ABOUT LOULEN STUDIO
Loulen Studio creates unique, durable totes, over-the-shoulder purses and accessories including belts, fabric bracelets, key lanyards, zippered pouches, sachets, felted lavender rocks and eye pillows. All items are hand-cut and pieced from meticulously chosen high-quality cottons and linens.


photo by Angela Dawn White

IN THE BEGINNING
Loulen Studio began slowly and grew organically. My background is in Fine Arts (textiles, sculpture and interdisciplinary media). When my son was born in 2004, I needed a more "down-to-earth" focus and a slower pace. (The name LOULEN is a combination of my son's name Louis and my nick-name Lena.)

Still in the art world with a couple of toes, I finished a large-scale grant project, which involved a lot of sewing and handstitching. Afterwards, I continued sewing but found it gratifying to create more practical items. I re-used wool sweaters and created hats, bags, pillows and scarves. I was inspired by recycling and re-using materials. But soon I found it limiting so I added linen and heavier weight cottons. A friend and artist/crafter, Anna Yee of Ginkgho-Designs helped me get my first designs out into the world by sharing her craft booth. Soon after, I started my own booth and have been selling at farmer's markets and art fairs ever since.

MIX AND MATCH
Trained as a textile artist, I consistently return to design styles and periods that inspire me, like the 1920's, early Modernism, Bauhaus and Danish Modern. I studied Japanese and Indian textile history and have a deep admiration for both the process and the work itself. I often include tradtional Japanese indigo-died textiles or Indian wood block prints into my designs.

My style of selecting textiles for Loulen Studio has evolved over time and with market research on the fly at local farmer's markets and with the input from many customers. I don't shy away from otherwise very different or even opposing patters or colors in one bag to create unusual and unique products.



photo by Angela Dawn White

WORK IN PROGRESS
I see the evolution of Loulen Studio as a work in progress. No design is etched in stone. We change styles and patterns frequently. And I really do have a passion for the process. I find inspiration in attending to the details-from the seams to the prints of my fabrics. All the fabrics are pre-washed to remove sizing. I use the smallest stitches and double stitch where needed. All bags are lined with a durable interfacing to give them better form. Most important, I choose only high-quality fabrics so that the bags withstand daily use. I often ask customers to give me feedback and have adjusted straps, size of the bags and materials accordingly.

Here at Loulen Studio, with two very part-time employees, Walmaria and Dana, and a devoted husband Chris, we are excited about our future.
We look forward to improving and expanding our designs. And we love to hear from you - please let us know what you think!

Cheers,
Birgit