The Sant, the Spanish signature of purses inspired by architecture that triumphs all over the world

Interview in 2017 by Laura Riera, this artisan and sustainable brand stands out for functional and minimalist designs made of leather in Ubrique workshops and inspired by artistic avant -garde.With just four years of life, already sells in stores and on the most important online sales pages in the world

By Sara Hernando

Although when he had to choose career, Laura Riera decided to study the law degree, this Barcelona was always clear that she would work on something related to the world of art and interior design.But fashion crossed its path, and in 2017, after some time going around the project, decides to launch The Sant, a Spanish bag firm in which the design prevails, always minimalist, the quality of materials and craftsof the manufacturing process.“The artisans with whom we work use Centennial Moroccanic work techniques, which have been transmitted from generation to generation, combining tradition with modernity.All our products are made in a totally handmade and manual way with absolute quality.Production is much more expensive, but the processes are transparent and honest, ”she says.

Based in Barcelona and production workshops located in Ubrique, The Sant bets not only to maintain these centenary methods, but also for a slower fashion, away from passing trends, and concerned about the environment, both natural and social. “I think it is very important to contribute to enhance the local industry. Artisans are people committed to the surrounding environment, artisan work is done with rigorous thoroughness and attention to details and the entire production control process. ” His designs, inspired by the artistic avant-garde, but especially in architecture, from Mies van der Rohe to Richard Serra, were selected by Net-à-Porter, thanks to their Instagram account-“they saw the product, they liked it and we They contacted to start our collaboration. As a result of starting our bags there, and thanks to the commercial and marketing actions that were carried out, sales grew because the main clients began to know us and our brand increased notoriety ” -, and from that moment, Buyers kept increasing, from The Browns to Farfetch or Harvey Nichols. Especially in Arab countries, although they are also present in stores in Paris or London.

We talked with Laura Riera, founder and designer of The Sant, about crafts, sustainability and her challenges for the most immediate future.

How and when do you decide to create The Sant?

Four years ago, although before the idea and project was forged in the study of architecture and interior design.From my professional beginnings I have always had the dream of dedicating myself to design and creating a firm that would represent my way of capturing and conceptualizing the message I wanted to convey.The beginnings were possible thanks to a small team full of passion and illusion and with many challenges on the horizon.

Where does the name come from?

When we started the project we still had no name, but it was not the result of reflection but of circumstances.The first atelier where the brand began was in a small town on the outskirts of Barcelona called Sant Just.Sant, in Catalan, means holy.The street where we were located and those around were dedicated to different saints, and also the first Ubrique workshop where we made our first collection was located at the foot of a hill where there is a hermitage.All these coincidences motivated us to give the current name of the brand, wink at our beginnings and roots.

You studied right, how does your love for fashion arise?

Yes, my university studies are a law degree, although I have never exercised as such, but I have dedicated myself to my great passion that is design.With the great luck of being able to work on what I have always liked, I've always been linked to the world of design and art.My beginnings were in the field of interior decoration where I started creating small pieces of leather furniture and it was at that time when the idea of creating an accessories firm began to be forged.

What has been the most complicated to start a project like this?

It has not been an easy project.Like any beginning, the illusion always moves you in a new purpose.We were clear about the objective, a product focused on the crafts of the skin and the leather goods of the artisans of Ubrique, which combine the great traditional values, the union of art and crafts.The creation of contemporary and timeless pieces.But behind each new project there are many hours of work and daily challenges, research, effort and tireless search for exquisite quality.

This Spanish bag firm is created in Barcelona, and the bags are produced in Ubrique.Why did you decide to produce in our country?

I think it is very important to contribute to enhance the local industry.Ubrique is the cradle of leather goods in Spain, known worldwide for its quality level and where large luxury brands make their articles.Artisans use Centennial Moroccanic work techniques that have been transmitted from generation to generation, combining tradition with modernity.Products that are made in a totally handmade and manual way with absolute quality.Production is much more expensive, but processes are transparent and honest.

How important is artisanal work for your firm?

It is one of the differentiating elements of the brand.Obtaining in the process that each piece is different from the others, it is made manually with the experience and expert hands of the best artisans to create beautiful objects and that last in time.Of course, because it is done manually, the preparation of each article is a greater amount of time, since it requires a more thorough job to achieve the final result, which gives them exclusivity.When we talk about crafts, it is inevitable to talk about sustainable design.From The Sant, the entire process is controlled together with the workshop, from the quality and excellence of the selected materials, to the innovation of the designs, adding exclusivity with limited productions.We understand crafts as a middle ground between design and art.

Where to find inspiration when designing bags?

