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LIPAULT

Luggage & Accessories|  Paris

Any woman who is a serious traveller should know this fashionable luggage brand. The look is immediately identifiable, recognised by its a rainbow-like palette of stylish colours, from the handle right through to the wheels. These elements combine to create an affectionate bond between the brand and its early fans, which was acquired by Samsonite in 2014. While Lipault has built its following amongst a mainly female clientele, many businessmen are also turning to the brand for its soft, light and unashamedly fashionable pieces.

“It’s in Lipault’s DNA,” explains Aurore Blanc-Jaloux, the brand’s globe-trotting international director. “It’s the only luggage brand that invites you to think of your suitcase as a fashion accessory, like a pair of shoes or a scarf. You can pick a different product depending on your mood.” The brand works with seasonal colours and has Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections. “We really focus on trends, thanks to our in-house designers, from the world of prêt-à-porter and accessories. With our wide range of bright colours, it’s really easy to mix and match. If you’re wearing a green dress, you can choose a khaki or a brown bag, something to complement your outfit.”

Fashion as a central theme? Absolutely, because as well as a new hard suitcase, the brand has just launched its first handbag range. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, a brand new capsule collection has also been designed. And while Lipault now has five outlets in Paris, one in Strasbourg and one in Lyon, its ambition is incredibly focused: “By the end of the year, we have plans to open shops in London and Milan, as we want to be present in the main fashion capitals.” Building on its feminine Parisian identity, Lipault has an established presence in Europe, the USA and South Africa, and is winning fans further afield in other countries such as Singapore and Korea. 

“Fashion, colour, design and Paris are all important elements of the brand,” explains its international director. “For me, a French woman is natural, relaxed and stylish, all in one. Someone who proudly embraces her imperfections, like Inès de la Fressange. I travel all over the world, and I can assure you that that’s how foreigners imagine Parisian women.”

An archetypal active, stylish, natural Parisian woman herself, Aurore Blanc-Jaloux lives life at a hundred miles an hour. She describes her clients as active city dwellers who also travel often. “They pack in their work, their personal life, sport and looking after the kids. These women don’t want just any old suitcase. They need a lightweight, practical bag. They want something that works, but that is also chic and elegant. With that natural, relaxed style that all the women of the world envy about a Parisian woman.” 

Visit the Lipault Online Store:  lipault.com

Interview:  Enrique Nalda

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