Lorelei
Laurie Kaufmann Willard's passion for accessories started long before she began Lorelei Design; at age 3, Laurie's grandmother observed her fierce determination to carry around several bags at once and nicknamed her - prophetically, as it turns out - the "bag lady". While growing up in Rye, New York, and studying at Princeton, Laurie worked in boutiques but her career in fashion started at Calvin Klein. Inspired by her introduction to the industry, Laurie started to make a few bags that were an instant hit; Lorelei had begun before she knew what happened.
After spending a year at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying Accessories Design, Laurie's final collection , inspired by Janis Joplin , won the award for "best handbag design" in the Student Design Contest sponsored by Elle Magazine and the Accessories Council and was featured on Macy's Jumbotron in a FIT promotion.
The name of Lorelei - the siren - captures the essence of her philosophy: "fashion can make you ridiculous; style, which is yours to control individually, can make you attractive , a near siren", as eloquently put by poet Marianne Moore. Accessories are the exclamation points distinguishing and punctuating personal style; they can capture the spirit or mood of a moment, express an attitude or confidence in your personality, and communicate the details that might otherwise be left unsaid.
Inspired by the strong stylish women that surround her and the dynamic rhythms of New York City, Laurie creates collections that combine smart sophisticated shapes with striking prints and leathers. From beach totes to hobos to evening clutches, Laurie's distinctive sense of design, craft, and humor touches every piece in the Lorelei collection.
Lorelei