to recognise though, that gender identity and physical biology are neither intrinsically connected, nor have they been perceived as such in large parts of the world. Much like racism, homophobia and especially transphobia are a legacy of white supremacy and colonialism. Laverne Cox is on the front lines of fighting for gender equality and trans liberation. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her activism!! This weeks amazing nails were created by Grace @booshibishnails!!! Octavia St. Laurent Mizrahi    For the last week of our Pride nail art series we honoured the one and only Octavia St. Laurent Mizrahi LGBT icon, model, trans woman, and AIDS educator. When they were diagnosed HIV+ they became an educator on the disease to spread awareness and combat the stigma surrounding the illness.  They were a central figure of the groundbreaking 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning that chronicles the ball culture of New York. The film portrays ballroom culture and interviews its prominent members. It's a faceted exploration of Black and Latinx subculture, that depicts a microcosm of fame, race and gender identity in the larger US and western culture. It offers profound insight into the peoples lives and showcases their pride and talent, neglected by mainstream, white society. Octavia St. Laurent is the prime example of Drag being a complex performance of gender, class and race culminating into an expression of ones desires and goals in life.  They were on the forefront of redefining gender expression and due to expressing their identity in public they were subject to harassment and arrested multiple times.  One of their most famous quotes is “This is me, you understand? No, I am not a woman. No, I am not a man. I am Octavia.”    These gorgeous nails were created by Pia @kkalashnikova_nails Written by: Carla Kowollik @kosmoschild You can read the article with Laverne Cox “The Transgender Tipping Point” here  https://time.com/135480/transgender-tipping-point/ And Octavia´s last interview here.  https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/22663/1/octavia-st-laurents-last-interview

Most people know this struggle. Whatever type of hair one is referring to, it always seems to be intrinsically connected to our level of attractiveness. It decides how desirable we are to other people, and based on that, our self-worth. The more you grow aware of your assigned role in society, the more appearance (and hair) establishes itself as issues. When it comes to body hair, the solution seems to be clear: just don't have any, at least not visibly. You grow up thinking having perfect hairless skin is easily attainable and normal until you realise it’s not, at least not for you.     The day you grow aware of your body hair is the day you start being judged for it. And then you grow to hate it. You're taught that it's not attractive, it’s disgusting, it's unhygienic... Those and countless other BS myths trick you into believing that there is something inherently wrong with your body, with yourself. We're bombarded with advertisements of women shaving their already hairless, smooth legs, thinking we are flawed. If it works for her, why doesn’t it work for me. Why don't I look like this?  Beginning to remove your hair is like the beginning of a fight. Micro-cuts, blood, rashes from shaving excessively, pain when waxing and ingrown hair. And still you don't quite look like the photoshopped models in the glossy pages and colourful advertisements.       Whatever choices you make regarding your body hair, it never seems to be the right one. If you're all hairless, you're “trying too hard”, “too feminine”, “too keen on pleasing”, “not masculine enough”. If you don’t remove your hair, you’re “inappropriate”, “not feminine enough”, “don't put enough effort into your appearance”, “too masculine”.  Why is having body hair a journey? Why is having body hair a fight? It comes with every body and grows on everybody. No matter your gender, no matter your age, no matter your ethnicity. Body hair doesn’t care so why do you? And why do other people?      Having or not having body hair should be treated like getting a haircut, a piercing, or a tattoo. It should be treated as a choice. A choice that is no ones concern but  your own. When teaching how to remove your hair properly and healthily, information on how to take good care of it should be given. Caring for your body hair, grooming and moisturising it should be no different from doing so for your skin and for the hair on your head.  The first shaving ad where a woman was shown  removing visible hair was released in 2018. Still, the simple fact that body hair is not connected to your gender presentation doesn't seem so simple. Growing your body hair isn't any more relevant to your gender presentation than an accessory. If your partner is freaked out by the amount of hair you choose to have, fuck them (not literally). Your worth is not determined by someone else's opinion. What matters is that you are comfortable with yourself.   