Discover Germany | Design | AVRILLO and BREUL lefties’ finest
A woman’s solution Without any professional experience Sandra Leibner designed a bag unlike any other. She called it AVRILLO and has since developed a substantial collection of high-quality leatherwear and accessories. TEXT: THOMAS SCHROERS I PHOTOS: IHR FOTOGRAF – MATTHIAS STROHMEYER
When Sandra Leibner first sat down at her sewing machine, she took her own search for the perfect bag one step further. When she did not find a bag on the market that lasts and does not need to be constantly repacked, she created it herself. To do so, she taught herself how to design and sew from scratch. Out of this process emerged AVRILLO, a bag within a bag, ready for all occasions at all times. Since 2011 the initial AVRILLO has turned into a versatile collection of products. Spearheaded by the SPORTIVO bag,
the company offers a complete package of complementary leatherwear including a shopper bag and various accessories. Currently a new belt line is in the development stages and will be available soon. Made in Germany, the products are manufactured out of cowhide and salmon leather. As the latter is relatively unknown to many, AVRILLO is visiting fairs where customers can experience the material first hand. For Sandra Leibner customer contact is essential. After all she was a customer herself when she first started.
Often she hears people say: “Only a woman could have done that.” A delightful response for someone who just wanted to find the perfect bag. www.avrillo.de Top: SPORTIVO Night-Fever Top Left: Bracelet YARA cherry
Following life’s natural flow Making society aware of the hardships that left-handers endure is not only an exciting professional challenge, but also a beloved hobby for Susanne Breul. With BREUL lefties’ finest, she has created a line of products that improve the daily life of left-handed people. TEXT: THOMAS SCHROERS I PHOTOS: SUSANNE BREUL, DETLEF OVERMANN, HERBERT OHGE
In many ways BREUL lefties’ finest is the convergence of various experiences and interests Susanne Breul has had for a long time. Early on, she was entranced by “the smell of leather, [and] the sound of the treadle” in her grandad’s shoemaker shop. Later she studied physics and architecture and discovered that, being naturally left-handed, working and living would be far easier for her, when done with her strong hand. 16 | Issue 37 | April 2016
BREUL lefties’ finest blurs the lines of her architectural background and the field of design. The mock up for the brand’s first product, a leather wallet, was made by Susanne herself. Natural left-handedness stipulates that the coin pocket of the wallet is on the left side. With the wallet, as well as a leather handbag, BREUL lefties’ finest follows a simple, clear approach to design. Therefore, the bag does not need a zipper and its original Allgaeu leather gives it a charming feel. A larger version of the bag will soon be introduced. Susanne Breul is certain that there is more innovation to come. Whether it will be a left-handed camera or an in-
Left: BREUL Wallet – Copyright Detlef Overmann. Below: BREUL bag No. 1 – Copyright Susanne Breul. Right: Susanne Breul – Copyright Herbert Ohge.
versely used notebook, the important aspect is that, from design to final product, everything follows life’s natural flow. www.breul-lefties-finest.com