Fall in "Love" with Mariasole Cecchi

Mariasole Cecchi looked around at all the fashionable women of Paris and couldn’t help but notice they all had the same black Chanel handbag. The bag, no doubt beautiful in its simplistic elegance, somehow left her wanting. One day, in an attempt to liven up her accessory a little, Mariasole grabbed some legos—like the ones your niece and nephew have—and glued them onto her handbag, writing “Love” in big block letters. She wore her new creation out that evening and it caused an instant stir.

Mariasole then began designing bags for friends and family, before eventually leaving Europe for Brazil. It was in Brazil where her bags really began to take off. In no time, her bags were in the highest of demand from the most influential actresses and models, and it wasn’t long before Mariasole became a fashion icon in her own right. She’s been featured in the pages of Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar.

In 2013, Mariasole returned to her native Florence, where she teamed up with her brother, Andrea Cecchi, to launch the first official collection of her brand Les Petits Joueurs. The same year, Mariasole won the Vogue Talents competition for emerging designers. Since then, the star of LPJ has only continued to rise. In 2016, she was elected by the Business of Fashion as one of the 500 most influential people in the fashion industry. Her designs are now available in 145 countries and line the shelves of some of the world’s most prestigious stores including Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Browns, Luisa Via Roma, and 10 Corso Como.

We recently caught up with Mariasole to hear more about her luxury brand on the rise and find out where she gets the inspiration for her eye-catching designs.

RYAN KILLIAN KRAUSE: You’ve described your career as a “fashion experiment gone wrong.” What does that mean?

MARIASOLE CECCHI: It’s more of a ‘fashion experiment gone right.” I played with Lego bricks and placed them on an old purse – doing this kickstarted my career. From there I launched my brand. This experiment put me where I am today.

RKK: The LOVE bag is the one that really got you attention at first. What was the inspiration for that bag?

MC: Back in my twenties, I was living in Paris and all the girls at that time were wearing the same black Chanel bag. I got bored of everyone wearing the same type of accessories and decided to customize an old bag I had at home by gluing Lego bricks onto it saying ‘Love.’ I wore it out that evening and people were stopping me on the street. I really wanted to create something unique, which rings true today. I want the people who wear Les Petits Joueurs to stand out.

RKK: Your designs have clear pop culture references. Can you describe the impact that popular culture has had on you as a designer and how that translates into your designs? 

MC: I take in inspiration from everything around me. At Les Petits Joueurs’ inception, I was really inspired by pop culture and modern art. This inspired all of the colorful and bold designs. Today, I am still inspired by pop culture and modern art, along with other art forms, people, different cultures, and other centuries. I believe that creative design is really an evolution of yourself and yes it does depend on trends, but also your creative feelings in the moments when you’re developing a new collection. I always trust my initial feelings when I’m in that creative process.

RKK: Do you have a partnership with Lego for your bags?

MC: We don’t have a partnership with Lego, however, they’ve always been extremely supportive. They know about our work and love what we do, but we are not endorsed by them. In Les Petits Joueurs’ beginning, they really helped logistically with getting the large amount of Lego bricks we needed.

RKK: You were born in Florence, lived in Paris and did a stint in Sao Paolo. What impacts have these different cultures and the fashions they influence had on your designs?

MC: Traveling and living in different places was definitely the best ‘life school’ I could have. Meeting different people and being surrounded by different cultures, cities and countries really helped me in defining my creative personality.

RKK: I’ve read that you take trips twice a year for business, inspiration, and relaxation. Has there been a place or a culture that inspired you the most?

MC: There have been many trips that have inspired me. I’ve recently gone to Africa and my beloved Brazil. They are both an endless source of inspiration and positive vibes.