The new ones are here!
Fashion eye-catcher, event companion or cell phone stealer : But handbags can do much more. They are the female status symbol, the most beautiful thing in the world with which every woman goes arm in arm through life. And they also stand up when your favorite jeans pinch and the heel of the seasonal shoe goes out of fashion.
We talked to Julian Rellecke (36), Creative Director of the label "Liebeskind Berlin", about autumn / winter trends, democratic it-bags and an attitude to life in leather.
Which bag design is currently very popular?
Julian Rellecke: The big trend of autumn / winter 2012 is the straightforward, sophisticated model. The labels also rely on casual softbags. However, until the summer of 2013, it will generally be more and more away from the rough looks, towards feminine designs.
The wide range from big bags, ranging from used-look to sportswear design, to delicate, stiffer pockets creates an incredible range of handbag designs. Materials, prints, embossing, metallic elements, neon details, almost everything is currently possible.
Mini Bag, XL Shopper, Cross Over? Which shape should one buy now?
In the current autumn / winter medium-sized to small it-bags made of fine, even shiny materials are very popular. The bag does not have to have a long strap, but may also be worn on the hand or wrist. That changes completely with the 2013 season. In contrast to the more feminine autumn / winter 2012, it will then be pithy, large-format, casual and masculine.
The colors of the season?
The trendy spice colors are translated one-to-one for leather products. Quite different than in previous years, but also the basic tones of black and gray are back in the foreground. The nuances of Bordeaux, bottle green and curry yellow next to a clear black and a multi-facetted gray stand for a resurgent yearning of the woman. Away from innovation, constantly changing trends, overpowering color-blocking, back to solid materials, down-to-earth colors and delicate details.
We show you the pocket trends for autumn / winter 2012! Do not miss: the second part of the interview is right below the Trend Gallery ...
Do shoes and handbag still have to fit together?
My opinion: Do not let them. The woman takes with too much harmony the chance for variations. But the offer persists, so in autumn / winter 2012, combinations of bottle green bag and loafers in the same color can be worn.
And how do you best combine the trends?
Three colors work best in the overall look. Especially the harmonious, autumnal nuances make the current season so charming and beautiful.
What should you look for in a good bag?
The material of a bag is always in the foreground. A great leather can be seen from a distance, you feel it at the first touch. This value in combination with a suitable color makes a good model. Because: Not every bag works in every nuance. "No" I would say to a patent leather bag in saffron yellow. This tone fits much better with coarse-pored soft variations. Especially in Germany, the format resulting from the function also plays a major role, unlike, for example, the USA or Scandinavia. The German customer likes it theft-proof, rainproof and on top of that, she attaches great importance to the inner division of her handbag. A decisive criterion when buying a bag is of course the personal style of the woman .
How to care for a leather bag
Just do not overstock! As long as the basic quality of a bag is right, wearing it will only make it nicer. Sure, you can impregnate the leather after purchase, but we recommend our customers to fill the bag with life. Only sun, humidity, rain and the fun of wearing it gives each model its own patina.
Where did your passion for accessories come from?
In the beginning was our enthusiasm for the woman. Again and again we met great dressed women without the right bag. These gorgeous women missed their entire outfit with a break. We just had to help.
Can you still remember your first draft?
Neat styles for the woman, it all started. From an ancient leather working bag, which I myself have worn for years, I made a new bag for the woman. XL seams, Metallics for closing, we take such XL-Shopper in various modifications to this day and again in the assortment.
What is the feeling of life in the bags of Liebeskind Berlin?
"I'm relaxed, " say our bags. Straightforward easy-to-wear styles that are not vain and always know what's cool. The opposite of Red Carpet and Bling Bling, similar to our headquarters in Berlin. Not too dramatic, but casual. This is also what the wearers of our bags emit. Our focus customer: the informed, more mature end-twenties to the late thirties, who does not follow every trend and relies on their own style. This is not a sparkling Katy Perry, not a hysterical teen girl, but a woman who really exists. She does not have to play roles, is not over-the-top. Our bags are democratic it-bags.
How do you explain the Liebeskind Berlin hype?
We do not care about a hype or the placement of our label. Liebeskind Berlin is about our personal taste, without much spectacle. Uncomplicated products with a fashion approach. We stay true to our direction and independent in our designs. This works thanks to personal formats, own tanneries and individual colors. We stay the casual from Berlin and get along without celebrities. In short: Schnieke can us!
Bags, shoes, scarves, jackets: how should it continue with the label?
The bag is and remains our home product. The brand goes beyond the handbag: biker jackets in submerged silk, riveted sneakers, iPad bags or belts. Our new DOB line (editor's note: women's outerwear) is still in its infancy and we still have to develop it further. But then it's time to finish!
The label was an insider tip - now you are conquering the shelves of department stores. Not afraid of Liebeskind-weariness?
We do not have fear, clearly something can happen. Every brand can experience highs and lows in periods. That is not dramatic! Already three years ago we have prevented this and changed our collection intervals. Instead of three or four lines, we bring up to nine smaller collections with different creative ideas on the market. So the customer does not run into the same models in her regular boutique or on the street for months. Butter-soft leather, hand-painted materials, etched rivet styles, denim models, reptile effects - we offer variety without losing your own style statement.