So if you want to grow your hair - do it, if you want to shave it, wax it and use all the other countless hair removal methods that are available to you - do that. Having hair is hot. Not having it? Stunning. No judgment here. Just be kind to yourself and your skin.  Getting over ourselves, leaving societally conditioned opinions behind, and minding your own business is great for that glow of yours. Having your looks dictated by the media and the so-called beauty standard is out anyways.  Normalise caring for your body hair, even if you choose to remove it. Trust and believe it makes the whole process much less painful and more satisfying.  Brands like FUR (which is why we are so happy to have them at ISLA)  and many other body positive brands have been focusing on making your relationship with your hair more healthy and pleasurable. So why don’t you?    Written by: Carla Kowollik (@kosmoschild) images courtesy of: Liza Mikhaleva (@liza_mikh) and Fur (@fur_you)  

Are you as ready for summer as we are?? We are loving the sunshine right now and it's definitely got us in the mood for a fresh set of nails! In need of some inspiration?! Don't worry, we've got you! We asked two of our talented nail artists, Grace and Maddox, to share some of their fave looks and give you some ideas for that fresh summer mani you know you want! Scroll down and get inspired...! GRACE (@booshibishnails)So many girls I know and I’ve spoken to are so critical of their boobs, and there’s one representation of boobs you see online or on tv and I just wanted to promote all types of boobs. My mother has had breast cancer and had a mastectomy in one of her boobs so I wanted to represent that too; rather than it be something to be embarrassed about, making it something to be empowered by.We absolutely LOVE these and the message behind them too. Fancy some boobs on your talons?? View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on Nov 28, 2019 at 11:42am PST In these ones it wasn’t necessarily the design that stood out to me, it was the process of doing the nails. I did these nails on my roomate who has never had anything to do with nails before. It was the start of quarantine and we did it for fun but throughout the process he started to understand why people do this and how such a small thing can make you feel so good about yourself. He could understand the whole art process of it too - it was nice to see someone completely understand your passion and to feel the passion having the art on their nails.We can't get enough of this design, plus it's always great to hear of more people having a growing appreciation for nail art - there's so much more to it than just what you see! View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on Apr 10, 2020 at 8:25am PDT MADDOX (@ballpit_addict)I really enjoyed doing the Murakami set because it is a nice challenge, but also has plenty of fun colors! When I was doing them, practically half of ISLA’s polish was on my desk 😆 Part of the reason I really like working at ISLA is that so many of our clients bring wonderful reference photos, and their ideas are always inspiring. It really pushes me as an artist and keeps me on my toes!Who else is obsessing over these?! The colours, the design....they are SUPER kawaii and we want them!!  View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🧁Maddox🧁 (@ballpit_addict) on Mar 11, 2020 at 5:00pm PDT The Vivienne Westwood set is another favorite of mine because I love having everything as glittery as possible, and also really enjoy painting graphic designs. Her logo is so iconic, and I had a blast playing with some different color ways to really make the nails pop! These were also one of my first sets of Gel-X premium, so seeing the end result was very satisfying 😃 Hope to do more VW inspired nails in the future!This twist on Vivienne Westwood's iconic logo really stood out to us and just shows the endless creative possibilities that can be achieved with a fab idea and a talented nail artist! Who's ready to book their appointment?? View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🧁Maddox🧁 (@ballpit_addict) on Dec 10, 2019 at 1:51pm PST Seeing these looks definitely has us craving some colour on our tips in time for summer and celebrating the fact we are able to socialise again!CRAVING MORE? CHECK OUT MORE OF GRACE AND MADDOX'S WORK ON INSTAGRAM! Grace on Instagram: @booshibishnailsMaddox on Instagram: @ballpit_addictWant to make an appointment? Hit us up via email: shop@islaberlin.com or give us a call on +49 162 9741809Written by Hazel Hedges

