Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can’t live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you’re passionate about. Travelling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes and the beauty of the adventurous unknown - for a designer, travelling is essential. It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer, I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom’s fabrics, creating patterns and making clothes for my dolls as well as for myself. I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! It was many years later, when I dusted off my mom’s wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, that I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. In over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art, as well as developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser known designer than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names.

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French. Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I’ve been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

I’m continuing to expand the selection and distribution of my eco-chic bag collections, as they make their way around the world.

Kasia first found an interest in fashion and design when she

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can’t live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you’re passionate about. Travelling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes and the beauty of the adventurous unknown - for a designer, travelling is essential. It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer, I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom’s fabrics, creating patterns and making clothes for my dolls as well as for myself. I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! It was many years later, when I dusted off my mom’s wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, that I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. In over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art, as well as developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser known designer than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names.

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French. Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I’ve been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

I’m continuing to expand the selection and distribution of my eco-chic bag collections, as they make their way around the world.

Before becoming a handbag designer, Kasia

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can’t live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you’re passionate about. Travelling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes and the beauty of the adventurous unknown - for a designer, travelling is essential. It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer, I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom’s fabrics, creating patterns and making clothes for my dolls as well as for myself. I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! It was many years later, when I dusted off my mom’s wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, that I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. In over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art, as well as developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser known designer than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names.

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French. Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I’ve been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

I’m continuing to expand the selection and distribution of my eco-chic bag collections, as they make their way around the world.

What did Kasia learn about the fashion business in France?

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can’t live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you’re passionate about. Travelling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes and the beauty of the adventurous unknown - for a designer, travelling is essential. It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer, I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom’s fabrics, creating patterns and making clothes for my dolls as well as for myself. I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! It was many years later, when I dusted off my mom’s wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, that I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. In over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art, as well as developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser known designer than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names.

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French. Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I’ve been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

I’m continuing to expand the selection and distribution of my eco-chic bag collections, as they make their way around the world.

What problem did Kasia have setting up her business in Paris?

Century Link Field

Located south of downtown, Century Link is home to the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks and their notoriously loud fans (they set a Guinness World Record for noise). The stadium is open air, providing wonderful views of downtown Seattle - at least when the weather cooperates. And when it doesn’t, some 70 percent of the 67,000 seats are covered with a sliding overhead screen.

Which stadium _____?

Richmond Olympic Oval

The Richmond Olympic Oval was built as the speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The city made serious efforts to make the Olympics one of the greenest in history, and this venue was a key part of reaching the goal. The building contains three levels and a massive wood wave roof inspired by local ecology.

Which stadium _____?

Nationals Park

Home of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, this shining new stadium proudly represents the nation’s capital by being the first LEED-certified green major sports stadium in the United States. It features energy-efficient lighting and low-flow water, has a program for recycling leftover hot dog wrappers and showcases a 6,300 square-foot green roof that covers the area.

Which stadium _____?

World Games Stadium

This beautiful, snake-like complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was designed by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito. It is one of the first stadiums in the world to provide most of its power from solar energy. The solar panels covering the external face of the park are able to generate enough power to keep the stadium running plus additional power that can be stored and sold back to the grid.

Which stadium _____?

Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs have called this stadium on the North Side, with its famous manual scoreboard and ivy-covered outfield walls, home for 98 years. Named for one-time Cubs owner and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., this famed ballpark has been fiercely protected from change by its city, its owners and its fans. Lights were only installed in 1988, long after they became a fixture in every other professional park.

Which stadium _____?