Interview with Camila Albelaez – Bag designer

3rd February 2018

I met Camila Albelaez thanks to a friend of mine. Her extraordinary talent for creating bags hit me immediately and I wanted to know more about her: How it all started? Home she became a successful bag designer? And what her tips to visiting Paris are? Get the answers here in the interview that I did with her.

Camila is originally from Venezuela but moved to Paris 8 years ago. This is where I met her and were we had a talk about what it takes to become a bag designer…

Tell me a little bit about yourself? I said.

I am 27 years old and come from Caracas -Venezuela in South America, the country with the best weather ever, it is always summer there.

My first year in France I spend in a town called Belfort, but later on I moved to Paris.

When I get the chance, I try to travel even if it is only 40 min away from Paris. I like to “breathe” from the city. With my husband we have a baby girl, we are her fan # 1 we can spend hours just looking at each of her moves.

How would your friends describe you?

Umm. They will say that I am a little bit crazy, but crazy in a good way I think (laughing).

What and where did you study?

I first studied at ICOGES in Paris. There I got a Minor in International Business . Then I studied at EIML in Paris where I got my Bachelor’s Degree and my Master’s degree in Luxury marketing specialized in fashion.

What made you want to become a bag designer?

I used to have a little clutch bag that I bought in a street market in the south of France. I loved this bag! I don’t remember how but I lost it, so I said ´I will design a new one´ inspired by this one and so I did ! When I started wearing this self-designed clutch people always asked for it, so I started making more and selling them. At the beginning I was just doing clutches and then I started doing other bags for all types of women! That is the brand you will find today.

What are the keys to becoming a successful brand according to you?

I think there are 3 things you need to respect: 1/ To be trustful to what you want to do as a designer. When you follow that, you are more likely to sell your products, because if you really believe in them and it comes from YOU, people will feel that. 2/ Try to share a universe, so that people can dive into your world. 3/ Choosing your partners is crucial. If you want to have an irreproachable product you need to work with the best.

Where do you find your inspiration?

When I am travelling I like to have a tiny tiny note book where I note and draw everything. This note book looks like petroglyphs journal. I love to see it again when I get back home. Then I put my ideas together and get new ones !

I see you work a lot with triangles- why ?

I love triangles because I think this shape represents me, one corner is France, the other is Venezuela and the last one is Me. And I also like it because I personally enjoy the aesthetics of geometrical shapes, I find them so beautiful.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

I like to work with leather. But my next collections will have other materials like silver.

Camila s guide to Paris!

What’s your favorite place to shop in Paris?

I love to walk around Le Marais, do some “impulsive” shopping discovering all the cute stores hehe! I also Love MERCI !

Who’s your favorite designer?

I really like the universe of Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto. I also love Mark Cross bags .

What’s your favorite coffee shop in Paris?

A make amazing coffees at home, I have everything and they look very professional haha. But I really like a very very tiny coffee shop called Boot Café in the 3rd arrondissement.

What’s your favorite arrondissement?

It depends for what. I really like the 3rd.

Where do you love to hang out?

Since I had my baby I do not really go out a lot . So when I do I try to taste new restaurants or visit the expos I haven’t seen. I do not have an exactly place where I hang out all the time. I try to rediscover Paris all the time.

Favorite place to dine?

It depends what I want to eat. I love my husband´s bar-resto WORKSHOP PARIS if I want to eat burgers! they are the best ! If I want to eat Italian I try to go to EAST MAMMA and for a healthy and yummy choice SEASON in Paris.

What’s luxury to you?

Luxury for me is something rare, with a specific know-how and also something that makes you DREAM .

Thank you Camila for the interview.

I have one of her clutches and I am crazy about it…just take a look here…