Anupa
Anupa Horvil
Born in London, of Indian background and with an intense love of colour, Anupa Horvil is the brainchild behind anupa – a luxury brand currently making its mark in Vietnam. Anupa, which means "unique" in Skanskrit, conceptualizes and individually designs all her products (leather bags, wallets and accessories) herself. The result is a range of one–of–a–kind designs – uninfluenced by the latest trends or colours.
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Expat Women's Interview with Anupa
Expat Women: Anupa, you a Brit who set up your luxury brand business in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). What took you to Vietnam originally?
Anupa: I came to Vietnam ten years ago, travelling as a backpacker. I was travelling around the world and whilst in Vietnam I ended up being headhunted for an advertising company which is where I spent several years working on some amazing projects, which allowed me to travel a lot in Vietnam and the neighboring region. |
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Expat Women: What inspired you to start your own Business? |
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Anupa: After working for someone else I realized I wanted to work for myself and do something more meaningful then just make money. So I created my brand anupa and incorporated all the things that are important to me: people; the environment; having fun; and high–quality workmanship. I put together these things and created anupa |
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Expat Women: How long ago was this and how has your business been going? |
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Anupa: The business is now four years old and is going from strength to strength. I opened a store in Saigon with another designer, which is also a way to promote how quality, luxury items can be made in Asia. |
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Expat Women: What have been your biggest obstacles in starting anupa? |
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Anupa: Coming from an advertising background, I originally over–thought everything and was constantly analysing and comparing myself to other luxury brands. Thinking they do this, so I must also do this. It took me several months, but one day I just had information overload and I decided enough was enough. I wanted to make my own benchmarks and my own decisions and not follow what was done already.
When you first start out, people tell you to keep your costs low: I do agree with this, but I do not think the product needs to be a result of this. For example, with regards to packaging: I wanted recycled packaging, but something lovely as well. So I decided to make velvet bags with silk linings, which would protect the items clients purchased but also would be great to use again. It is amazing how many suppliers were horrified when I wanted to use a washable nylon to line my accessories and not silk or fabric which was much cheaper. I decided my pieces have to look great inside and out, but also be functional. If you dropped something inside, you could wipe it. |
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Expat Women: What have been your greatest successes to date? |
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Anupa: There have been so many – and every day something new and wonderful happens. I think one of the proudest moments is when I officially opened my company and employed my first team member. It is an amazing feeling to think you are supporting someone who has a family, dreams, and ambitions just like you. This was a great feeling of success. |
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Expat Women: Each of your products has a distinguishing circle of beads on it. What is this please? |
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Anupa: All anupa products are identified by a tourmaline, set in gold, platinum or silver, and these are sewn onto each piece and delicately surrounded by exquisite beads. Tourmaline is an amazing stone. I love it for it natural positive properties, its rich history, the fact that it is not a blood stone and most of all it is not yet 'fashionable' and 'trendy'. Tourmaline really symbolizes anupa for me without being overly done or loud. It is a subtle signature for my products, and it is one of the purest and energizing stones in existence. It is amazing. I love it. |
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Expat Women: Anupa, I notice on your web site that your vision is: "To simply create a range of timeless luxury lifestyle accessories by practising fair trade, eco–friendly and ergonomic considerations to all levels of our work". Tell us more. |
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Anupa: The most important issue to me today is that designers must think sustainability and give their consumers more than just a product. Designers are the core contact to clients and hence I feel responsible to give the best of what I know and not only think of the profit. We all have to start somewhere to make a difference and mine is with anupa. The great thing about what I do today is when you look at my web site without knowing my story, you just would not think the items are eco–friendly, sustainable designs, as often these items are not linked to luxury. This is what is so rewarding about my work. People love to wear my accessories and I feel better knowing care is taken to put every piece together. |
