Wedesday Indie Artist Fixx with Avril Loreti

Accessories, Contests, Home Decor & Wares, Indie Artist Fixx 57 comments

Avril Loreti is the designer behind the Birkin Bag…no, not the Hermes Birkin Bag, but the I Heart BirkinΒ  tote, which I love a whole hell of a lot more. A Canadian designer, Avril creates modern home decor and accessories with a playful wink and a love for modern design. Her goodies feature both icons of design as well as more ephemeral or fleeting images.Β  I thought she would perfect to interview for the Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx interview series.

Plus Avril has very generously offered up one of her I heart Birkin Totes to one lucky Indie Fixx reader!!

To win, leave a comment on this post with why you need this tote. I will choose one random commenter to win a red I heart Birkin Tote. This giveaway will end August 11th at 11:59 pm EST.

Now onto the interview…

When did you get your start and what made you decide to take the plunge?

I started putting my line up on Etsy about 3 years ago. I was working a full time job and then working on my line during evenings and weekends. The more I actively worked on promoting my business and making new items the more I saw the universe respond to what I was doing. It snowballed from there and then I jumped into running it as a full time business last July. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride, but it’s all mine. That’s the best part about taking the plunge!

Who are 3 of your favorite artists of all times?

My top 3 artists of all time have been the same for years. I always go back to their work to ground myself and get focused, or just to gush over. AndrΓ© KertΓ©sz has the most amazing way of seeing the world through his photographs. Hiroshi Sugimoto’s photography is like an eternity in one image. I can look at them over and over and still find more to look at. Barnett Newman’s minimal abstract paintings are amazing when you’re face to face with them. If you open up to them there’s nothing like it!

mixer bag

What have you recently been reading, watching and listening to?

I’ve been obsessed with this season of True Blood. The series has really found it’s stride. I’ve been listening to the new LCD Soundsystem and Caribou albums regularly this summer. So good to dance to while working in my studio.

What’s your favorite comfort food and why?

Risotto! I make a mean risotto. It’s like the best feeling ever once I’ve finished the 30 minutes of stirring and then pour a couple of bowls of the fluffy-ricey-cheesy-goodness and fall onto the couch with my BF and watch a good movie. It’s so satisfying.

Share something silly about yourself.

I can make a star out of an elastic band. It’s my only party trick.

What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?

Getting my I Heart Birkin Tote on The Today Show a few weeks ago. That just blew my mind!

mustache handerchief

What’s new or in works?

I’m working on some water bottle cozies to snuggle up with over the holidays!

What’s been your favorite piece/design that you’ve ever created and/or your favorite project you ever worked on?

That’s like asking someone to choose their favourite child! I can’t pick which is my fave, because they all satisfy a different aspect of who I am and what I love. But since I just mentioned children, I guess I could say that my favourite piece for my “child within” would have to be my Sprinkles Donut Tote. It’s delicious looking and makes everyone around you salivate for donuts!

birkin napkins

57 comments

  5. Because unless I was actually swapped at birth with the daughter of some titan in the business world I will NEVER be able to afford a real Birkin of my own. Canvass — the next best thing πŸ˜‰

  7. Hey there!
    This is way cute, and to own it would a dream! The only reason I really NEED this precious tote is, well, because who wouldn’t love it?! Jane Birkin would be well pleased πŸ™‚

  10. This tote is a-dor-aaaahh-ble!! Would love to have it and know I would get a lot of use out of it.

  11. I don’t truly need this bag, but I want it so bad I feel silly – like a little girl craving that one perfect doll. Jane Birkin is one of my top fashion idols, and I love how the Birkin bag is a transversal symbol of elegance – this tote would allow me to wear it with a twist; how much better could it ever get?

  13. I need this tote because it’s just so cool! I agree with the other commenter who said it has just the right touch of fabulous-ness. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  15. I NEED this tote, because my school’s starting back up soon and I could really use something this cute and fashionable to carry my things in.

  18. Oh! I need this tote in my life because it’s an ideal combination of quirky and utilitarian. A perfect bag for tossing in some work papers and heading to a meeting. I have the luxury of being allowed to be quirky at work πŸ˜‰

  19. I need this tote because it is super stylish and I have a lot to tote around between work and my kids. I will never have an actual Birkin bag, so it would be great to have a tote with a pic of a Birkin so I can at least dream πŸ™‚

  20. Hi!

    I need this tote to satisfy my “Birkin” need! (which..for financial reasons can’t be established as of now :p

    thanks!