ISLA loves to support brands created by women, not only because of their talent, but because it also enables us to collaborate in building a network of supremely creative and inspiring females that we feel we owe it to you to share. These brands, and the women behind them, are part of a movement that we want you to feel a part of too. We love their designs but our connection goes beyond that - their clothing conveys a message and an attitude that we relate to and we're pretty sure you will too.Nii HAi is one of the brands whose philosophy spoke to us, with a range of clothing designed to inspire confidence and empowerment in those who wear it. We love everything the brand stands for and are super excited to have it both in-store and online at ISLA!We wanted to delve a little deeper into how the brand was born so recently chatted with it's creator, Rosie, to find out more...Tell us about the history of the Nii HAi; when did it begin and what made you decide to create your own label….?Thinking back now, since I was a kid I have been making clothes and trying to sell them so it has definitely always been something I was interested in. Whilst I was studying law at university I realised that I wasn’t very good at being told by others what to do. I knew then that I was going to be my own boss and I told everyone that I was going to build an empire (lol). As soon as I finished university, I moved to London with my friend with the plan of starting a clothing brand. If I have an idea, I don’t wait around and want to get it moving. Nii HAi started on a very small scale. I was waitressing and using the money from this to buy the first few bits we ever released. My friend Jessica, who started the brand with me, and I worked so hard on this project to be able to launch. Everything, from the shoots to the packaging was done with so much love and excitement.There was never really a day when I had a lightbulb moment when I decided to start Nii HAi - it really evolved as an idea that me and Jess had whilst we were in Paris one year, and gradually I just became more and more set on it being what I wanted to do. For me, it is the perfect combination of creativity and of working and learning about the back end of the business (strategies, finances etc…) which I love; it’s difficult to meet anyone that gets as excited about a spreadsheet as I do. We love your drive and ambition! You were clearly very focused on what you wanted and stopped at nothing to make it happen which is amazing. What was your main source of inspiration behind Nii HAI? What would you say is the brand philosophy?The brand philosophy is “stick to your guns” which is basically saying trust your gut, do what YOU want to do and think is best. Nii HAi makes clothes that I want to wear. Both in the clothes we make and as a business, I am inspired by so many different things. I do like the idea of each collection having a concept and a story behind it - like the birthday suit we recently created. I also am really inspired by other female entrepreneurs like Charissa, the owner of ISLA, and brand owners such as Danielle Guizio (creator of GUIZIO) and Natalia Maczek (founder of MISBHV). I have spent a lot of time researching their business models and how they started their brands to help me improve Nii HAi in every way possible.When it comes to the actual design of the clothes, I usually have a lightbulb moment where I have an idea and then I get super excited and spend hours researching shapes, colours, photos etc…. We love and admire the amazing women you feature both on Nii HAi’s website and over on your Instagram; how do you go about finding and selecting girls to represent your brand and what it stands for? Do you have a particular look or mindset you are searching for when choosing someone to showcase the range?I am so lucky to be able to call most of these girls that have helped out so much with Nii HAi my friends. It’s something I find really tough because I am a firm believer in paying people (especially creative/models etc..) for their work but as a small brand it is very difficult to manage this within your budget. When I moved to London I met a lot of girls who I had followed on instagram who came to do some shoots with us. The girls that appear on Nii HAi are mostly people who have a similar mindset to me and really understand the amount of hard work and love I put into the brand - they really understand the values of the brand because they know me. It’s about a certain look but more about them understanding Nii HAi and I feel (and I hope they do too) that they are part of Nii HAi. It has a real sense of community for me. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nii HAi (@nii.hai) on Mar 2, 2020 at 9:11am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nii HAi (@nii.hai) on Apr 2, 2020 at 8:03am PDT "Stick To Your Guns" is a philosophy we can definitely get on board with and is an attitude that really resonates in your clothing; just one of the reasons why we love Nii HAi so much. Can you give us a preview of what’s next for the brand? Up and coming projects, collaborations, new designs…? Tell us more!I have SO many big plans for Nii HAi - I definitely dream big and Nii HAi is my baby so there are no limits for it in my eyes. At the moment, I’m working on loads of new collections and bits to bring out this year, both on our website and some exclusive collections for some very exciting collabs. But in terms of the future, I would love to continue to do what we are doing on a bigger scale, continuing to grow and perhaps expanding beyond clothing, to encompass broader aspects of business in the future.That sounds super exciting and we cannot wait to see what comes next! To shop the Nii HAi range at ISLA click here.FOLLOW Nii HAi on SOCIAL!Instagram: @nii.haiHit up their website here: www.niihai.comWritten by Hazel Hedges

