celeste_blog

Interview Celeste

Tell us about yourself ?

I was born in Madrid of Argentinean parents and studied at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Madrid. Right after graduating, moved to London to continue studying at Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion where I felt I wanted to specialise in accessories and enrolled the prestigious Cordwainers College. While studying, I created a freelance collection of handbags for Sole, by Soledad Twombly in Rome and was offered a position at English luxury brand Alfred Dunhill, as Leather Goods’ Design and Product Development Assistant. I worked with them for two and a half years and learned all the intricacies of leather accessory manufacturing and making world-class luxury accessories working hand in hand with maestros of the trade.
After Dunhill, I accepted a position as Head of Accessories Design and Product Development for men and women at English luxury leather brand, Connolly working with them for another two years and after having launched five successful collections, in 2007, I felt I was ready to realize my dream of creating my own brand, and launched, CELESTE. Delightful pieces- the perfect mix of luxury and playfulness.

CELESTE is the embodiment of myself and my natural talent for creating original and innovative pieces but always marked with the subtleness and elegance that characterize my style.
Clean shapes and the pure, natural beauty of the leather, are the hallmarks of my designs.

I now live in Barcelona. A city bursting with creativity and talent and where I have the studio and showroom.
I am also an active collaborator of charities Barnardos in the UK, Fundacion Aladina in Spain and New York Junior League in New York City.
And I also tach a Master in Leather Goods at IED in Barcelona.

What inspires your designs ?

I get inspired by everyday life and my observations from it.
I love travelling and visiting new cultures and like to get involved on how other cultures live, the food, the textiles, the colours,.. I always carry a small eco friendly notebook where I write down and draw everything that attracts my attention or any idea that I might have.
Art is a big passion of mine and many times I get inspired by artists that I admire, by their strength and personality or by their work.

How would you describe your style ?

I would definitely say that my style is classic with a twist of shape and colour. The perfect mix of luxury and playfulness – impeccable details and finishings with a colourful touch.

What other talent would you like to have ?

I wish I could play a musical instrument- piano would be ideal as I love listening to it !

Who would be your perfect dinner guest ?

I would love to have Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera sitting in my dinner table.

I’m good at…

Mixing colours- I have a great eye for colour.

But I’m very bad at..

My handicap is imagining a measure in my head- I always have to measure it physically and cut a mock pattern to get the right measurewhen doing a new bag!

And for you, elegance is…

For me elegance is being natural and keeping original and true to onself.

And to finish, if your brand was

a colour, Neon orange
a season, Winter
a country (continent) ? Latin America

MY BOB by Geoffroy Moreels

Interview MY BOB

MY BOB by Geoffroy Moreels

Tell us about yourself ?

MY BOB is a globetrotter, curious about live that enjoys meeting people, learning about different cultures in a positive atmosphere.

What inspires your designs ?

We find inspiration in every day tasks, in people’s stories, in our travels, in movies, food in colours and from our customers.

How would you describe your style ?

The style reflects the personality of the team…
MY BOB is international, classic but contemporary and provocative, charming and sexy that likes quality and fun with a twist.
It’s the eye and definitely the touch of softness, comfort and memories.
MY BOB is functional, protecting against environment conditions.
MY BOB is about being outside, travelling, reading, living, and enjoying each moment of life.

What other talent would you like to have ?

Writing, speaking and body language is not a problem. Writing is a challenge as I have been educated by different cultures in different languages.

Who would be your perfect dinner guest(s) ?

I love food and share it with another person.
Why not breakfast? at least it gives you more time to enjoy the person… a person I can laugh with and share about life.

I’m good at…

Communicating with people.

But I’m very bad at..

Drawing something, I stopped my artistic development when I was 5 years old.… Without the artistic team MY BOB would look like everything and nothing.

And to finish, if your brand was a colour ?

that is easy…. MY BOB red

a season ?

each season is interesting and has its purpose. Ideally it’s winter or summer where MY BOB has its protective purpose. In spring and autumn, people tempt to be more creative with MY BOB.

a country ?

We live in a global world where the respect of cultures is important but where national boundaries are becoming irrelevant.
MY BOB is today about the globe.

Miguel-blog

Miguel La Salle

Tell us about yourself ?

I am a Thai national, born in Bangkok, of Vietnamese and Filipino heritage. Professionally, I am an accredited gemologist, with an intimate knowledge of precious stones. In my factory in Bangkok, I produce handbags and accessories of my own design and, striving for the highest quality, I pay close attention to every aspect of production by my small team of Thai artisans. Each collection is unique, incorporating interesting and often unusual colour combinations and with carefully matched beading and tassels to offset the designs.

