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By Alexander Patiño
opened up shop in another fashion mecca: New York City. With Stella Filante, their
haute boutique on Ludlow Street, which houses some of the best European lines
you’ve probably never heard of and with their other precious brainchild, Lena Erziak,
their own line of out-of-this-world chic handbags, this team is geared to set the fashion
world ablaze. Leona and Hasna took a moment of their time to indulge us on how they
got started, what they each bring to the table and how they plan to bring a little
European zest into New Yorker’s lives.
Meet sisters Leona (left) and Hasna Erziak (right), the jet-setting, Belgian-Moroccan
design duo, who are making waves with their recently launched handbag line Lena
Erziak and New York City boutique Stella Filante.
haute boutique on Ludlow Street, which houses some of the best European lines
you’ve probably never heard of and with their other precious brainchild, Lena Erziak,
their own line of out-of-this-world chic handbags, this team is geared to set the fashion
world ablaze. Leona and Hasna took a moment of their time to indulge us on how they
got started, what they each bring to the table and how they plan to bring a little
European zest into New Yorker’s lives.
Meet sisters Leona (left) and Hasna Erziak (right), the jet-setting, Belgian-Moroccan
design duo, who are making waves with their recently launched handbag line Lena
Erziak and New York City boutique Stella Filante.
Lena Erziak:
Handbags That
Will Get You Noticed
Handbags That
Will Get You Noticed
FQA: Stella Filante, your beautiful boutique on Ludlow Street in New York City houses
some truly beautiful lines – especially some great lines that many people have many
never heard of before. Tell us about your selection process; where did you find these
great artists and what about them called out to you enough to include them in your
boutique?
LEONA: The brands carried at Stella Filante are European brands that we wear and love. We
realized that these brands were not easily accessible in New York, and we wanted to make
these beautiful and unique brands available to New Yorkers.
FQA: Stella Filante means “shooting star” in Italian. You’ve both reached great heights
thus far with your handbag line Lena Erziak and your New York boutique. Have you
reached your zenith or can we expect even greater heights from you two?
HASNA: We are constantly inspired and constantly reaching for new dreams. We do not look
at it in the way that there is ever an end. We have even more dreams to achieve.
some truly beautiful lines – especially some great lines that many people have many
never heard of before. Tell us about your selection process; where did you find these
great artists and what about them called out to you enough to include them in your
boutique?
LEONA: The brands carried at Stella Filante are European brands that we wear and love. We
realized that these brands were not easily accessible in New York, and we wanted to make
these beautiful and unique brands available to New Yorkers.
FQA: Stella Filante means “shooting star” in Italian. You’ve both reached great heights
thus far with your handbag line Lena Erziak and your New York boutique. Have you
reached your zenith or can we expect even greater heights from you two?
HASNA: We are constantly inspired and constantly reaching for new dreams. We do not look
at it in the way that there is ever an end. We have even more dreams to achieve.
FQA: Your mother was a seamstress and your father was a potter. What did each of
you individually learn from their artistry? Did you each intake something different
from their respective art in your collective handbag line?
LEONA ERZIAK: We both learned to follow our ambitions and to pursue what we truly
love. We were inspired by their commitment and passion for their art and this drove us
to realize our own ambitions which resulted in a line of luxury handbags.
you individually learn from their artistry? Did you each intake something different
from their respective art in your collective handbag line?
LEONA ERZIAK: We both learned to follow our ambitions and to pursue what we truly
love. We were inspired by their commitment and passion for their art and this drove us
to realize our own ambitions which resulted in a line of luxury handbags.
 |
FQA: Which is your favorite bag from your Lena Erziak line?
HASNA ERZIAK: We really love all the bags. Asking us to pick a favorite bag, would be
like asking a mother which child is her favorite! We are drawn to different bags
depending on our moods. The Elio is great for day and the Paolo is perfect for a night
on the town. Each bag in the collection corresponds with a different spirit or mentality.
FQA: Lena Erziak is a great collaborative sister effort. What about your bags say
“Leona” and what about them says “Hasna”? What about your specific, respective
tastes go into each bag you design?
LEONA: We work well together. We review everything we do together and try to
collaborate on every level. As you can see by the name of the line, Lena Erziak, Lena is
a combination of our first names Leona and Hasna. Our tastes are eclectic and our
moods tend to dictate our different styles. That's why you see a mix of different shapes
and styles in our Spring collection.
FQA: Was designing handbags always in your future from the get-go, even when you
were little girls in your Belgian-Moroccan household, or did you each see yourselves
doing something else with your inherent flair for art?
HASNA: We have always, since we were little girls, wanted to be involved in fashion.
Creating our line, Lena Erziak, is a way for us to use our creativity to create a collection
of bags that we want to wear and that are of a high quality and design.
HASNA ERZIAK: We really love all the bags. Asking us to pick a favorite bag, would be
like asking a mother which child is her favorite! We are drawn to different bags
depending on our moods. The Elio is great for day and the Paolo is perfect for a night
on the town. Each bag in the collection corresponds with a different spirit or mentality.
FQA: Lena Erziak is a great collaborative sister effort. What about your bags say
“Leona” and what about them says “Hasna”? What about your specific, respective
tastes go into each bag you design?
LEONA: We work well together. We review everything we do together and try to
collaborate on every level. As you can see by the name of the line, Lena Erziak, Lena is
a combination of our first names Leona and Hasna. Our tastes are eclectic and our
moods tend to dictate our different styles. That's why you see a mix of different shapes
and styles in our Spring collection.
FQA: Was designing handbags always in your future from the get-go, even when you
were little girls in your Belgian-Moroccan household, or did you each see yourselves
doing something else with your inherent flair for art?
HASNA: We have always, since we were little girls, wanted to be involved in fashion.
Creating our line, Lena Erziak, is a way for us to use our creativity to create a collection
of bags that we want to wear and that are of a high quality and design.
Erziak have been
surrounded by art all their
lives and another thing that’s
been with them since the
beginning is their inherent
love and appreciation for
fashion. Although living in
France, this jet-setting,
Belgian-Moroccan duo
surrounded by art all their
lives and another thing that’s
been with them since the
beginning is their inherent
love and appreciation for
fashion. Although living in
France, this jet-setting,
Belgian-Moroccan duo
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