#NicaTravels: Nica Kim Soaks up the Minimal Style of Copenhagen

Last week I jetted away from rainy London to the beautiful Copenhagen to derive a little design inspiration, as you've guessed it, I'm already planning a new season collection! 

Copenhagen is renowned for its cool minimalistic aesthetic, so I thought that there’d be no better of a location to hit than Denmark’s stylish capital to soak up some of its Scandi-cool influences. This time around my denim Ava grab was my travel companion of choice.

 

Thanks to its clean, simple lines Danish architecture boasts a classic appeal that never seems to go out of style, and for me, simply admiring the architecture in different countries triggers the design process.

It was also really interesting to see that Copenhagen’s cityscape is made up of by 4-6 story high buildings rather than the glass skyscrapers which dominate most other capital’s. That’s definitely not to say that it’s lacking in contemporary architecture, though.  

If you love seafood, then Copenhagen is the place for you. It was actually founded thanks to the abundance of fish that the Øresund provides, and you can enjoy its fresh local produce all over Copenhagen, from Michelin star restaurants to quick street food eats.

Opportunities to shop are a plenty too. Not only did I hit the many Danish clothing boutiques but I also seized the opportunity to check out the homeware shops, as goods in these kinds of places are often the most inspiring for my own designs. 

The Danish seem to have such a relaxed way of life that I think London could learn a lot from, and who doesn’t like a country that values enjoying life so much. This ice cream van definitely twisted my arm into having one.

Where have you been travelling with your Nica handbags lately? Don’t forget to tag your photos with #MyNica @nicahandbags on Instagram as I’d love to see.

Love Nica Kim
- X - 

#NicaTravels: Nica Heads to Sardinia with the Laila Tote

As designing another new season collection came to an end, I seized the opportunity to grab a week’s holiday in the beautiful Sardinina, the second largest island in the Mediterranean sea which of course belongs to Italy. 

I rented a picturesque cottage amidst the backdrop of glorious blooms that was just a stone’s throw away from the clear waters of the sea and its pebbly beach. A selfie in such a beautiful location is always a must!  

Even though relaxation was the main thing on my holiday agenda, I can’t help but use the occasion to soak up a little more design inspiration for future collections. Especially when I'm surrounded by the beautiful countryside and rural Italian architecture. Even the crazy paving of the floor caught my eye.     

The perk of being a handbag designer is that you’re never without a new bag. My wardrobes may be overflowing with handbags and purses but at least I’m always spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the perfect travel companion.

This time around, I opted for my gorgeous new season statement boho tote, Laila. It’s finished with a blue frame design that was inspired by some tiling that I found upon a Greek getaway last year, which wouldn’t at all look out of place in Sardinia either.

The Laila tote is made from synthetic material which means that it also makes just a great of a beach buddy as it does a shopping companion. My beach bag essentials always include a sketch pad and watercolours as there’s nothing more relaxing than painting the beautiful surrounding scenery as you’re lay upon the beach.

Where are you taking your #MyNica bags on holiday this year? Drop me a comment below or tweet me @Nica_Handbags as I’m always looking for new travel inspiration – who knows, maybe your suggestions will inspire my next collection.   

Love, 

Nica Kim 

- x - 

Nica Kim Talks about her New Collection

I'm so excited to announce the launch of another new season collection, and I'm eager to hear which your favourite styles are. This time around, I've refreshed and refined my designs to create an original yet modern feeling range of styles. 

From the bags’ designs to the campaign shoot, I wanted this collection to be all about those clean lines and finishes. Here I am on the set of our campaign shoot explaining my vision with the help of one of my famous mood boards.

Just like a little magpie, I'm constantly collecting my favourite things, and I made this mood board from my favourite magazines… A little tip, never read a magazine after me unless you enjoy only being able to read half of the stories!  

My travels play a huge part in designing my collections but when I’m stuck in less of an exotic location, the design office on a rainy London afternoon and lacking inspiration I head over to Pinterest. It’s great knowing that tropical beaches and inspiring blooms are only a pin away. 

If you’re looking for holiday statement bags then you’ll love my new collection. One of my favourite pieces is the Laila tote which was initially inspired by my Sicilian travels at the beginning of the design process but turned into a piece that shouts Primrose Hill meets Coachella. 

It’s definitely the perfect collection for the woman who loves to wear a trend yet still likes to be a little bit unique.