What inspires your designs?

I am inspired by the women I meet, of many different nationalities and walks of life, but who each have a particular character trait or quirk that appeals to me. I translate these personalities into handbags, perhaps one that I imagine they would like to carry. That is why each of my designs has a woman’s name.

How would you describe your style ?

I would say that my style is ‘deceptively simple’ and ‘versatile’, but with attention to every detail and quality workmanship. It is important to me that my bags are practical as well as beautiful, and I use a first sample of each design for several days myself before I go to production. Using different colour combinations and accessories, each design can take on a whole new character and attraction.

Other talents you would like to have?

Having been mesmerised by a performance of Cirque du Soleil, and delighted by the whimsical and colourful dancers and acrobats, I would love to try my hand at being a costume designer for their company.

Invitees to your dream dinner ?

I imagine a small dinner party of six, small enough to allow a single discussion around the table, or to have two or three separate conversations going on from time to time. I would like to invite people who I admire or am fascinated by, from the past as well as the present. My five guests are:
– Empress Nam Phuong, wife of the last Emperor of Vietnam for her style and elegance and in representing my heritage.
– Sting, musician, for his ability to capture ideas and philosophy into his songs and his concern for the environment.
– Morgan Freeman, actor, for his empathy and talent in the choice of characters he portrays.
– Christian Lacroix, designer, for his skill in bringing colour and modern themes into his designs.
– Joanna MacLean, friend and business partner, for her sense of humour, her concern for humanity and her interest in everything.

I’m good at…

I love to speak and understand different languages and can pick up the basics quite quickly. I am fluent in English and Thai, speak quite presentable French and can get by in Vietnamese and Cantonese. My quick ‘ear’ also makes me a bit of a mimic and I can switch into many accents in a trice, especially colloquial English as it is spoken across Asia.

I’m good at getting both practical day-to-day and rather more complicated problems sorted out, often by knowing and being able to contact the right people at the right time, and getting the results I want.

 But I’m very bad at..

Even though I am half Vietnamese, I cannot ride a bicycle. And although I am half Filipina, I am not much of a singer.

And to finish, if your brand was – a colour, a season, a country?

I consider my brand to be not a single colour, but rather a rainbow of colours, each hue touching and influencing the mood of the others.

Likewise I imagine my brand not as a single season, but rather the full spectrum of seasons, not only spring, summer, autumn and winter but also the monsoon and dry seasons of the tropics. Each of my designs can translate into each season by a complete or subtle change of colours.

I know my brand is not a reflection of just one country, but an amalgam of the history and the future of South East Asia, with its heritage of rich colours, textures and designs, as well as with its rapidly emerging, bright ultra-modern lifestyle.

Geoffroy

Interview MY BOB

MY BOB by Geoffroy Moreels

Tell us about yourself ?

MY BOB is a globetrotter, curious about live that enjoys meeting people, learning about different cultures in a positive atmosphere.

What inspires your designs ?

We find inspiration in every day tasks, in people’s stories, in our travels, in movies, food in colours and from our customers.

How would you describe your style ?

The style reflects the personality of the team…
MY BOB is international, classic but contemporary and provocative, charming and sexy that likes quality and fun with a twist.
It’s the eye and definitely the touch of softness, comfort and memories.
MY BOB is functional, protecting against environment conditions.
MY BOB is about being outside, travelling, reading, living, and enjoying each moment of life.

What other talent would you like to have ?

Writing, speaking and body language is not a problem. Writing is a challenge as I have been educated by different cultures in different languages.

Who would be your perfect dinner guest(s) ?

I love food and share it with another person.
Why not breakfast? at least it gives you more time to enjoy the person… a person I can laugh with and share about life.

I’m good at…

Communicating with people.

But I’m very bad at..

Drawing something, I stopped my artistic development when I was 5 years old.… Without the artistic team MY BOB would look like everything and nothing.

And to finish, if your brand was a colour ?

that is easy…. MY BOB red

a season ?

each season is interesting and has its purpose. Ideally it’s winter or summer where MY BOB has its protective purpose. In spring and autumn, people tempt to be more creative with MY BOB.

a country ?

We live in a global world where the respect of cultures is important but where national boundaries are becoming irrelevant.
MY BOB is today about the globe.