“For me, the handbag is the very expression of autonomy. With it, I feel like I can go wherever I want, whenever I want… And I love to travel! ” Barbara Rihl
There’s nothing like a beautiful handbag to be both classy and trendy. And when you can slip your whole life into it, as with Barbara Rihl’s terribly vintage-looking tote bags, it becomes indispensable. But who is this young Austrian-born designer?
Barbara Rihl
Barbara Rihl entered the fashion world through the front door, training with Karl Lagerfeld and then Jil Sander at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. After graduating, she moved to New York, where she obtained her Master’s degree from Parson’s School of Art and Design. As Collection Director for Kenzo Jeans, she brought the brand resounding success. Her talent as a designer led her to launch her own accessories label specializing in handbags in 2000.
Des sacs en cascade © Menel Feddal
A globe-trotting designer at heart, and wife of Pierre Hermé, Barbara Rihl creates collections based on her travel memories and totally in tune with the times. A true invitation to travel, her bags in coated canvas or Italian leather are original, colorful and full of humor.
Sacs, cabas et pochettes Barbara Rihl ©Menel Feddal
Each model is personalized with patches of color, materials and patchwork prints in line with ready-to-wear trends, but also flirting with the world of chic comics that a certain Kiraz and his Parisiennes would not have disowned.
Sac Barbara Rihl © Menel Feddal
Adorned with illustrations drawn by the designer herself, these lines of accessories, from tote bags to evening clutches, demonstrate Barbara Rihl’s love of travel and fascination with the world of fashion. With an eye for the smallest detail, the designer draws her inspiration from craft techniques from the ends of the earth, while emphasizing the raw yet sophisticated side of the materials she works with.
Boutique Barbara Rihl © Menel Feddal
Already present in nearly 1,000 points of sale worldwide, including two corners at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann, the brand needed a beautiful showcase to showcase Barbara Rihl’s creations. This was achieved last June with the opening of a Barbara Rihl boutique in the first arrondissement, designed by Belgian architect Oliver Lempereur.
© Menel Feddal
Reflecting the designer’s universe, the boutique itself is an invitation to travel, with its undulating walls reminiscent of the interior of a boat, and its niches echoing the patches on the bags. This warm space, reflecting her joie de vivre and good humor, the colors and beauty of her materials, is an opportunity to discover all her creations, from bags to ballerinas to T-shirts.
Le Touessrok
And it was only natural that the creative designer should be offered exclusive collaborations, first for Air France and more recently for one of the world’s finest 5-star hotels, the Mauritian Le Touessrok.
The result of this encounter between the designer and Touessrok is a limited edition beach bag in soft colors with a hint of red reminiscent of hibiscus, harmoniously combining cotton and leather. With its natural modern elegance, small internal pocket and side zips, this bag is simply perfect for taking with you wherever you go.
And if you’re not already lucky enough to own a Barbara Rihl bag, don’t hesitate to visit the boutique to find the one that will take you everywhere, the bag of a lifetime. To discover absolutely.
Barbara Rihl 1 rue du 29 Juillet, 75001 Paris
Marie-Odile Radom
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
