Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - July/August 2020

118 Based in Amsterdam, Smaak has evolved into an international brand, having recently launched into the UK. Here founder Andre Grundmann tells us more about her company EXPANSION Tell me a bit about how the label was started. What was the inspiration? I used to run my own boutique in Amsterdam selling fashion, shoes and bags. After a while I realised that to find really good, stylish handbags was a bigger challenge than I first thought. The handbags on offer were either cheap and nasty or so expensive they were not an option for a small retailer. So, I decided to produce my own collection. How were the initial products developed and what was the response? After two years of solid research into good manufacturers and materials, Smaak saw the light of day in 2010; from day one when the first collection was launched the products have been selling really well. What challenges did you face and how were they overcome when starting the business? Finding the right manufacturers that understood the Smaak concept of affordable luxury was not easy. We were determined to produce bags that would compete Plans