DUOStyle
Best friends Jenny (left) and Dianti have joined forces to design quality leather bags.
Made To Last X NIHILO leather bags only launched in September but they’re already turning heads. The label is the brainchild of best friends Dianti Wulandari and Jenny Hsieh, who are based in Melbourne.
Why did you choose to focus on bags? JENNY: After the experience of working in apparel, footwear and accessories, I was frustrated with the idea of fast fashion as it is against the lifestyle I was living, which is minimalist. We did our research and found luxury bags have a longer ‘wardrobe’ life, making it sensible to invest in premium materials. DIANTI: We make sure our bags are versatile enough to be worn with different outfits and for many occasions. We’re very pleased that top-tier influencers have genuinely aligned themselves with our brand, resulting in organic growth over a short amount of time. Why did you decide on X NIHILO as the label name? JENNY: X NIHILO – short for Ex Nihilo – is a Latin phrase that means ‘creation out of nothing’. It signifies how we’ve come together creating this brand from 0% through the process of finding what we value in life.
See some of the latest X NIHILO collection on the next page >
Tell us about your first collection? DIANTI: What we offer is a range of visually refined bags that will suit strong women with different personalities. JENNY: Being able to build everything from the ground up and seeing our bag babies come to life has been extremely rewarding.
Whose idea was it to start the label? JENNY: We met during our time studying Master of Fashion at RMIT and really bonded when we spent three months on an exchange program in France. My father always encouraged me to start my own business one day and who better to start a business with than the smartest girl I know, right?! What strengths do each of you bring to the collaboration? DIANTI: Jenny had all the technical background required, as well as the industry knowledge. I brought the business acumen needed to build a sustainable venture, which I’ve found is sometimes lacking in creative start-ups. What are your hopes for the label? DIANTI: We are pouring our effort, love and passion wholeheartedly into this brand. We’re strong believers that you can achieve anything if you put your mind into it. Our vision for X Nihilo stretches beyond bottom line profit – we aim to inspire and empower women. JENNY: Always believe in your inner voice and never doubt your abilities to achieve your dreams. Beginning with investing in yourself is one of the best return on investments you can have. For more info, visit www.xnihilo.com.au
DUOMagazine December 2016
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