Interview
Sisters Andrea and Cecilie Elisabeth Rudolph – From Weaved Baskets to Sunscreen Print
Ten years ago, when Rudolph Care’s light-blue sun series came into existence, it was also characterized by prints in many versions. Cecilie Elisabeth Rudolph, Andrea's sister, is behind them. As with everything at Rudolph Care, it is certainly not random how the print came to be and what it looks like.
Zoom in on your Rudolph Care sunscreen. See, a print that adorns the light-blue color. All prints are different depending on which sun product you have in your hands. It's founder Andrea Elisabeth Rudolph's sister who is responsible. She is named Cecilie Elisabeth Rudolph and is a graduate print designer from the renowned Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.
Cecilie walks through the door of Rudolph Care's headquarters in Valby with a giant portfolio folder in her hand. In the folder, she has all the inspiration material for the sun series prints. She opens the folder and lays out one mood board after another on the table along with fabric samples, paper weaves, ropes, and prints. Andrea starts picking at ... everything.
“Look!” says Andrea, gesturing with her arms.
“I know Cille is my sister, but she is so talented!” Andrea is clearly excited. She picks up a large, sturdy piece of paper from the table. The paper has a kind of golden glittering sun printed on it.
“I immediately fell in love with this print. It had so much warmth with all the yellow, burnt colors, and the blue, which I associate with the sea, and then this glittering yellow sun shining and giving light,” says Andrea.
So Andrea asked her sister if she could use the print for her sun series, which was to be launched the following year, in 2014.
“Of course she could,” says Cecilie. “I love seeing the print on the products.”
Originally, the print was made for an international clothing company but ended up on Rudolph Care's sun series. Good thing. Andrea would have loved for the packaging to have been 1:1 with the print Cecilie created, with turquoise and golden glitter and tactile print, but it couldn't be. Rudolph Care's sun series is certified with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, which ensures that only what behaves properly towards human health and the environment becomes part of the product.
“Because we are a responsible company, there are many limitations. Also for the print. There are rules about which colors we can use, whether the packaging may contain varnish for gloss, etc. So here too, we face challenges. But we solve that, of course, within the terms, as with everything,” says Andrea.
Maybe there is also another good reason why the print did not become like the original one that Cecilie is fluttering over the large table in House of Rudolph Care.
“One thing is that I would love such a colorful packaging, but maybe customers would think it was too noisy and flashy on the shelf,” Andrea laughs.
The print also came on a fabric bag, which was launched 10 years ago. And which comes in a new edition every year, seen around in the Danish - and foreign - summer country. A week ago, Andrea saw a woman carrying exactly that fabric bag, which was the first of its kind, and which was one of those Cecilie had created prints for. “I love seeing our products in use, and the fact that it was saved and reused is exactly what we want,” says Andrea.
Cecilie tells where the inspiration for the print came from. From ropes, baskets, weaves, weaving techniques, bead applications. Cecilie works in many layers, with many details, and makes everything by hand. It gives her prints life and depth.
“That print is so playful. I never get tired of it; I can keep looking at it and spotting new details,” says Andrea and takes up the Sun Stick and studies it closely. “This looks like beach grass and reeds. And this looks like cream being spread out,” she says, pointing to the print of an after-sun.
“My starting point has been completely different. I love that each person sees something different in the print and can create their own story,” says Cecilie.
“That's what it's like with both Cille and me, we find it hard to limit ourselves. We love details, and 'the more, the better.' And if anyone thinks I make an effort, they haven't met Cille. She makes an effort,” says Andrea. Her voice acts as a highlighter. There is no doubt that Cecilie goes the extra mile to achieve her prints.
You each have your own profession – one makes cream, the other makes prints. How do you draw inspiration from each other?
“I think you're so brave, Cille. You inspire me by mixing new and old and putting things together in completely new ways, which I would never have considered myself. I wish I could do the same. I'm boring next to you,” says Andrea, giving Cecilie a little nudge. And then they laugh. Again.
“Drea, you also get a lot of ideas. You are creative in your head. It inspires me a lot. There are always really good ideas and experiences that come out of being with you. And when I do something for you and Rudolph Care, you always give me free rein. It's a huge privilege,” says Cecilie.