INTERVIEW #76 LÌ PER LEI

Based in: Stockholm, Sweden 

Founded: 2021 

Founded by: Mariolina Penco 

Store: On Instagram @lí_per_lei

Price: 2.000 SEK (shipping included within Sweden ) 

Instagram: @lí_per_lei

Hello, welcome to A Sustainable Closet! What is the story behind LÌ PER LEI?

In the summer of 2021, my family and I moved to Stockholm, which meant another new city, a new job and a new life for us to adjust to. We moved here because my fiancé works as an elite athlete. As the life we live makes it difficult for me as a partner to find a job to take with me, I have been aiming for the last 10 years to succeed in creating something of my own. I have always dreamed big and built goals with a vision to one day achieve them! 

All spring and summer 2021 I was looking for the perfect bag, a bag that really only existed in my head, because I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like. After months of searching, I felt that I should try to take matters into my own hands and create the bag of my dreams. I've always been very creative and never been afraid to fail. I sought out the recycled materials I currently use for my bags and bought the largest crochet hook I could find, then it was just a matter of trial and error until I finally got to my first GRAZIA. The feeling was magical. As I sat there crocheting, I thought to myself that if this bag turned out exactly as I hoped, then it was worth going for it and following through on my childhood dream of creating my own brand of bags. 

The dream of creating my own bag brand comes from when I was little and my aunt in Italy created and owned a bag brand of her own. Stepping into her factory where everything was handmade and created with love, where I was surrounded by the smell of leather and freshly brewed espresso and seeing her designs hanging along the high walls of the factory are memories that have never left me and I'm sure this is the main reason of where my dreams started. 

What is the story behind the name of your brand? 

Being half Italian myself, fluent in the language and having always loved and been proud of my origins, it was quite obvious that my company name should also be Italian. LÌ PER LEI means "THERE FOR HER" as my bags are created to suit all occasions, for women of all ages and just as it stands for - to always be there for her. 

Can you tell us more about the production of GRAZIA BAGs?

All bags are crocheted and made by me here in Stockholm. The pattern on the bags is 100% my own. Since each bag is handmade, each one is unique. All material is recycled from fabric left over in the fashion industry. The material is made of blended cotton. For me it is especially important to use recycled materials as I want to help contribute to a better and greener future! 

I make all the bags according to the same design, which I have chosen to call GRAZIA BAG. The name GRAZIA BAG has always been an obvious choice for me as Grazia is my beloved "Nonna" grandmother's name. Nonna is an incredible woman who has inspired me throughout my life. She is a great role model for me and to be able to honor her through my bags and my design by carrying her with me wherever I go, feels both important and great to me. 

Where do you find inspiration?  

I actually find my inspiration everywhere. I Love to sit and watch people and all the different styles, this gives me a lot of inspiration. I love people who dare to be themselves and dare to stand out with their style! 

The pattern for my GRAZIA bag just came to me. A bag I had dreamed of but which was not yet available anywhere else but in my dreams. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look like and feel and I really think I got it just the way I wanted it. 

What are the major challenges of starting your own brand?

It's never easy to start from square one. It takes a lot of time to start your own business and being all alone in it is not the easiest thing. I would say the hardest thing for me has been and still is that the material I use is recycled, which makes it very difficult to get hold of. That's why I have limited quantities of each bag and each color. I never know what colors I will get when I order and I also don't know how much material I will get. But this is also what makes my bags unique. 

What are the largest gains? 

The biggest win for me is that my bags have become so appreciated and loved by so many. Which has allowed me to continue working on my dream. 

What do you think needs change to make fashion more sustainable?

People need to think through their spontaneous purchases. Try to become more environmentally friendly and buy more sustainably. We need to help each other to make this planet a better place. Doing small things can make a huge difference.  Don't make unnecessary purchases, think twice before you buy anything.

What is the best thing about LÌ PER LEI?

That I have the opportunity to work on my dream. To see women wearing my designs and feel proud of something I managed to create on my own. 

What’s coming next? 

I will continue to work hard to make my brand, my bags and my design grow and reach more people.