Let’s Talk. Lea founder of Arkitaip
Where do you call home?
Hi, I’m originally from Vienna, Austria and used to live in London for the past 5 years and am soon I’m moving to Lisbon. So exciting times!
Where did the idea behind Arkitaip come from?
Everything started with my mum’s incredible handcrafting skills. Watching her crochet with enormous precision and passion has opened my eyes to what truly goes into making clothing. When I saw crochet tops sold for next to nothing on the high street, I realised that something simply didn’t add up. As a journalist at heart, I started researching. Learning about the detrimental effects the fashion industry has on the environment and the people making them, sparked the idea to create ethically- and responsibly-made wardrobe staples that are kind to the skin & our planet. And arkitaip was born!
A mother and daughter working relationship must feel pretty special but also have it’s difficulties. Do you have specific roles within the business?
I’m not going to lie, it can get difficult at times when our ideas of something clash but because our tasks are split pretty strictly and it’s been pretty smooth sailing so far :) My mum takes care of the crochet-part and helps out with customer service, admin-things and sales at pop-ups, whereas I take care of the linen range, photography, website-stuff, etc.
What did you do before Arkitaip?
I was working as a content writer and in marketing - which I’m actually still doing as a freelancer up to this day.
How does it make you feel when you are in flow and being creative? And when I say creative I am referring to drawing, painting, designing, cooking, writing, dancing or any type of creativity really?
I just simply love this satisfying feeling of losing track of time.
Who is your biggest influence?
When it comes to fashion, definitely my Grandmother - she used to look immaculate (and super fashionable!) at all times while emanating that laidback vibe that I wish to convey with arkitaip.
Where is it that you feel most inspired and what are your biggest inspirations?
My inspiration always ebbs and flows, regardless of a specific location or routine. So, what I’m trying to get good at is to be okay with not always feeling inspired. So, sometimes, I simply sit with that feeling of being uninspired and instead focus on more administrative tasks and quite often I find that ‘spark’ coming back on its own.
I look up to people who have managed to stay resilient and pushed through even when things got tough - so, sometimes, it’s my Dad that inspires me, sometimes a close friend and at other times someone I stumble upon on a podcast.
What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?
There’s still a lot that I want to achieve, however, I’m proud and grateful to do what I love most every single day.
Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own business?
Don’t think too much about it but simply do it.
Do you find it easy to separate your work and personal life?
When working on something that is so close to your heart, I find it almost impossible to separate the two, however, I try to set myself some boundaries by sticking to ‘normal’ working hours and strive for a good work-life balance by spending time with friends and family, doing sports, and exploring new places.
Can you tell us where your favourite place in the world is and why?
I don’t have one particular place in mind, however, when I think about where I’m at my happiest it’s definitely in nature - whether that’s in the mountains or at the beach.
Do you have a favourite quote?
I recently stumbled upon this quote by Yung Pueblo and found it super beautiful.
What is next for Arkitaip?
After quite a rock-and-roll-year, if not to say two, I’m grateful that we made it through the worst and am excited for what’s to come in the next few months … that means, focusing on our mission to create staple pieces that are made to last and to further push towards a more conscious world :) In the near future, we want to look into the ‘afterlife’ of our pieces and would love to help our customers repair, resell, and recycle their clothing. Ultimately, we want to move to a circular business model to help protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
“Maturity is knowing that when your mood is down you should not trust the way you see yourself.”