Lola & Bailey
POSTED 03.09.2009 @ 14:07
Lola & Bailey is the creative partnership between two best friends Theresa Nguyen and Cheri Flewell-Smith. It’s been more than two years since their humble beginnings, with a blank sketch pad and a whole lot of determination, and they show no signs of looking back.
Tell us about Lola & Bailey.It all started somewhere in the stretch from Bondi to Opera Bar with a long, rambling pie-in-the-sky conversation and a whole lot of Mojitos in between. Almost three years – and a lot of late nights – later we’re stocking our accessories in 30 stores around the country and wake up every day smiling because we’re doing what we love. Recently we opened our online store which has been the biggest highlight to date.
What is the latest collection about?We’d love to say that our Typographic Totes collection is a tribute to Michael Jackson á la “A-B-C – it’s as easy as 1-2-3”, but the idea was born out of a lack of good-quality totes to carry our uni gear. Now that we’re working, we want a bag big enough to fit things in, but that also looks the part. Those free grocery bags just don’t cut it.
We’ve also just launched a new range of pendants and brooches, made in enamel called Shadow Puppets – and homage to the easy living of the ’50s.
What inspires you?Everything from a great song lyric to vintage teacups. We won’t mention our secret (well, not-so-secret addiction to trashy TV shows like The Hills and Gossip Girl). We like to think of ourselves as cultural bowerbirds collecting inspiration from different places: highbrow, lowbrow and everything in between.
How did you get your start?We both belong to the slashie generation having studied design at the College of Fine Arts, we’re equipped with the skills to design anything. Our collective backgrounds in design and advertising have also been integral to our start in a very competitive industry. It was only a matter of time before we took that leap of faith and started our own label.
What are your favourite pieces?We’re currently loving our Ampersand tote and we both adore our Supersize Shadow Puppet Goose pendant. We’re also excited about our CMYK collection and our new Fromage tote.
What are you lusting after this summer?Besides a tan, we’re lusting after a gorgeous Zimmermann swimsuit, a lovely pair of Karen Walker shades to finish the look, the complete ModelCo range (we’re huge fans) and let’s throw in a week in the Maldives – we can dream, can’t we?
Who is the Lola & Bailey girl?A Lola & Bailey girl would ride a vintage Pashley bike, buy a cake and pretend she baked it, and always has to be the last one to leave a party.
Future plans?In the near future we’re hoping to expand our accessories line into a collection of scarves and handbags. Ultimately we’re hoping to continue to grow and keep doing what we love.
Head to
lolaandbailey.com to shop online or find your nearest stockist.