Based in Denmark, DECADENT is a of collection luxury handbags and leather accessories, designed with Scandinavian timelessness and simplicity in mind, and handcrafted from the loveliest materials.
The brand was born out of Copenhagen in 2005 when DECADENT’s founder and creative director, Karina Mundt Holst, set out to recreate a much adored bag from the 70’s that belonged to her mother. Karina introduced this reimagined tote as the Working Bag – it’s simple silhouette and long-wearing leather construction has served as the foundation for the entire DECADENT collection. Like the Working Bag, chic details and classic forms are the aesthetic attributes that make up the extraordinarily crafted DECADENT line. The interview below with Karina Mundt Holst goes a bit deeper into the brand’s (almost) 15 year history, highlighting her long-term thoughts on timeless design and sustainability in the fashion industry, and how working with small manufacturers who she thinks of as family has led to the success of the brand.
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This post was written in collaboration with DECADENT Copenhagen
Featuring the Nadia Crossover in Black Croco
Ad / Gifted Product
An Interview with Karina Mundt Holst
DECADENT’s Founder and Creative Director
Q – DECADENT is a name that certainly evokes a sense of allure and luxury. Can you tell me a bit more about the journey that led you to this name and what you hope it infers about the brand?
“I was for sure at journey as you say. When I started out almost 15 years ago, it was very popular as an upcoming company to name the brand your own name. But I was very aware about that, and I wanted to create a brand not based on my name. It was not me who was the interesting part, it was all about the product, the bag. So I had to look elsewhere and searched many places for the perfect name. I have always read all Danish fashion magazines and I read an article from Uffe Buchard, were he described a very luxurious, chick and decadent hotel in Istanbul. That word just got to me, Decadent, and I already knew that the production should be placed in Istanbul. and DECADENT just gave it an extra level and connection to Istanbul. Decadent has a meaning of something extravagant, something that you really do not need for survival. Decadent bags are all about that. It is that extra thing you add to your outfit to give it the right feel and look. “
Q – Before launching DECADENT in 2005, you spent several years working in the fashion industry. How did those years of experience guide you when you decided to launch your own brand? Did the motivation come from seeing opportunities to do things a bit differently?
“My past in the industry for sure gave me a motivation to do it my way. I have always had a very strong feeling that I would end up having my own company, as I like all aspects within a company and has a commercial approach. My saying has always been if I like a certain bag, several other will probably also like it, as my taste is like many others and very commercial. My past in the industry covers positions as; designer, buyer, sales and shop manager. So I had a lot of knowledge and it really helped me open doors in the industry as I started. I was not afraid of any of the aspects of building up a brand from scratch.”
Interview Continues Below…
Q – DECADENT focuses less on trends, and more on timeless styles that are designed to transcend generations – like your iconic Working Bag. Yet you’ve seemed to find a balance between the past and now that makes the brand undeniably contemporary. What is it like to maintain this balance and has it been challenging to push against the fast-fashion mentality?
“It is hard to stay true to the DNA that you have put into the brand, which is my personal taste as well, but also a love for classic designs that will stand the test of time and various trends. My saying has always been, to make smart choices that will last for a long time, this is the core of everything we do in the company, from design, production and to which partners we should do business with and so on. We want women to feel empowered by the choices they make, when choosing long lasting item they will treasure for a long time, like our bags.”
Q – The DECADENT collection has a harmonious and timeless spirit – built on classic silhouettes, versatile colorways, and thoughtful yet subtle details. When introducing new designs into the collection, do you find yourself looking for inspiration from vintage styles? What other influences might manifest into the form of a DECADENT bag?
“I love finding vintage inspiration. The vintage feel really speak to me in a certain way and I can easily transit them into new designs. Actually in Istanbul there is a great vintage flee marked, and last time I was there, I found the most amazing original crocodile bag from the 1950’s. I go there with the creative owner of the small factory where all Decadent bags are produced. Everything I know about bag production I have learned from him. Although we do not speck the same language or can communicate in English, it has never been an obstacle for our collaboration.
I am also very much inspired by the great Danish interior design tradition, something about the simplicity and useful approach the great designers put into their designs inspire me. I always have those thoughts when I am in the design process. Does a certain bag have the right purpose and stylistic Scandi-look that we are aiming at? That is the key to all of my designs.”
Q – When it comes to manufacturing, DECADENT works with a very close circle of suppliers and craftsmen and women in Turkey. All of your bags are produced by a family-owned fabricator with over 40 years of expertise in high-quality leather crafting. Do you think that this close brand-supplier relationship has contributed to the success of DECADENT? I can imagine there’s an invaluable amount of trust there!
“Yes it has, that is for sure. I could not have done it with out them. I love them like family and I trust them. I will stay with them as long as possible. They believed in me from the beginning and gave my big advantages in the production allowing many colors and styles although my orders did not meet the necessary level for a production. They have assisted with their highly treasured skills to develop Decadents quality level to what it is today.”
Q – With timeless design, centralized manufacturing, and minimal packaging all attributes of the brand, DECADENT is already working with quite a sustainable mindset. Looking forward, do you see other opportunities to minimize your environmental impact – using chrome-free leathers for example?
“Yes we have a very sustainable mindset. That mindset was actually also a reason to start the company. I knew that I would not make production in the Far East and it is a mindset that has not changed since the beginning. I only wanted to make long lasting products that does not come from the other side of the world. I believe our production is environmental friendly, we have very high demands for the production in every aspect, for the people who fabricate, the leather from the animals that we use and also the impact we have on the environment. Can we do it even better; yes we can and we are on a path to do. Everything is a process and we do believe that Decadent in the nearby future will do parts of the collection with chrome-free leathers. This is an aria that is top of mind, and the suppliers are also now much better in delivering a nice product without chrome, this was not the case years ago.”
Q – Next year, DECADENT will be celebrating its 15th anniversary! I’m sure reaching this milestone is both gratifying and emotional – what accomplishments are you most proud of?
“I am most proud of that Decadent is still here and the brand status we have build. I am proud of my coworkers, suppliers and business partners, and what we together have accomplished. We are a very dedicated team and I love the process we are in. We work really hard and focus on still keeping Decadent marked relevant now running on its 15th year, as you know the fashion industry is really a tough business these days. Many of the companies that started out around the same time as I did, are not here anymore, this is a fact. We have a strong believe in the path we are on, and look forward to what the future will bring of different adventures.”
This post was written in collaboration with DECADENT Copenhagen
Featuring the Nadia Crossover in Black Croco
Ad / Gifted Product
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