First of all please can you introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about LPOL and how the brand came about?

I am Katy, Founder & Creative Director of LPOL (Lost Property of London). I work with my business partner and husband, John, Co-Founder & Brand Director.

LPOL is an independent British design brand specialising in made-to-last leather (and upcycled) handbags, totes, rucksacks, and accessories. We are passionately committed to considered design, responsible material sourcing, the employment of local craft skills and zero-waste methods. Our design studio is located in East Sussex and our collections are made by hand in dedicated London and Kent workshops by local, skilled artisans. We are proud to design and craft bags to be worn by design-conscious and environmentally aware shoppers around the World.

The brand came about quite organically after passing the same bundle of surplus coffee sacks every day dumped outside a coffee shop in Borough Market…and thinking someone should create something with them. I can’t quite remember how many days had passed when I realised I was that someone.

After graduating from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design I had been working as a designer spanning across both the world of fashion and interiors (designing for Calvin Klein, Liberty of London, Crate and Barrell NY, Helen Green) and then for a hugely inspiring set designer. It was only after I took on a new role tutoring students that I found some time to work on my own design ideas.

Looking back, those experiences were inspirational to my decision to set up my own brand. And I suppose I felt a certain amount of rising restlessness, born out of a creative frustration/desire to create something out of already existing material, and creatively to carve my own path. 

Can you run us through a day in the life of LPOL?

Our focus every day, is trying to strike the balance between admin and design and business development projects. Making sure to allow time for lunch and some fresh air in between. If we’re on top of current projects, one day (or half day) in the week is freed up for an inspiration trip to a new art/design/architecture exhibition, or meeting up with fellow designers to talk through business challenges and collaboration ideas. We’re always keen to embrace our natural rhythms, to allow thoughts and processes to unfold – this is where inspiration more often hits, and is one of the great joys of running your own brand.

What does sustainability mean to you and why is it so important?

We prefer to speak about responsibility over sustainability. This is an important distinction for us, making it more grounded to our decisions and actions. Sustainability has become a little abstracted and diluted through wider marketing, press and politics. And, as a consequence, emotionally distanced. Responsibility pulls it back to us, grounds it in the brand and is a lens through which we pass our design, manufacturing, material sourcing and employment decisions. It constantly challenges us, which is exactly how it should be. 

What is the best thing about working in the sustainable fashion industry? 

We are seeing some meaningful behaviour change happening. Customers are interrogating their purchase decisions. Challenging themselves to buy fewer higher quality items. This gradual, subtle shift in mindset is rewarding for us to see as a brand and as an industry. So, our job has to be to design long-lasting products, whilst simultaneously educating customers on how, why and where things are made, and the impact they have on people and planet. 

What is the best thing about working with your spouse and any challenges that go with it? 

We are very fortunate, in that John and I click creatively. However, sometimes the drawback to that is we often fall into similar work styles and patterns. Our comfort zones look and feel more fluid, spontaneous, organic. It’s in our creative nature. So, we each in turn have to actively bring the structure when needed, so we’re not drowning in emails by the end of each week.

You've moved from London out to the countryside like so many others in the past few years - how has the transition been - any learnings?

Our move felt like a natural step for us as we both grew up here, so we felt well prepped mentally for the shift in lifestyle. But we knew we were leaving a dynamic and cultural London life, and a home that we loved. You soon realise how many emotional ties you have to a building, and a home, when you prepare to leave it; it was the place we lived when we started our business venture, when we got married and when our son was born.

Any recent discoveries - food, culture, fashion, lifestyle - could be anything - that you'd like to share?

We’re in East Sussex, and we’re surrounded by amazing vineyards, farms, restaurants and wonderful period and contemporary architecture. So we’re definitely feeling creatively inspired. We recently went to Knepp Wilding in West Sussex, which is an impressive conservation and rewilding project. They have just opened a café and restaurant. We also love Water Lane in Hawkhurst – a revived Victorian walled garden with a restaurant and gift shop - I highly recommended. Another favourite is Charleston House, (they have also just opened a new space in Lewes). Lewes is also worth a trip for antiques alone, as is Hastings. The Towner Eastbourne for more creative and cultural fixes! And Rye for beautiful independent boutiques and a beach walk.

Water Lane, Hawkhurst 

Hopes for the future - personal, as a brand and for humanity in general?

Personally, we are working on doing more practical projects – freeing up more time to draw, paint and build. We aspire to do more adventure-based travelling as a family, there’s a big old world out there waiting to be explored.

As a brand, we want to evolve our storytelling, increase our collection and grow the business internationally.

Humanity has the ability to leave a good legacy...