Wise words from the mother of yours truly that essentially mean one’s life can impact another. Simple but meaningful, I think that one of the best things about making new friends is, quite honestly, the inspiration they bring you. Be it about a new challenge or a new way of thinking, I find that a significant part of my life is created by all the people I have met and their unique personalities. On this occasion, I had the privilege of getting to know, through a good friend of mine, fashion’s latest hip and fab handbag designer, Indre Jakumaite.
Created by t-i-v-a-s-u-r-a-d-e-j on Polyvore |
Jakumaite
is the owner and designer of the brand, Alexa
Jay. Starting only 2 years ago, this London-based brand is well known for
its beautiful accessories in stunning statement colors and elegant classic
styles. With a hint of playfulness, the products often evoke printed motifs and
interesting textures, two of the utmost important themes that constantly
inspire Jakumaite.
So what
exactly is the story behind the name “Alexa
Jay”?
“Initially,
we started the business with #IJ, but soon realized that it didn't work. It
took us quite a few glasses of bubbly to get the juices flowing and to come up
with a new name. We wanted it to be personal and meaningful to us, so my
partner and I decided to play with our names and their sounds. Thus Alexa Jay was born.”
And who
is this “Alexa Jay” girl you might ask?
“She’s
a happy and busy city woman, with an iPhone in one hand and coffee in the other
(and occasionally a cupcake!). She loves fashion but isn’t necessarily fashion
led, and likes to go for playful looks that are elegant, classy, and in bright,
statement colors. She’s keen on high-end trends with a mid-price point. Last
but not least, she’s well-travelled, educated, and career-orientated but still
has time for socializing, relationships, and caring for her own appearance and
home.”
The girls of ALEXA JAY |
I
personally think that’s the kind of woman ALL women (including myself) should
aspire to be.
But
it’s not simply the Alexa Jay girl
that I found inspiring, oh no. It was her creator, Jakumaite herself. Having a
background in HR, she made a daring move by quitting her job and buying an
industrial sewing machine to begin designing and making handbags. Her passion
for fashion has allowed her to experience the two most “adventurous” years of
her life. With the help of
her mentor, Donna Ida Thornton, the founder of the denim boutique Donna
Ida, Jakumaite has gained success in marketing her
brand such that Alexa Jay products are now available both online and in numerous stores,
notably Anthropologie in Selfridges, and has even made it to the designer
spotlight of the infamous Marie Claire magazine (issue May 2014 to be more
precise!). Her ending
remarks? “I love what I do and so my business is a great source of pride and
pleasure.”
Inspirational?
I think yes.
Reach
for the stars and be open. Let the experience of others influence your life.
And
remember
Be
“flirtatiously colorful.”
x
For more details about or to
purchase items from
Alexa Jay visit:
Web: http://alexajay.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexajay_bags
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AlexaJayBags/
Alexa Jay products can also be found at:
·
Anthropologie
(King’s Road, Regents Street, Bath, Guildford, Westfield, Selfridges and
online)
·
The
Mercantile (Spitalfields)
·
Kristina
Goes West (online)
·
Lolly
& Mitch (Hertfordshire – from November)
These bags are really gorgeous, really enjoyed the interview as well, fantastic and bright array of colours. You have a great blog doll, :) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks! Your blog is fab too! :D x
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