NOVEMBER, 2021
For your next designer ‘It’ bag, passionately handcrafted with top grain, Italian leather and adorned with brass and gold plated hardware, look no further than Vavvoune. The brand was founded in 2015 by Valerie Blaise, a self-taught, Haitian-born, Brooklyn-based artisan and designer who happened upon her love for leather by chance. Each wearable leather accessory is inspired by moments of nostalgia and strikes a balance between sophisticated and statement-worthy through the use of colour, texture, and refined silhouettes.
The brand’s autumn offering ‘New Experiences’ mirrors the shift in (temperate) seasons but can find a home in every wardrobe, no matter the climate. Valerie reimagines well-loved designs from her core collection with seasonal materials and a host of autumnal colourways. The oval silhouette of the ‘Mirey Teardrop’ is a play on the architectural ‘Mishe’ bag, the cult-status ‘Sunsa’ gets a shearling coat to brave lower temperatures, and the ‘Claret’ shows us what the ‘Dais’ belt bag would have been as a baguette.
The theme of versatility and rebirth is evident not only in Valerie’s designs but also in Vavvoune’s commitment to minimizing waste. To play their part in caring for the earth and keeping fashion sustainable, Vavvoune donates all workable leather remains to a variety of art programs.
We were elated to get in touch with Valerie, to learn more about how she came to love leather as a creative medium, what it means to be a Black, Haitian woman in the luxury industry, and, naturally, what’s in her handbag.
It’s lovely to digitally meet you. Now that temperate countries and your brand have fully transitioned to Autumn, I’d love to know which season is your favourite and do you have any rituals for seasonal transitions.
Valerie: I really love and appreciate all of our seasons. There’s a sense of change that comes with them but if I had to pick I would say Fall. There is a breath of fresh air that comes with it and it’s beautiful to witness nature’s transition as well.
Tell us a little about the New Experiences collection.
Valerie: The “New Experiences collection” is this season’s assortment of bags from past collections that have been re-imaged and are to be worn and experienced in different ways. I named it “ New Experiences” because this message is also parallel to the brand’s growth and opportunities.
You’ve been a leather artisan for several years now. What drew you to work with that particular material?
Valerie: Leather is a fascinating material and I love love love its versatility. I was drawn to leather when I was about 19 or 20 after I purchased a bag from a vintage shop online.
How did creativity manifest itself in your life before you became a designer?
Valerie: That’s a great question. I’ve always been a very hands-on creative person even when growing up. I remember when I was around 12 I would be in front of our computer and use Photoshop to create content for my Myspace or my Blackplanet page LOL. I think it really just came from me letting myself guide myself, and the creativity just flowed.
Vavvoune has been thriving since its establishment in 2015. Have your goals for the brand changed since then?
Valerie: Absolutely some of my goals have changed and shifted but some have not. I think that as the times change and the older that we get, we realize some of our goals and intentions are opted to be tweaked and there is always space for those changes.
“As the times change and the older that we get, we realize some of our goals and intentions are opted to be tweaked and there is always space for those changes. “
Why the name ‘Vavvoune’? What does it mean?
Valerie: VAVVOUNE is a nickname my parents used to call me when I was growing up in Haiti. Once we moved to America in ’97 and the years went on, I wasn’t being called that anymore. I really enjoyed that nickname and my way of rebirthing its nostalgia was to name my brand after it.
How has being a Black woman shaped your experiences as a brand owner and designer in the luxury industry?
Valerie: Being a Black woman in this industry is very interesting and the nuances are there and in your face. As a luxury designer, the first thing is what does luxury mean to the owner/designer/etc…? Is it an experience, a fantasy, a product or all three? I ask myself that often and for me, it’s all three.
And how does the added layer of being Haitian American play into this?
Valerie: I think that being a Haitian designer/artist definitely brings some variation to the black experience within the fashion industry and there is always a special connection when another Haitian customer or visitor or artist gets introduced to Vavvoune because there is that cultural mutuality and interest there.
“There is always a special connection when another Haitian customer or visitor or artist gets introduced to Vavvoune because there is that cultural mutuality and interest there. “
Does your heritage play a role in your creative experience or process?
Valerie: Yes, it does at times. I like to go back and think about my childhood and look through photos to be inspired because I know my heritage is a source of inspiration for me. But, it doesn’t play a significant role and I wouldn’t want being a Haitian designer to be the only or the main identity of the brand.
Which moment has had the most significant impact on your brand thus far?
Valerie: The most significant moment was last year when Vavvoune was being shared online. That really helped with engagement and the business.
Apart from bags, Vavvoune also designed masks when the pandemic hit. Do you have plans of producing other leather goods in the future?
Valerie: Yes, I do! One of the things that I definitely want to explore is other types of leather accessories to expand our offerings.
Nowadays it’s important to carry the right essentials with you. In my bag, I have my mask, wallet, lip gloss, cleaning wipes, tissues, pen, and my travel-size perfume and lotion.
Valerie: Yes, I do! One of the things that I definitely want to explore is other types of leather accessories to expand our offerings.
Interviewer: Amalda quong sing | photographers: Cheril Sanchez | Travis Matthews | Laerke Rose
