Interview with purse designer Marina Raphael
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
Every month, we glance into an thrilling and modern label that’s taking the style world by storm in our common function #TheBrand. This time, we flip the highlight on purse designer Marina Raphael whose glitzy equipment have discovered an A-list fanbase.
“ purse needs to be a dialog starter,” says Marina Raphael, a lady who is aware of find out how to design equipment that just do this. She launched her eponymous label in 2018, eager to push the boundaries of purse design, and has managed to construct a model that has develop into recognized for its glitz and glamour, catching the eye of everybody from Jennifer Lopez to Katie Holmes.
“I needed Marina Raphael to immediate ladies to demand extra from their equipment,” she says of why she began the label. “In a particularly saturated market, we stand out for our wearable object d’arts that depart an enduring impression.” The model sells assertion, structural luggage, a few of that are fully lined with eye-catching crystals (Raphael does descend from the Swarovski household in spite of everything), however that’s not to say that they’re ever impractical.
“A bag is ineffective if it isn’t practical, however a sensible accent that’s effectively thought-out for busy, fashionable ladies is what creates a loyal buyer. By means of our superb craftsmanship, we very a lot deal with kind, performance and high quality, so we’ve got an impeccable base with which to be artistic.”
“I needed to interrupt the mould of what a staple accent is,” she provides. “I really like to position surprising crystals on our designs or go fully excessive, bringing graphic and architectural shapes to our items for influence. purse needs to be one you place on the desk, reasonably than the ground.”
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
Raphael is each artistic director and CEO of her namesake firm, one thing which permits her to “at all times be certain that artistic choices are led by strong enterprise goals” – and, though the enterprise has grown quickly in just some quick years, it hasn’t at all times been simple.
“Being a younger designer is definitely very difficult as a result of you aren’t simply competing with different upcoming manufacturers, but in addition with established vogue homes. One of many largest challenges I’ve confronted is retailers and press doubting my professionalism due to my age – however via exhausting work, dedication and perseverance, my group and I’ve proven in any other case.”
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
Simply two years into enterprise, the Covid-19 pandemic got here alongside, and introduced together with it a sequence of challenges, however Marina Raphael got here out stronger. “Social media performed a big function within the progress of my model in the course of the pandemic. The uplifting nature of the way in which wherein we use crystals lend themselves extraordinarily effectively to that.”
Popping out of lockdown additionally modified the way in which customers behave, one thing which Raphael says she has observed in an enormous manner. They now care extra about how issues have been produced, and who they’re investing in, she believes. This has been useful to her enterprise.
“Sustainable and accountable vogue is the way forward for good enterprise. I can help this assertion with the gross sales we’ve got seen over time, from clients eager to study extra in regards to the craftsmanship and the eco-friendly elements of a model, as they cautiously transfer away from quick vogue and go for investing in timeless and traditional items.
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
“Particularly after the pandemic, it grew to become extra evident that that it was important to re-examine the which means of vogue and the values it allowed folks to convey – selecting sure manufacturers or designers is now greater than ever a press release of values, and I really like seeing this behavioural shift.”
Finally, Raphael needs to design “fashionable heirlooms” – purses which will be handed from technology to technology. Focussing on craftsmanship, high-quality supplies and environmentally aware manufacturing, in addition to embracing loads of the razzle dazzle that lends itself so effectively to social media, she has been capable of create a model that marries timelessness with buzz, one thing which isn’t simple to do – and that is only the start.
Quickly, Marina Raphael will likely be increasing its product providing, creating a spread of beauty pouches and cardholders that complement the baggage. There are additionally quite a lot of thrilling collaborations in its close to future. “We’re positively on our strategy to creating an equipment universe.”
Courtesy of Marina Raphael
