WHAT'S THE STORY
Beautiful colours, modernity, and refined details are the hallmarks of bags by Les Visionnaires.
LES VISIONNAIRES
PIONEERING SPIRIT Bags and accessories by Les Visionnaires are still relatively new on the market. The driving force behind the brand is Liebeskind co-founder Semih Simsek. After the online B2C soft launch last spring, the label is now venturing into the traditional retail sector with the support of sales agencies.
to reconcile fashion and lifestyle with the important issues of our time. This is a matter close to our hearts, and we have consistently manifested all these aspects from the very beginning with the aim of expanding them further,” Simsek explains.
Text: Kay Alexander Plonka. Photos: Les Visionnaires
The desire to work creatively with leather has gripped him yet again: Semih Simsek, who has already enjoyed success as Liebeskind co-founder, is back in the game. He has set up a design studio for Les Visionnaires in Paris, while the production team manages the manufacturing process from the Chinese metropolitan region of Guangzhou. The leather is sourced from South America, New Zealand, and Europe. “We attach great importance to transparency and have been CO2 neutral from the outset. In the ‘We take care’ section of our website, we provide detailed information on our social commitment and our production standards, because we want 168
style in progress
THE RECIPE
Les Visionnaires’ prices fall within the accessible luxury segment: quality products at comprehensible prices. Retail prices range from 150 Euros at entry-level to 250 Euros at the top end, meaning the core retail price is defined at 200 Euros. Wallets and belts retail at prices between 50 and 60 Euros. The collection of 30 styles is very compact. “We want Les Visionnaires to accompany our customers throughout the day: at work, at sports, and in the evening – always with the right look and feel, as well as the correct interpretation of Basic and Fashion for the appropriate moment,” says Simsek. The range of silhouettes includes fashion trends,
such as pleated pillow bags made of soft lamb nappa leather, as well as timeless basics, such as large totes, classic shoulder and camera bags, and elegant clutches, which are accentuated with unconventional details such as contrast stitching or colour-contrasting linings. There is usually a choice of 6 to 7 colours per model, resulting in up to 12 variants including different leather finishes. The aim is to increase brand awareness gradually by expanding sales and stepping up marketing efforts. A soft launch was carried out via Instagram and the company‘s own website, which primarily served to establish social media presence and initiate contact with consumers. Now, in the second season, the focus is on expanding the B2B segment. In Germany and Switzerland, Les Visionnaires is represented by sales agency Ben And. Austria is covered by Hans-Peter Grossbötzl of Scorpio Fashion. Once this first step has been completed, the next season will be dedicated to European exports.