You can check out the full range here and if you've already taken a peek, please let me know which your favourite pieces are by dropping a comment below or tweeting me @nica_handbags. That way, I can create lots more of the styles that you love!

Love Nica Kim

- x - 

Discover our Zesty SS 15 Inspirations

The sun is finally out which means that it’s officially time to embrace those brights and playful prints. Zesty tones are the perfect palette for brightening up your wardrobes, and there’s something about a pop of colour that always makes you smile even if it does decide to rain!

We’re trending towards lemon for SS 15 with pieces like our Isla tote. Discover some of the different kinds of lemony goodness that have been inspiring Nica’s latest designs. 

Lemon Travels  

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Our senior designer Nica Kim’s travels always play a massive part in her design inspiration, and this time around, you’ve guest it, her travels took her over to Italy where she soaked up its beautiful scenery and all of its lemon tree splendour!

Lemon Cocktails 

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When life gives your lemons, splash in a bit of gin and join the cocktail train! No sunny getaway is complete without soaking up a few cocktails, and one of our favourites is frozen lemonade gin cocktails. 

Simply mix together one cup of your favourite lemonade with half a cup of gin, pour inside a container and place inside your freezer until almost frozen. Et voilà! A refreshing drink to be enjoyed in the sunshine. 

Lemon Treats

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If like us you’ve completely overindulged with the chocolate at Easter but you’re still craving something bad, grab your oven mitts and try out some poppy seed bread. It’s still a bit of a naughty snack but its lemon infusion will have you feeling much more refreshed than any slab of chocolate cake ever would. Plus, there are plenty of easy recipes readily available online. Here’s a great one that we’ve found. 

Loving our lemony influences? Which trends are you most looking forward to for spring? Why not drop us a comment below? As we’d love to hear… maybe it’ll even inspire our own future designs! 

Discover Nica's Design Inspiration: Shopping in Seoul

Fashion Week may have only just ended but guess what? I’m already thinking about A/W 15! That may seem like a long way away at the moment but that’s how far ahead we have to work to ensure you have the latest styles on time.

So, to inspire my A/W 15 collection, I recently headed to Seoul and hit the fashion Mecca which is the Dongdaemun district. Have you ever seen their iconic DDP art building in the middle of the shops? - It's the biggest 3 dimensional atypical structure of its kind in the world and  really brings the district to life. 

As you know, Seoul is a big trend-setter in the fashion world, and Dongdaemun boasts all different kinds of fabrics, clothes, and accessories that you could ever imagine – with a wholesale focus but things are also available at retail prices. 

So, I hit the numerous stores to see which trends are bubbling up, which involves everything from looking at the overall style of the finished products to the fabrics that they are made of. 

I find looking at different fusions of fabrics really inspiring, just like the outfit below, as it triggers lots of possibilities for my own future designs. 

By now, you know that creating unique Nica prints is something that I love to do, and so, I love to see what others are creating too. I took plenty of photos of printed fabric that I loved, and I've filed them in my development book for when I get back to London. 

What do you think of my new outfit that I picked up in Seoul? I also spend quite a lot of time buying inspiration samples to bring back too, and I couldn't help trying some on! 

It was a really good trip and I’m feeling very inspired. What trends are you most looking forward to seeing for A/W 15? Drop me a comment below or tweet me @Nica_Handbags on Twitter. 

Love Nica

- x - 

Nica's Design Inspirations: Explore My Favourite Vintage Influences

This week, I wanted to share with you one of my favourite vintage stores in London, The Shop in East London (3 Cheshire Street to be exact!). It’s one of my favourite ever places to snap up a great thrifty find, and believe it or not, it’s also acted as a source of inspiration for my own designs in the past too!  

It's filled with a selection of not only vintage clothing and accessories but also a great range of textiles too. One of my favourite finds there, was a beautiful silk scarf. It always has a great choice of scarves to choose from, and their prints have often inspired my own print designs too. 

I love to infuse my designs with a vintage feel and not just be driven by the mainstream trends, and although some of my designs may not look overtly vintage, some of them have been influenced by vintage elements without you even realising! On the other hand, clearly vintage inspired pieces such as my Darcia Doctor's bag remind me of my days spent rummaging around my favourite vintage hotspots.   

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Where's your favourite spot for picking up a great vintage find? Why not drop me a comment below or get in touch @Nica_Handbags on Twitter? I may even visit it for myself! 

