|

Holiday Highlight: Kasia Dietz Bags

ByAndi Fisher Updated on

I am thrilled to present you with my first Holiday Highlight entrepreneur, Kasia of Kasia Dietz bags. As I mentioned when I introduced the idea of supporting small business owners for Small Business Saturday, I am re-focusing my usual holiday giveaways activities and shifting attention to supporting some of my favorite small business owners who all happen to be friends, family, or faithful blog readers.

kasia dietz bags-logo

I can't think of anyone better to start with than Kasia, who exactly one year ago today launched her business in Paris! Happy Anniversary Kasia!

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). Opinions are always my own and I’ll never promote something I don’t use or believe in. Also as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kasia and I have been blogging friends for quite a while and I was so lucky to meet her in Paris in October of 2010. She has been regularly featured in many Saturday Sixes as well as guest posts here and there. I gave away one of her bags last year during the holidays and knew I wanted to repeat the same and continue to support her business.

Paris Profiles - 3rd Arrondissement with Kasia-75003

Oddly enough I had never interviewed Kasia about her business and I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight Kasia, her business, and her products. She graciously agreed to answer some of my questions:

[MWA]: I know this is your second time around for your bag business, what inspired you the first time around, and how about the second?

[Kasia]: I started designing bags, (beginning with hand-painted collections inspired by my mom's 1970's designs) several years ago while working in advertising, to fulfill myself creatively. It was a side project that kept me inspired and in very little time the bags were selling in NY and LA boutiques as well as in Tokyo, where they were in high demand. (I was even interviewed by the Japanese press!)

All of this, of course, inspired me to continue pursuing my designing but my career became more demanding and I had to put my designing dreams on hold. Until Paris. I was immensely inspired by this fashion capital and finally had the time to devote to my business.

I set to work and through getting to know the city and its people while learning the language and culture, I designed new collections, including the hand-printed Paris Collection. Et voila! I re-launched my business.

Kasia Dietz-b&w floral tote-inside

[MWA]:  Your collections have two personalities, one that celebrates Paris and one that focuses on nature – what is your thought process there?

[Kasia]: I've always been drawn to minimalism in art and design, and where better to discover this than in nature. Some of the most simple and beautiful design comes from nature's elements, thus my desire was to create bags that represent this purity of beauty.

My Paris collection too is minimalist in design yet appeals to those who love Paris. These bags can equally speak to an individual's personality, stating where they live or which part of Paris they prefer. In addition, the reversibility element creates a playfulness mixed with sophistication.

[MWA]: Paris is no doubt one of THE fashion capitals of the world, did you feel any pressure bringing your business there?

[Kasia]: Staying in line with my design aesthetic and knowing that Parisiens are trendy yet timeless, I knew to keep my bags simple, unique, and elegant.

As for finding success in this fashion capital, it certainly takes time to establish yourself in a city like Paris, but little by little I'm making my way, as I navigate locally with a global view. And always, I try to stay positive.

Kasia Dietz-Geometric Collection-Beige + Black tote

[MWA]: What do you love most about the creative process?

[Kasia]: When designing new collections, I have an emotional reaction to certain colors and fabrics. I allow this instinctual feeling to dictate. As for my hand-painted bags, it's quite a lengthy process with lots of ideas circling a specific theme.

What I love most is creating the final designs, with ink on canvas, and watching my ideas come to life. Without a doubt a creative high!

[MWA]: How are your bags distributed?

[Kasia}: In addition to selling my handbags via my online shop, they are sold in several multi-brand online shops featuring independent designers, including Swelle Boutique and Not On The High Street in the UK and Parisien Salon and Laure Nell in the US.

I am also selling locally in select Paris boutiques and most recently at my favorite (and most exclusive) Paris department store Le Bon Marché which is a great honor!

Wow! That is fabulous news, congrats Kasia!

Blogging bud, Lindsey of Lost in Cheeseland also did a lovely little write-up on Kasia in her Franco File Friday as well as a Bitch Buzz post, check it out to learn more about this fashion maven! You can also learn more about Kasia from her own blog, Love in the City of Lights.

Similar Posts

81 Comments

  3. I love all of her products and the way she combines style, design and versatility. Although I’m partial to the Paris totes, I think my favourite right now is the black and white Retro Tote.

    All the best to you and Kasia this holiday season!

    (I also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.)

  5. I really like this one:
    and I think I like the clutch of the same pattern even more!

    I don’t know…it just sings to me. What an amazing business story. Thanks for sharing.

  9. I absolutely love Kasia’s Tribal and Retro series — I don’t think I could pick just one. I love them all! And of course the Paris handpainted ones are great! I would love to have one with my zip code of 75019.

    I need to find some more babysitting jobs before I can get one of these babies, though, so I am hoping I win the floral one! *grin*

    I’m very proud of what Kasia has accomplished in just one year. To find the level of success she has had with her bags in just 12 months is a testament not only to the quality of her bags, but also of her vision and hard work. Emphasis on HARD WORK. Go Kasia! I hope she finds even more success in her second year of business!

  10. P.S. I started following her both on Twitter and Liked her Kasia Dietz Facebook page a looooong time ago, so I don’t know if it counts for the entry or not. (But I hope it does!!)

  11. Addendum: I did not realize I was not following Kasia Dietz BAGS on Twitter, so I just started!! Now *that* counts, I believe! I’m @ParisKarin there. 🙂

  13. Love the Terra tote! So hip! Have Followed Kasia on Twitter for a long time, but now I’ve just followed Kasia Dietz Bags too.

  18. I really enjoyed browsing through this website. the designs were all lovely. my favorites are the sea green floral mini tote, the red floral tote, the earth tote, sky clutch, and the rose bag.

    I liked kasia dietz on facebook and I follow on twitter.
    my fb name: alissa Kristie
    my twitter name: ohmissaliss

  19. Thank you for the giveaway!
    I love the Blue Eye Purse – it looks like peacock feathers! Gorgeous!

  22. Thank you for the lovely giveaway!!! I love the Blue Eye Bag and Purpuse and the floral tote bag!
    GFC: Kat

  23. The Sky Tote and the Red Print Tote are my favorites, though there are so many other items that I love.

  24. I Like Kasia Dietz on facebook (Katie Duckfluff McGinnis) and follow her on twitter (l_afterwords).

  35. I like the Hamptons pink and blue floral tote, wish they weren’t sold out.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    –Liza

    ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

  47. Good luck to the winner! I have this tote, and it’s beautiful and has lots of pockets. We love pockets, yes?

  63. Thank you all for your lovely compliments, feedback and support! Good luck!

    And thank you Andi for the feature!

    Best,
    Kasia

  70. I love the Sea Green Floral and the Red Vintage and the Blue Eye. So many were pretty, it was hard to choose. Gorgeous fabrics.

  71. I also follow on Twitter and Facebook 🙂 AND I’m a Kasia, too! That should be an extra entry!

  77. I LOVE all of Kasia’s creations. But am smitten with the Black & White Handbags — specifically the Floral.
    I also love the Rive Gauce Paris Handprinted Handbag.

Comments are closed.