With most of us deep in quarantine mode at the mo, what better time to sit down with our talented nail artists (virtually obvs) and ask them to take a look back at some of their fave looks. First up, we asked Maddy and Pia to reflect on some of the designs they’ve created since being at ISLA and choose the two that stand out to them the most.…a tough call when you’re the creator of so many inspiring looks!MADDYLOGO LOVEThe first set is from a few years ago, not long before we started ISLA.  4th of July was coming up and I wanted to do some nails to celebrate.  The Golden Arches were obv the first thing that came to mind!  These were done in regular polish (as that's all I had at home).  The smooth lines and symmetry were a killer to achieve with this product, so I was pretty proud of the end result.  This mani got some good press attention and stepped up my obsession with logo nails.We can totally see why these are among your faves and why they got such attention from the press - that detail is insane and totally has us craving a Happy Meal…! MARBLE COLOUR CONTRASTSThe second set is really recent.  I was kinda low that day (during lockdown) and missing home a lot, so was doing nails to keep busy (my go-to distraction!). I was playing around with Blooming Gel and decided to make a long purple set to try out the product.  The colour palette is super cute and I really liked how the colours moved to create the marble.  Plus, purple nails with orange jumper = fire.  I picked this set not because they're the most accomplished nails I've ever done, but because they cheered me up when I needed it.‘This is what people sometimes don't get about a fresh manicure - it can totally change your frame of mind.’ PIASPARKLED TIPSThese were one of the very first premium extensions I did and they turned out so cute! Probably the first time I was really proud of my work.We can totally see why! We’re definitely getting some Sailor Moon vibes from this glittering set - I mean, who wouldn’t be happy to look down at these?! A super impressive first set of premium extensions too, no wonder they made it into your top two! NEON TRIBALI love creating tribal designs as well as butterflies, so combining these with my love of French tips was the whole package for me.  We totally agree, and the lime green gives them that extra pop too - love!!  Stay tuned for our next post featuring two more of our amazing nail techs to fuel you with inspo for your next manicure….!WANT TO SEE MORE OF MADDY AND PIA'S LOOKS...?Maddy on Instagram: @maadnailsPia on Instagram: @kkalashnikova_nailsWritten by Hazel Hedges

Ever wondered where nail art comes from and why it’s become such an obsession? The days where nails were just an accessory to a look are looooong gone. We’ve waved goodbye to the ‘less is more’ approach - who wants to play it safe anyway? Nail artists have stepped up their game BIG time so now we’re all about showcasing that and letting our talons do the talking!So how did we get to this point where nails became so important? We wanted to know more so delved deep into the nail archives to find out….Manicures actually go waaaay back (like 3000 years back!!) with Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra being some of the OG’s when it comes to nail art. They added colour to their talons using henna and other plant extract plus a combo of natural oils to moisturise - we love the innovation! Having colourful tips was a sign of wealth and status so even back then it’s clear to see the power of nails. So lets fast forward to the 20th century to a time that we may be a little more familiar with…The 1920’s and 1930’s saw well known brands Cutex and Revlon hitting the shelves.  Their launch of dusky rose and super high lacquer red shades were perfect for rocking the half moon manicures that were taking off at the time thanks to silver screen actresses such as Jean Harlow. Before that they’d been using high-gloss car paint….*insert horrified emoji face here* The '40s and '50s saw a shift in styles with wartime forcing the day to day gal to opt for a more shortened, practical manicure.  