Love Nica,

- x - 

Nica's Design Inspiration: The Scarlet Collection

As you know, I love to travel around the UK or further afield abroad, and a lot of my handbag designs are influenced by this. Anything can inspire a new design, and whilst creating our S/S 14 collection, I found myself admiring the beautiful architecture of Bath. 

Its cathedral and Roman baths are defined by its intricate design detailing are yet another source that set me upon a quest to capture something similar upon my own handbag designs this season. 

Bath is such an inspiring place to visit with a clearly rich heritage that you just can't help but soak up. After wandering around its sites, I seized the opportunity to sample one of its traditional Bath buns too. It was yummy!

Another great source of modern design inspiration is Pinterest. I can spend hours pinning my favourite things and then suddenly be inspired to create a new design myself. With intricate detailing in mind, I also spent a couple of hours researching the laser cut effect on Pinterest, which included looking how other designers had interpreted this technique within their designs.  

Images Via Pinterest 

My Scarlet collection is defined by its laser cut detailing, and its cute bee hardware is of course one of my key traits this season too. What do you think of the collection? Do you have a favourite piece yet? 

If you enjoy gaining a little insider knowledge about NICA, then, be sure to follow my blog, or Instagram to see our latest sneak peeks! 

Love Nica, 

- x - 

Nica's Design Inspirations: A Trip to Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum is somewhere that I've wanted to visit for quite a while, and I recently got the chance to spend the afternoon there. If you’re not familiar with the London based museum, it was once the home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic Lord Leighton. 

He built the entire house for his own artistic delight, so, as you can imagine, the entire building is feast for the eyes. The most famous, and arguably, its most spectacular room is known as Arab Hall, and he decorated it with his own collection of around 1000 tiles that he gathered from all around the world, including Syria, Turkey, and Persia.

It's really interesting looking at tiles from different places and getting a feel for the different styles and tastes within each country. They are often a great source of inspiration for my own print designs too. So, if you're currently designing your own prints, I really recommend that you take a look at some beautiful tiles for a spot of inspiration! 

Have you visited any inspiring art museums lately? Share your tips or photos with me @Nica_Handbags on Twitter or @nicahandbags on Instagram, and I may pop along and take a look for myself. 

Discover Nica's Design Inspirations: The Mandy Collection

As you know, I travel a lot, and it’s always interesting to delve into the history of different cultures by simply enjoying its architecture. All countries are a mixture of buildings that have been created at different points in time, reflecting its different changing styles, tastes and social statuses throughout the decades. 

A street in Cologne featuring buildings from different eras side by side.

For a Designer, this is really inspiring to see. A little earlier last year, I spent some time in Cologne, Germany which has some streets lined with houses from different eras yet standing side by side. It was really amazing to see, and I learnt that this was a result of severe bombing during the World War. Financial restraints led to the slow re-building over the years in which time building styles continuously changed!  

Ornate doors and windows

What may seem like the most unusual of things can trigger an idea that leads to a new design. Whilst creating the Mandy collection, I was inspired by all things old and ornate, and in particular, beautiful doors and window frames. I took this concept of intricate detailing as to develop its fun design. 

As it’s the beginning of a new year, I'm starting to plan which places I’d like to visit this year, why not inspire my travels by sharing some photos of your favourite places to holiday @Nica_Handbags on Twitter or @nicahandbags on Instagram? It may even inspire a visit and my next handbag design!

Love, Nica

x  x  x  

Nica Inspiration: A Trip to the Beautiful Wisley Gardens

by Nica Kim

By now, it’s no secret that my designs are heavily influenced by nature, and I love nothing more than heading out and about to beautiful locations and deriving some botanical design inspiration.

Last weekend, I popped along to Wisley gardens, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. It’s described as a world-class garden, and it really didn't disappoint. It’s filled with an array of beautiful plants, and everything is labelled so that you know exactly what you’re looking at. 

It features a state of the art glass house with three climatic zones replicating tropical, moist, and dry temperatures, and so, as you can imagine, it’s home to an amazing collection of plants from all around the world. 

Look at the beautiful print upon these leaves. It could easily influence a print or even a pretty charm. 

And can you see the cheeky face like detail upon the petals of these flowers? I just had to share them with you!  

One of my favourite things about this time of the year, are all of the beautiful autumnal tones that nature has to offer. The warm, rich reds and browns that are synonymous with autumn time can inspire the prettiest of handbags. 

Do you have a favourite public gardens to visit? Why not share your recommendations or even photos with us by tagging @Nica_Handbags on Twitter or @nicahandbags on Instagram. 

Love,

Nica Kim x