We're thrilled to introduce Lisa Lindh and Hannah Bengtsson, the visionary founders of Lola Legacy, a unique store that breathes new life into second-hand children's clothing. Nestled in the heart of Stockholm, Lola Legacy is not just a store; it's a revolution in the making, championing sustainable fashion through a nostalgic yet modern lens.
In this interview, we dive into their colorful world, discussing their journey from a shared dream in New York to creating a space that challenges and changes perceptions.
Friendship seems to be the foundation of your partnership, tell us about your journey.
- We found each other in a grandiose marble-clad stairwell on the first day of high school – call it a chemical reaction or just two lost souls in search of a friendly face – but we were drawn to each other. Fast forward 20 years, and we've been navigating life side by side. Our joint passion for second-hand treasures truly blossomed at 21 when we decided to spice things up and spent springtime exploring the second-hand and vintage scene in NYC. It was like a preview of the future, a future that had yet to grace the streets of Stockholm. After our New York escapade, we took divergent paths. Lisa dove into the world of art history while Hannah dedicated her time to being a creative force in advertising agencies.
What is the inspiration behind Lola Legacy and the bold(?) move to open a physical store?
- We are two individuals who love and draw inspiration from everything that can be beautiful and get a kick out of anything that stirs our stomachs.
When we envisioned Lola's world in our minds, it quickly became clear that it made us feel like that springtime in NYC – scary, new, intriguing, sensible, and downright beautiful. The time was now, and Lola was shaped from a shared visual language quickly and intuitively. So, when we stumbled upon the space on Odengatan, we had no choice but to grab it. We needed a physical store to make people truly feel Lola in their gut and that activates all the senses. We want people to experience second-hand the way we do – an exhilarating, inspiring, and fun consumption habit that deserves a pat on the back.
Sure, opening a store in these times involves nights of anxiety and days of uncertainty, but you either deal with it or stash it away in a mental box until you've cooled down. Fortunately, being a duo often means there's at least one clear thinker among us.
How do you curate your collection to blend modern design aesthetics with vintage children's clothing?
- We have a soft spot for the nostalgic essence of clothing, thinking about who wore the garment and where it's been before. We often delve into conversations about how clothes passed down between friends and family evoke a positive vibe, a vibe that we would like Lola to communicate.
The significant distinction between the new, the modern, and the second-hand is very significant for us. The design and layout of the store craft a unique experience, setting expectations for what the store can provide. We believe this is crucial to breaking down preconceptions and making second-hand clothes a first-hand choice.
In the store, we invest a lot of effort in curating captivating combinations of vintage and contemporary pieces – not just to inspire new ways of thinking but also to infuse more soul into modern garments. We're also into color and texture themes and never categorize clothes by gender, just to make it an easier and more inspiring way to embrace the variety.
How have you worked with interior design in order to attract customers?
The most common question we got in the beginning was, 'Oh, is this secondhand?' To reach a broader audience, even those who typically don't shop second-hand, we wanted to create the feeling of walking into a completely ordinary, modern, fresh, contemporary, and hopefully a bit unconventional store. One example is our bold red, lightly transparent slaughterhouse plastic that speaks more club than children's clothing. We've crafted a store primarily to satisfy adults.
How did you come in contact with Bolon, and what made you choose our flooring?
As an interior designer, Lisa has worked with Bolon in previous professional projects and knew how its quality and identity truly enhance spaces. The fact that the carpets are woven with recycled materials is also a nod to the textile and second-hand industry, making the decision a no-brainer. Furthermore, Bolon balances between interior design and fashion in an intriguing and inspiring way that we can easily identify with.
We knew we wanted a store with a strong visual identity, using a color that sticks to your brain, paired with details in metal. Both of us love silver and metal – Hannah is a silversmith, and Lisa designs various metal objects in her artistic projects. When we discovered Now Silver at the furniture fair last spring, it quickly became a crucial piece in the creative puzzle. To find a perfect match with the silver plate, Botanic Chestnut entered the scene just as we nailed down the wall color. We aimed for the walls and floors to meld together, creating a warm and serene contrast to the more robust and edgier Now Silver, ensuring the experience of all the different garments wouldn't be too chaotic. The store features fantastic windows and high ceilings, but the floor area is relatively small. To maximize impact, the floor pattern evolved, adding an extra dimension to the space.
What are your future goals and aspirations for Lola Legacy?
The store on Odengatan is our first stop, and pretty soon, a webshop will join the journey. Within two years, expect more stores to pop up. Before that, we're diving deeper into garment care and exploring textile reuse in even more exciting ways. Stay tuned for the ride!
