Lorena Sosa
Since I was a little girl I always admired my grandmother, who was a seamstress, and loved to do handicrafts.
I kept watching her for a long time and learning how she made beautiful dresses and suits. I also had a cousin who studied architecture and made models and mock-ups. I also spent a lot of time watching him. I think those two people were very influential in my decision to choose design as a university degree.
I started and finished my Design studies at the University of Buenos Aires,
with brilliant grades, and I also won a couple of leather design competitions, which gave me the opportunity to travel to Europe. One of these competitions was in Copenahen, Denmark, and I won a scholarship to follow a two-week training. That was the definitive experience that made me decide, later on, to travel to Barcelona and start my professional career.
First I worked for a couple of years in Argentina as a patron and then I decided to move to Barcelona. Here I worked for a couple of years designing wedding dresses and then accessories.
I then worked for 10 years at Mundi, which was the main supplier of accessories to the famous designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. This is where I became a real designer.
November 2017. I was walking to find a retail outlet when I stumbled upon this little spot on Carrer Guillem, 3 in the Born neighbourhood. I fell in love right when I saw it because it had all the characteristics I was looking for.
First of all, it had to be small because I didn’t have many bags to show, so more space meant more bags, and I couldn’t. I couldn’t do that. I’m not kidding, but also because a smaller space means closer to people and customers. I feel that my design process is minimalistic. I feel that my bags are simple, clean and personalised, for fresh and modern women, and all this is minimalistic for me. Secondly, it was very important for me to show that my products are personalised and handmade, and how could I show this better than setting up a small production workplace? That’s why I love the upper part of my shop, I put my workspace there and, as you walk up, everyone who enters realises that I’m working on my own projects.
Last but not least, living in Barcelona’s Borne is a privilege.
privilege, you know, it’s a sophisticated and modern district full of interesting and different people. When I arrived in Barcelona, almost twenty years ago, I also fell in love with the Born and I didn’t stop until I took up residence here. My shop is also a reflection of this love story. That’s why I also set up a little table outside the shop with a couple of chairs and, in summer, I love to socialise with customers, people from the neighbourhood or tourists, sometimes offering them a cup of tea or coffee. I love this contact with people, and apart from the fact of having everyone close, or not so close because they can find me on instagram, they know me, it gives me the strength and power to go back in and keep designing and making my bags.
In September 2020 I have moved to Eixample where I have a more spacious and comfortable showroom where I can work and exhibit my bags.
