Amayzine

There are those people for whom I always swing the gate open. Even if I just got back from abroad and have forty-seven things on my Things To-Do List. To-Do List on my list.

Also Wiarda is one of them. An old friend with an eagle eye for fun people.

Last Friday he walked in with Ulrika Bolinder and her husband. Although our place is quite spacious, she filled the room. A Swede with accentless English (her mother worked as a model for Eileen Ford, which is why she spent her youth in New York, hence the flawless accent), legs up to the ceiling and a horde of bags around her.

That was the reason for the visit. She has quite a number of successful businesses, but an old love still nibbled at her; bags. “My mother had the most beautiful bags and my first memories go back to carefully touching them.” Since she is an entrepreneurial type, she simply started her own bag brand; Bolinder Stockholm, well, why not.

After admiring all the prototypes (think soft leather with a signature check pattern, colored lining, and metal details), I naturally wanted to peek into her own bag. What does a bag designer carry with her??

Lip gloss

Turns out I immediately stumbled upon a small addiction. Three lip glosses, with especially the one from & Other Stories being a favorite.

Basic essentials

In Ulrika's case, that’s her passport (she travels quite a bit), her reading glasses, that incredibly handy measuring tape from Zara Home with which she can measure all her designs and prototypes again, the map of Amsterdam, and of course some pieces of leather for a new yet-to-be-designed limited edition bag.

Funny

What I also spotted among her things was a screwdriver. With that, she personally tightens all the metal details. Just so you know. By the way, the stylist of the crown princess of Sweden is a fan, and so is Swedish Li Edelkoort. I tell you; we have a little it-bag story here.

Do you want a real Bolinder? www.bolinderstockholm.com

Homepage

Some people I always welcome with open arms. Even if I just got back from a trip and my to-do list has hit a record 47 to-dos.

Okke Wiarda is one of those people, an old friend with a nose for fun people.

Last Friday he walked in with Ulrika Bolinder accompanied by her husband. She filled our otherwise spacious lodging with her presence. A Swedish Beauty (her mother was a model for Eileen Ford) that grew up in New York and speaks English without an accent. She has legs that reach the ceiling and is literally carrying loads of bags.

You see, this was the reason for her visit. She has a substantial amount of successful businesses that feed her “old love’ for bags. “My mother had the most beautiful bags. My first memory was carefully caressing them.” Being the entrepreneurial type she started her own designer label: Bolinder Stockholm, why shouldn’t she?

After admiring all the prototypes (picture soft leather with a signature checked design, colored lining and metal details), I wanted to take a peek in her bag. What does a handbag designer carry in her own purse?

Lip gloss

I quickly detected a minor addiction. I found three glossies and it seems &OtherStories is a favorite.

Basic essentials

In Ulrika’s case that’s her passport (travels a lot), reading glasses, a measuring tape from Zara home (very useful for measuring her bags and designs), an Amsterdam city plan and a few leather samples for a limited edition bag she’s working on.

Funny

What I also spotted between her things was a screwdriver. A fun little fact: She personally adjusts all the metal details on her designs with this. By the way, I need to mention, the crown princess’s stylist is a fan and so is Swedish Li Edelkoort. I feel a little it-bag story coming on.

Do you want a real Bolinder? www.bolinderstockholm.com