In the movies however, the colour red was still a staple although now moving onto a deeper shade and longer with an almond shape as seen on Marlene Dietrich. And may we just say that she is working it! The 1960’s saw big changes in the fashion and beauty industry with people daring to be different and less afraid to make a statement with their outfits.  And OMG the colours! Brands like Mary Quant hit the scene with everything from vibrant yellows to cute candy pastel blues and shades with shimmering pearlescent finishes.  The classic reds and pinks of the past were still there but had met their match in these new statement hues; nails were no longer taking a back seat! With the birth of disco and Studio 54, the power of celebs went up a gear in the '70s with singers like Cher rocking square tipped nails and the French manicure (created by Orly founder Jeff Pink) whilst Diana Ross was loving her long red acrylics.  Colour was still big news but it was also a time of throwbacks with a new found love of deep reds and the moon manicure of the '30s even making a comeback. The '80s were anything but minimal - this was the decade where the phrase ‘more is more’ definitely came into effect! Some serious nail art began to emerge on the hands of celebs and athletes alike - ever seen those super long talons on Olympic runner Flo-Jo?! She was breaking records both on and off the track with those bad boys!With the birth of grunge in the '90s, nails took on a less polished look as seen on the likes of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Suddenly it became ok to have week old, chipped nails - you just had to own it. Darker shades were HUGE, especially after the release of Pulp Fiction which saw Uma Thurman rocking Chanel’s iconic Rouge Noir shade. Such a kick ass look that we still love! A throwback to the ‘90s wouldn’t be legit without recognising the likes of Hip Hop Queens Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim whose crystal adorned, unapologetically blinged nails set the tone for the entire decade.  Being icons of both music and popular culture, these women (amongst others) became representatives of nail artists at that time and by showcasing their talents, were able to elevate their status giving them the recognition they deserved. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bernadette Thompson (@bernadettenails) on Nov 19, 2015 at 3:07pm PST Anyone remember this dollar bill set created by celebrity nail technician Bernadette Thompson for Lil' Kim in 1995 - they’re oh so money…!! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bernadette Thompson (@bernadettenails) on Sep 26, 2017 at 6:07pm PDT The industry as we know it today owes itself largely to the African American innovators of the ‘80s and ‘90s who used nail art as a form of self-expression and had been for decades. Whilst pierced and heavily rhinestoned nails remain current and fresh, the fact is that their origins lie within African American culture and whose aesthetic continues to evolve and inspire us. A couple of our faves are Bianca Williams, aka Beedy, and Teyana Taylor who launched her Harlem-based '90s themed nail salon, Junie Bee Nails in 2018. They are killing it! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bianca "BEEDY" Williams (@beedy_the_black_nail_tech) on Feb 4, 2020 at 6:11pm PST    View this post on Instagram A post shared by JUNIE BEE NAILS (@juniebeenails) on Dec 26, 2019 at 3:57am PST So that brings us to the 2000’s up until today….where do we start?! This is the era where tech has really come into play, with social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube bringing nail art to a whole new level not to mention a new audience. Through the power of these multimedia tools, nail artists are able to showcase their skills as well as inspire and teach others. With these apps at our disposal, it has made nail artistry so much more accessible; they've now become the go-to for discovering new designs, techniques and talented artists from all over the world.The '80s may have showed us that ‘more is more’ but things have gone waaaay beyond that now - there really are no limits and we are continuously pushing to find the next big thing. Take a look below to see what we mean....next level crazy and we love it! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Juan Alvear (@nailsbyjuan.nyc) on May 30, 2019 at 9:45am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nail Sunny (@nail_sunny) on Mar 6, 2020 at 7:49am PST View this post on Instagram A post shared by viet princess nathalie nguyen (@spicy.obj) on Oct 4, 2018 at 11:14am PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by ISLA Berlin 💅🏼💅🏾💅🏿 (@islaberlin) on Mar 26, 2020 at 5:37am PDT   The past decade has seen us go above and beyond what we thought could even be possible with nails and we can’t wait to be a part of what comes next!As always, ISLA is on top of the trends and of course creating our own! Need more inspiring looks? Go check out our Instagram to stay on top of it! Written by Hazel Hedges.

