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| ‘Indulge Me’ tote bag in matt kiwi nappa £395 |
‘Dance With Me’ clutch/purse, mottled gold nappa £199 |
‘Stroke Me’ hobo bag in smoke grey nappa £320 |
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| The story of Belen Echandia begins in 2000 when I went
to live in Spain to work for a Spanish law firm. Whilst there I discovered a
whole new creative world, full of rich colors, beautiful leathers and fabulously
stylish handbags. Lured back to London with the offer of a well-paid job, I
returned in 2001 to finish training. But my Spanish love affair with handbags
was soon rekindled by a gap in the luxury market. We’ve all heard the story -
girl looks for handbag, does not find one she likes and thus, a new label is
born. This was different. It wasn’t a lack of handbags I noticed but a lack of
client-focus, personal service, individuality and choice. And as fewer leather
items are now made in Europe, I knew that there would be a demand for beautiful,
soft leather bags hand made using traditional European methods.
Even though I was halfway through my training and had no design experience the
first Belen Echandia collection was ready at the end of 2003. I learned by
creating and with the help of other designers and my Spanish factory. The owners
of one of London’s most stylish boutiques immediately fell in love with it. In
September 2004 I finally left the law behind to concentrate on Belen Echandia.
All our bags can be made to order in a variety of different colors. We use
beautifully soft Italian leathers made in many, many different colors. We line
our bags in our trademark pink lining, which from spring 2007 will be fuchsia
silk. B.E bags are for women who like their bags to be soft, well-made and
exclusive. We make in such limited editions that you are unlikely to see anyone
else with your bag. We specialize in genuinely personal customer service and
every customer gets to speak to the designer to help her decide what to choose.
I am inspired by my customers and their desires. They select their favorite
color of soft leather and the design that appeals and I am always available to
offer advice and suggestions to make sure they get the perfect bag. It’s a very
popular way of working.
My biggest challenge was and is entering a new industry with little experience
and even fewer contacts. When I moved to London I knew 2 people here and the
handbag world is not the easiest place to break into with a small budget and no
contacts. But initiative, persistence and hard work are priceless. I have Dolly
Jones, editor of Vogue Online, and Lindy and Katie Lopes, owners of Austique to
thank for giving Belen Echandia its first break in the media and retail worlds
respectively. Since then, I receive emails every week from customers all
over the world who are delighted with their purchases. Their delight makes every
second worth it. |
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What is your name? |
Jackie Cawthra |
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Where are you from? |
All over the place - people always try to pin down my accent. |
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Where do you live now? |
Chelsea, London |
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How old are you? |
27 |
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Do you have a design background? |
No. |
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Do you still have a day job? |
No. |
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What year were your bags born? |
2003 |
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Bag brand name: |
Belen Echandia |
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What is their retail price range? |
£105-£560 |
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Where can a shopper buy your bags? |
www.belenechandia.com |
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For more information, contact: |
jackie@belenchandia.com |
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