Lastelier, Italy under your skin

Lastelier is a French fashion accessory house created by Bérengère de Lassée. Her House exclusively manufactures its collections in Italy and offers high-end designs that are timeless, assertive and elegant. Before creating her own brand, Bérengère de Lassée worked for the renowned house Bottega Veneta in Italy. Over the years, surrounded by the best Italian leather craftsmen and milliners, she learned everything about the finesse of Italian creativity. This life experience left her wanting to convey the best of Italy by creating a very French brand. Lastelier is a French-Italian legacy that taps into the know-how of both countries and knows how to please the eye. It is also a house created for women, by a woman.

Bérengère de Lassée insufflates meaning into her collections by abiding by the famous Italian ‘volere bene’ which conveys a certain idea of happiness. Hidden messages or charms can be found on each piece, engraved in leather or written on ribbons. Only their owners know their secret and the happiness it brings to wear them.

Maison Sensey: How did it all begin?

Berengere de Lassee: It started in Indonesia, after working for Bottega Veneta in Italy for seven years. I had been meaning to start my own brand for a while, but I kept thinking it wasn’t doable… Thanks to my friends and family who pushed me to go for it, I eventually got started. It started with something that seemed, at first, impossible! I’ve always been fascinated by Italy. After finishing my studies in France, I was lucky enough to get an internship position at Bottega Veneta in Italy as a Product Assistant. I did not speak Italian that well, but they gave me a chance!

I stayed at Bottega Veneta and became Product Manager for small leather goods. I then moved to Milan to take care of training programs on the manufacturing of Bottega Veneta accessories. It was fantastic! Italy is a wonderful country, they speak a beautiful language, they serve amazing food, and people are lovely. It was heart-breaking to leave the country of my dreams! When I started Lastelier in 2016, it became clear that I wanted to manufacture my accessories in Italy. I knew everything about Italian production, but I mostly wanted to keep a connection with Italy.

Today, this connection still exists because Lastelier is a French brand produced in Italy. But it is also maintained through the brand’s style: high-end, timeless, and functional. The idea was to create a collection that would be timeless so that our designs would stay with the women who wear them for every step of their life, of their personal history.

That’s why I included the famous ‘volere bene’ on each accessory, which means meaning somebody well. My accessories come with a good intention; they are lucky charms. There’s either a hidden word or a charm such as a star, a horseshoe… Those happiness charms are never the same, and they’re not always located in the same part of the bag.

To each bag their own hidden message! When a customer buys her bag, it’s like a treasure hunt. She looks for her lucky charm. She’s the only one who knows where it is, what it looks like and the meaning she wants to give it.

Was the Seau bag (bucket bag) your first design?

Correct. It is a reversible bag. The idea was to design a very beautiful bag that is still practical, that will adapt to day life or night life, to each occasion and outfit. It is the perfect bag to bring on your travels!

What kind of relationship do you want to weave with the Italian craftsmen?

They have unrivaled knowledge and skills. I had time to discover and appreciate the quality of their work when I worked at Bottega Veneta. The workshop that does our small leather goods is located in Vicenza, in the Venetia region. It is a small town also called little Venice. This workshop also works with the biggest luxury houses and we have built a strong, trusting relationship since the beginning of Lastelier. My approach is based on making accessories that are well thought out and carefully designed, and they appreciated that very much.

For hats, Southern Italy is the place to be. It is the epicenter of millinery in Europe. The most beautiful hats in the world are made in this area. The artisan who works with Lastelier also works with renowned fashion houses and he was also charmed by Lastelier. I wanted beautiful, well designed, high-end pieces, and I especially wanted to get to the bottom of an idea: how to improve hat designs and bring something different.

Just like our bags, our hats also have their own happiness charms! They feature hidden messages written on a ribbon, which only belongs to their owner. They also sport an inner pocket which is exclusive to Lastelier – we are the only brand offering hats with an inner pocket.

It can be used to store a credit card or a key, for example. And if it’s a windy day out there, an elastic band prevents your hat from flying away while still providing a comfortable experience. My love for artisans also lies in the name of the brand: Lastelier is a mix between my own name and the name ‘atelier’. It is part of the DNA of our brand, it’s a beautiful story.

Interview by Barbara Sensey 
Paris
Lastelier collection available in our eShop!