Interview with Isaac Reina

June 4, 2015January 6, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

The list of inspirations that designer Isaac Reina names include architects and industrial designers like Jasper Morrison instead of the usual fashion suspects. That’s not to say that Reina doesn’t know luxury – he spent years at luxury leather giant Hermes, and collaborated with Maison Martin Margiela. It’s just that his version of luxury relies on what is not said, knowing when to use luxury elements and when to refrain from all the embellishments and other. I am happy to present you our June interview with this amazing leather goods designer from Paris!

How would you describe “the user” of Isaac Reina leather goods?

Architects, designers, photographers, graphic designers… For now, our typical client is someone extremely cultured and exigent who is generally looking for an alternative to big brands that are too much distributed. They find themselves in our products which are more discrete and confidential.

Are your leather goods “minimal” or rather “sophisticated”? Or both?

Both. We are always looking for the right balance between minimal and sophisticated. If we tend to do minimal work, we might forget some practical and useful aspects necessary in a bag or a wallet. If on the opposite we tend to do sophisticated work we might loose the strength of the first and formal essence of the product. Therefore, we are always searching for something ultra simple and sufficiently sophisticated or something sophisticated without excess.

You have studied architecture in the past. Does it influence your wallets, bags, backpacks, clutches and others?

Definitely. Because architecture is only made of geometry (square, circle, triangle…)which is also our tools and is a very similar approach. Of course architecture has its own techniques specific to architecture itself, like all profession has, very different but incredibly parallel in the projects.

How would you define “luxury” in nowadays leather goods industry?

Luxury itself doesn’t interest me. But I am interested in someone feeling at ease with one of our bag or wallet because the product conveys values and shapes that correspond and suit him/her.

Your brand is all about leather goods. Are you planning to expand the brand with shoes, etc.?

Not shoes at the moment. It is too difficult for me. But since a little time, i am working on new projects like stationary, small objects and furnitures to edit in the future. Why not?

Special thanks to Isaac Reina for sending me the exclusive photos of his showroom and store in Paris,

38 rue de Sevigne

Visit http://www.isaacreina.com for more.

Objects of Desire

April 8, 2015March 20, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

I am in love with the brand I am going to present you now – it’s Crista Seya. I mean, there are many labels which perfectly mix minimal with luxury. The Row, Lemaire, Hermes are all known to us! But surely, Crista Seya might be counted to that list. Her collections are divided in four editions, and in each the clothes are constantly available on request. Beautifully tailored shirts, awesome camel pantaloons and khaki ponchos – a dream. The white shoes from series 3 (a lot of normcore beige) are handmade in Buenos Aires, made from so-called kid leather and a cool “cut-out-edge” heel. The clothes from Crista Seya are fulfilled with everyday objects. Artisan vases, leather horse-necklaces, hand-dyed cushions. I mean, what’s better than a label which knows how to make your wardrobe and your home?

Who’s Cybulski? Hermes AW15

March 14, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

That was a big moment for Hermes – the former designer assistant of The Row, Nadege Vanhee-Cybulski, showed her debutant collection for this historical French house. Strict suede silhouettes and sexy pencil skirts are out-standing while the way Nadege transformed silk scarves into leather bandanas is a highlight. Red and mustard were the key colours of this minimal and classical presentation – although the collection lacks the romanticism which was brought by Christophe Lemaire, the clean and sharp lines match the house codes too. It’s already a wonder what Cynulski’s going to do in the future for Hermes!

City Trotter. The Row AW15

February 18, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Row is always a go-to label. It’s, as I said once, American version of Celine. It’s wearble and feminine. For fall, The Row approaches the customer with babooschka flats, flared trousers, leather robe coats, new “drum” bags and smooth, knitted turtlenecks. All of that sounds like a perfect kit for city trotters, which go to work in the morning and come back home in the evening after a dinner with friends. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen brought out the old, good signatures that really sold well in the past season – the collection is good, but it lacks a boost the Olsen twins always bring. Of course, it’s a great base of #OOTD inspirations, but it feels a bit like a remix of the biggest The Row best-sellers.

MMC STUDIO

November 8, 2014November 11, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

There is something truly unique about MMC Studio, Polish label found and designed by Ilona Majer and Rafal Michalak. They do fashion, or rather an idea of modernistic clothes, made using traditional techniques and materials. Fur and laser-cut lace are just few examples. For AW14 collection, the duo brought to the collection a portion of proportion-fusing silhouttes (thermic scarves vs. over-sized coats) and lovely boots in magnetising white and gold colours. Their attitude and creative approach feels really fresh on the Polish fashion scene, however they already have a strong vision and a fine client base. And just like Phoebe Philo of Celine, Ilona and Rafal are very open-minded influencers of fashion (but so far, only in Poland). Why? Well. Just look at these shearling jackets and fluid-like fluocentic skirts- they are seriously cool, aren’t they? And very wearable and pretty much affordable. Oh, and soon something special is coming up with MMC’s key piece!