Nowadays, most bag companies outsource their production elsewhere in order to reduce costs, but I really wanted Niyona to go back to craft and artisanship, which are two core values for me” With a background in Industrial Design – Bodenhorst graduated in 2007 from the prestigious Ecole de la Cambre in Brussels – and an internship at Delvaux, she quickly understood that making bags was her thing. Still, a desire for practicality and functional features were essential to her vision: We started out with two styles, which were based around this idea of being able to carry shoes or clothes into your own bag. We added a zipped compartment, where you could always store a comfortable pair of ballerinas if you got tired of walking in high heels all day. I remember going to Paris during Fashion Week and made a quick stop at Printemps and Galeries Lafayette to see what accessory brands they had. Sales assistants kept stopping us asking where our bags were from and I realised there was a potential to turn my passion into a brand.
There's something bubbly and inspiring about Bodenhorst's personality, giving her bags presence and character. She's good at communicating what she believes in, defending honesty rather than seduction: “I'm aware that my bags may not be loved by everyone, but they're really close to my heart and seem to provoke a strong reaction. I just want to keep on evolving as a designer and refine my perspective on accessories. Possibilities with bags are endless, making them exciting items to work with.”
Philippe Pourhashemi | TribaSpace
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