So like the rest of us, you're most likely stuck at home quarantining right now which obviously means you can't make it to ISLA to get your shellac removed - we feel you!  Even though we're closed for the time being, we've still got your back and your nails don't have to suffer! Our fab nail techs created this super easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to remove your shellac at home - you're welcome!WHAT YOU NEED:- Acetone (ideally) or gel polish remover (must contain acetone)- Buffing block or soft file- Cuticle pusher (or similar!)- Cotton pads cut into quarters- Aluminium foil Step 1:Carefully buff the surface layer off the shellac Step 2:Soak a piece of cotton pad with acetone, place on the nail and wrap tightly with foil   Step 3:Leave to soak for 5 - 10 minutes.If you use regular nail polish remover, you'll need to soak for longer!  Step 4:With a cuticle pusher, gently remove the shellac Step 5:Rehydrate the skin and nails with cuticle oil And voilà - you are good to go! Stay safe everyone!The ISLA Teamxxx

This month we've welcomed a fab new nail tech Grace to our team and we couldn't be more excited to have her as part of the ISLA crew! She's fresh off the plane from Ireland is bringing her insane nail art skills to Berlin. I wasted no time in booking her for a manicure last week to let her loose on my tips which were in need of some serious attention!  I was craving Yayoi Kusama-inspired dots to bring some spring/summer vibes into my life and she didn't disappoint - I'm obsessed with them!So while Grace (known as @booshibishnails on Insta - go check her out!!) got to work on my nails, I quizzed her on how she got into the nail scene, where she gets her inspiration from and what brought her to ISLA!Welcome to the ISLA team! Lets go back to the beginning...how did you get into the nail scene and when did you discover that you had a talent for it?I'd always been into nails as a teenager but had pretty much forgotten about it until I took a trip to Frankfurt a while back to visit some friends and ended up getting my nails done there.  I was never particularly into beauty but after getting my nails done I rediscovered my love for it and became kind of obsessed! As soon as I got back to Limerick I began researching nail courses and it just went from there. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:49am PST How's the nail scene in Limerick? Was there much demand for nail art there?Not at all.  I always wanted mad designs for myself and it was when I started searching that I realised there were no options there.  If you wanted detailed designs, you had to go to Dublin so I knew then that this was something I could wanted to change.  I took a nail tech course in March last year to get the basics down with gel and shellac and continued to practice nail art on clients at home in my own time.Wait, you only did your course last year?!  That's insane! You obviously have a natural talent for all things nails; how did you get to where you are now in just a year?!I think when you have a talent for something and are passionate about it, it comes naturally.  I had worked as an event photographer before and am a very visual person so a lot of the skills I had such as composition could also be used for nails.  I was originally doing nails at home 3 days a week alongside my regular job and gradually built up a regular client base.  A lot of girls preferred having their nails done with me at home as it was less intimidating than going into a beauty salon.  My client base grew through word of mouth, Instagram plus through connections I had at the local art college.  As the demand grew, I was able to spend more time doing nails and less time at my second job.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on Sep 23, 2019 at 5:09am PDT With nail art not being such a big thing in Limerick at the time, did you feel restricted?I definitely had to adopt a different style back at home as people weren't so adventurous but this is definitely changing now, especially with Instagram being such a good source of inspiration and ideas.How would you define your style and who/what inspires your designs?I wouldn't say I have a specific style although maybe to others it seems like I have.  I really like random designs and don't look to any specific nail artists or people for inspiration.  Being such a visual person, I'm often inspired by things I see in day to day life so I guess my style is open to interpretation.  I get ideas from my Instagram feed but I prefer to come up with my own rather than copy others as I think it's more personal and unique. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on Sep 20, 2019 at 8:44am PDT We've been loving your Insta feed to check out some of your work so far.  Tell us more about the name - what's a Booshi Bish?!Whenever I get my nails done I feel like an expensive badass bitch (we agree!!) so I created the name that kind of has the same meaning.  'Booshi' is kind of expensive and 'Bish' for bitch obviously!Yaaasss, we totally agree - there's nothing quite like the feeling of a fresh set of nails!! View this post on Instagram A post shared by BOOSHI BISH (@booshibishnails) on May 24, 2019 at 5:00am PDT So you've been with ISLA a couple of weeks now; what do you love about us?!I love the atmosphere in the store - everyone is so friendly and it's got such a nice  chill vibe.  The customers are such a mad variety of people so I love being such a range of different people and getting an insight into their world. WANNA ADD SOME GRACE TO YOUR TIPS?!Book her now by calling us on  +49 162 9741809 or click here to book online.Written by Hazel Hedges.