Started by a mother-daughter team, Louella Odié’s pieces are created from original artworks inspired by the family’s vibrant, cross-cultural experience of living in Asia. “As a family we share a love for oceans and islands and every shade of blue,” revealed Lauren (daughter) over coffee at Agnes B Café in Hong Kong this summer. The team wanted to find a way to “bring all of these important elements into one project,” so with Karen’s (mother) experience with printmaking, and Lauren’s background in fashion branding and business startups, the duo decided to launch their very own crafted line of bags and accessories for women to appreciate and treasure.

Read on to find out about what goes on behind the scenes!

Where does the name come from?

”We decided to name our business Louella Odié, in honor of our grandmother, who also had a love of exotic travel and is obsessed by blue and white ceramics.”

What inspires your designs?

“Karen gets visual inspiration from everything around her, but in Hong Kong she is particularly aware of, and inspired by, the juxtaposition of the man-made and the natural.”

What types of materials do you use?

“So far we have worked primarily in high quality leather, silk and some PU (pleather) bags. For our second collection we have been experimenting with hand printing on leather and working with a new supplier who does the most fantastic embroidery on canvas. We want all of the materials we use to be hard-wearing and long-lasting, as well as choosing textures and finishes which best show off Karen’s highly detailed prints.”

Tell us about your design process.

“Karen’s approach to print making is very traditional and hands on. She starts out with a line drawing on a sheet of Lino and cuts it away to make the design, which is then printed and proofed on paper. This is then transferred to a computer and manipulated to come up with the patterns and variations for the Louella Odié bags.”

Any specific care tips our customers should know about?

“Our bags are designed to be long-lasting and hard-wearing. We want you to be able to take your Louella product anywhere you like and have it stand up to the task. That said, a little TLC will prolong the life of your bag or scarf.”

“For leather bags, we advise you keep them in the care bag that is provided when you are not using it, and to clean regularly with a leather oil or moisturizer cleanser. There are many different types that can be bought from any good household stores supplier.”

“The PU Island Life bags are the same, and are easily cleanable with a soft cloth and, if necessary, some warm water and a little soap. Wipe any dirty or marks off easily to maintain your bag’s original appearance.”

“For our silk and silk mix items, we recommend sending to a professional dry-cleaner regularly.”

Head over to Louella Odié’s page to browse their products.