One of the main referents is art, and we capture its influence on all our designs. In each collection we focus on a theme and a creative process based on a new concept. Barcelona, where our creative offices are located, is a cosmopolitan city where different cultures converge, cradle of great artists and architects, without a doubt this facilitates the creativity that has directly influenced us in the collections. The first volume of the collection was inspired by architecture, at the Bauhaus school and the architecture of Richard Serra. The last two volumes of The Sant are inspired by Japan, in all its disciplines and currents, everything that the country has given us in the various trips we have made. Although the theme is very extensive, we also focus on art that is a source of great inspiration in all its disciplines. The last collection is more conceptual and is based on the specific times that we are all living. The contrast of individuality against the collective, how individual actions influence society. The solidarity of our actions, we all depend on everyone.

Why are minimalism and functionality essential in your signature?

The minimalist approach that is one of the conceptual pillars of the brand.Based on the purity of lines, in its most general scope, it is the tendency to reduce the essentials, to strip of leftover elements.The phrase that summarizes the minimalist philosophy is the famous ‘less is more’, attributed to the modern architect Mies van der Rohe, where the structure is reduced to its necessary elements.The minimalist design has been very influenced by traditional Japanese design and architecture.The collections and each of The Sant's pieces transmit the influence of different artistic and cultural movements looking for geometric shapes and pure lines that bring us closer to a minimalist environment.The objective is to create innovative designs by reviewing it from a contemporary point of view.

How would you define the aesthetics of your brand?

All our collections want to highlight the contrast between tradition (artisanal clothing of leather goods) and avant -garde (minimalist designs), both fundamental pillars being.It is characterized by its geometric shapes, its pure lines, the quality and thoroughness in which each of the pieces are worked, spoiled to the maximum in every detail.The chromatic palette, with the white and the background black in all collections, seeks to offer unique pieces and with their own character, differentiating ourselves from the trends of each season, and offering exclusive and original designs.

You are looking for timelessness in your designs, why did you decide to get away from trends?

The Sant's pieces have a clear desire to be timeless, as a classic.Firmly linked to the present, they look for the future and investigate in the past to differentiate themselves from passing trends and thus, remain.

What is luxury for you in 2021?

I think that the real luxury in this century is the enjoyment of family life, nature, quality time with yours in pure environments, enhance those aspects that make you unique.Brands with soul, author proposals that bet on a new luxury based on the human team, crafts that treasure knowledge, proximity production, responsible consumption, quality, recovery of trades and tradition.Defend Slow Fashion as the basis of a fashion philosophy of the future.And the enjoyment of a unique piece.

How important is sustainability in your firm?

Climate change is one of the great challenges of our century and has become one of the main concerns of citizens worldwide.Therefore, it becomes a need that the fashion industry considers the change of its positive business model than every time, fortunately, it is more emerging and habitual.It is everyone's struggle to reduce the environmental impact.From The Sant we are absolutely aware, so we manufacture within our country rigorously controlling that each process is honest.We are very sensitized to these changes, with constant research in new materials and processes.

Your bags are sold in Net-à-Porter, Farfetch, Browns ... How did you get it?

Net-à-Porter selected us through scouting on social networks, more specifically Instagram.They saw the product, they liked them and contacted us to start our collaboration.As a result of selling our bags in Net-à-porter, and thanks to the commercial and marketing actions that were carried out, sales grew because the main clients began to know us and our brand increased notoriety.Our sales have the main markets of Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Emirates.We sell directly from our website and also through retailers such as Lafayette Doha or Harvey Nichols Kuwait galleries.Additionally we are present in several online retailers globally: NAP, Farfetch.And in stores in Paris, London (Browns), Ukraine (Sanahunt), Taiwan, etc.

What complicated or easy do independent firms like yours in the current fashion industry?

The principles of implementation of a brand in the fashion world are always difficult.I consider that the main thing is to publicize the values and transmit confidence to the client about the philosophy and quality of the brand along with a very defined image.

How do you think the success of your brand lies?

The constant work of the entire team, which we maintain the same enthusiasm with which we start this adventure.The search for exquisiteness in all processes.The clear objective in a product focused on the union of art and crafts.The creation of unique, contemporary and timeless pieces.And of course many hours of work being very demanding.

Have you thought about expanding to other categories?

I have never ruled out expanding, since everything related to design attracts me and above all the idea of exploring new artistic fields, although for the moment and by the trajectory of the brand we are very focused on the development of our bag collections, since theMain objective is to consolidate our brand in the globalized world in which we live.And face the new daily challenges of the current situation we are living.

When is your signature?

Fortunately we sell internationally, and every year that passes we have more presence in different countries.

How do you imagine The Sant's future?

Our goal is to continue working with the same illusion as the first day to offer innovative design pieces but at the same time that they can quickly identify with the brand and the values we want to convey.While investigating to offer our clients the best of our work.My desire for the next collections is to continue expanding the Sant in new markets and continue strongly in which we are present.May our customers continue to identify with us, to continue creating that synergy with them and reach new people around the world.