  21. I need this tote because I *love* totes, and because I will never have an actual Birkin bag, so why not have a tote that thinks it’s a Birkin bag instead?! πŸ™‚

  22. I need this tote as a birthday present for a friend. Her birthday’s coming soon, but I still don’t have any ideas of what to buy her, and this tote looks just like the perfect gift!

  23. oh my goodness i need to win this! i see birkins every day on the upper east side of nyc and they are such a tease! they are to die for! this would at least show that i know what the bag is enough to appreciate its design!

    thanks!

    DolphinV27@aol.com

  24. As a future teacher, I know that my passion for kids do not compare to what I’d be making. I can dream of wanting a birkin bag, but this bag is my reality! I can imagine myself carrying this around when I start to student teach next spring! (:

  25. I NEED this tote because I could never afford a real Birkin. This is the closest I can get to it! haha.

    Plus I need a new tote for the upcoming Fall semester. It’ll fit my binder as well as books. I’ll be one stylish college girl. OWWWW! πŸ˜‰ hehehe.

    Thanks for the chance!

  27. I so need this tote because I’ve been coveting it for ever! Plus, I think it’s cooler than the real thing!

  30. I’ve compiled a short list explaining why I need this tote:
    I NEED this bag because I can’t afford a real Birkin and I’d love to lug my stuff around in this “tribute! I’d be jazzing up my local library, farmer’s market, and thrift store just by carrying this baby around!

  32. i neeeed this tote because it would be perfect to hold anything from a laptop to groceries! it’s perfectttt πŸ™‚
    karitsaj at gmail dot com

  33. I need this tote because I’d love Birkin. But considering my budget, that won’t happen anytime soon.

  34. I NEEEEEED this tote because:
    1. I will never be able to afford a real Birkin!
    2. I am always lugging tons of things around, and thus a large tote is a necessity
    3. This tote is great! I love it!

  35. I need this tote because it’s so cute and I can fit a ton of school stuff in it. I love Birkins and this is the next best thing to a real one πŸ˜›

  36. I really need this one “Birkin tote” until I will buy a real Birkin tote for myslef.:-) This one is funny and lovely!

  39. I *need* the tote to carry my shopping in, instead of paying $0.05 for an icky plastic bag each time! And oh wow, I love the Toronto building cocktail napkins, especially OCAD!

  40. Honestly, I need this tote to convince my husband why I need more Birkin. I am positive that once he actually TOUCHES this, he will feel the same as I, and understand completely my need for quite a few more!

  41. Lovely tote <3 I want to win this tote for my friend whose birthday is on 29th of Semtember. Good luck for everyone and thanks for gyveaway!

  43. i need this tote to stuff it full of all those awesome books from the last post that i just have to buy if i don’t win them!!

  44. I NEED this tote to take on my hour and a half commute to work each day, each way. It would make me smile. πŸ™‚

  45. I need this tote because I’d be the envy of my bag-obsessed office! Carrying my library books in style…

  46. I need this tote… because I’m moving to Tampa in about a week and I’m going to embrace my new house with a greener lifestyle. I need a bag to take with me to the huge Farmer’s Market they have in downtown Ybor… I’ve never had the funds to be able to solely support local farms, bakeries, and delis… but now that I do, I need a reusable tote to take with me and carry my purchases in! It’d be the best accessory on hand during my first visit!

  47. I need this tote because I dont think I will EVER be able to afford the HERMES Birkin Bag. That and I love the tote…and your blog…and all the art work that you (and others) offer up for FREE! Amazing! πŸ™‚

  48. I need this tote because it is clever and a true statement of how close I could come/afford to a Birkin bag

  49. soooo many reasons why i need it, but first and foremost to show off to my friends! it’s so cute!!

  51. I’ve been tote hunting forEVER. I’m never quite satisfied, but this definitely is adorable and quite a few cuts above what I’ve seen in the search

  52. Oh sorry πŸ™

    I forgot to write WHY I NEED THAT TOTE.
    Can I try it once more?

    so:

    I really NEED this tote because i really really like that style and i wanna chance my image at school.
    I’m going to a new school and the last years I always was this silent girl. And nobody knows about me. Now I’m going to a creative school and now noone can stop me being indie β™₯

  53. Hello.

    I’d really like to win this tote :]
    It looks very cool. I love that style β™₯

    So I’m pressing my thumbs for me ^-^

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  57. I neeeed this tote because it’s fabulous and what mom doesn’t need a little fabulous-ness?

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