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Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can't live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you are passionate about. Traveling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes, and the beauty of the adventurous unknown – for a designer, traveling is essential It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom's fabrics, creating patterns, and making clothes for my dolls and myself, I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! Many years later, when I dusted off my mom's wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. For over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art and developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art, and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser-known designers than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names. 

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French, Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples, and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I've been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

1. Kasia left her hometown because it was a chance for her __________

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can't live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you are passionate about. Traveling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes, and the beauty of the adventurous unknown – for a designer, traveling is essential It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom's fabrics, creating patterns, and making clothes for my dolls and myself, I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! Many years later, when I dusted off my mom's wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. For over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art and developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art, and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser-known designers than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names. 

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French, Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples, and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I've been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

2. Kasia first found an interest in fashion and design when she _________.

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can't live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you are passionate about. Traveling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes, and the beauty of the adventurous unknown – for a designer, traveling is essential It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom's fabrics, creating patterns, and making clothes for my dolls and myself, I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! Many years later, when I dusted off my mom's wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. For over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art and developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art, and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser-known designers than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names. 

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French, Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples, and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I've been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

3. Before becoming a handbag designer Kasia __________.

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can't live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you are passionate about. Traveling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes, and the beauty of the adventurous unknown – for a designer, traveling is essential It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom's fabrics, creating patterns, and making clothes for my dolls and myself, I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! Many years later, when I dusted off my mom's wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. For over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art and developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art, and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser-known designers than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names. 

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French, Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples, and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I've been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

4. What did Kasia learn about the fashion business in France?_____

Kasia Dietz: New Yorker Turned Parisian Handbag Designer

You can't live in one place your entire life and expect to gain anything valuable enough to incorporate it into what you are passionate about. Traveling broadens your perspective on the world around you. The culture, the tastes, smells, the diverse groups of people, landscapes, and the beauty of the adventurous unknown – for a designer, traveling is essential It was what led me away from my hometown into the arms of Paris.

The daughter of an interior designer I grew up around textiles. Since I was a child I would spend hours playing with my mom's fabrics, creating patterns, and making clothes for my dolls and myself, I remember so well the feeling of creating something of my own and wearing it with pride! Many years later, when I dusted off my mom's wooden prints that she had used for T-shirts, I created the idea of wearable art in the form of bags.

My creative and business background led me to pursue an advertising career as a Print Producer in New York. For over a decade, I worked with many talented photographers and illustrators, learning much about the world of commercial art and developing an eye for composition. So I moved to Paris with my love of fashion, art, and design and began my handbag business.

Aside from making me stronger and more flexible, Paris has taught me a lot about doing business in France, where quality outranks quantity. The French are much less prone to buy from a lesser-known designers than Americans are, posing a challenge when trying to build a brand in a country dominated by big names. 

One of my greatest initial challenges was finding a manufacturer. I barely had any contacts in Paris and spoke little French, Determined, I bought a sewing machine, got to work on my samples, and asked anyone I could for local production leads. One of my fabric suppliers provided the name of a manufacturer, et voila! I've been working with him, producing locally in Paris, ever since.

5. What problem did Kasia have setting up her business in Paris?