We’re huge fans of Clare Vivier’s luxurious line of leather goods, so we were beyond excited to get a tour of her new shop and talk about her craft. Clare’s bags are manufactured locally in LA where the French designer lives and works. She recently opened her first boutique, a combination of a working studio and retail space in Los Angeles’ Silverlake neighborhood.

Why did you decide to start your hand bag line?
Working as a journalist for French television, I traveled a lot and could never find a bag I loved to carry my laptop in. I discovered there was an enormous hole in the market for cool work bags and that is how the idea for my own hand bag line was born.

You recently opened your first store,  how did you decide it was time for that endeavor?
I realized it had become time to move my business out of my home. The retail space was an afterthought that just made sense.

Do you have advice to offer aspiring business owners?
One of the things that got me through the fear of starting my business was putting the thought, “Oh, it’s already been done” out of my head. I told myself, “Yes, it has already been done, but you’re going to do it your way and that may be hugely successful.”

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