April 7, 2008

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Profiles

Star Sign

From a signature bag to a namesake boutique—for Swedish-born Rika, a star is born. By Meredith Fisher

So many fashion tales start the same way: Stylist makes a bag for her friends, everyone starts asking where they can buy it. Suddenly, a label is born. And while Ulrika Lundgren's story may be familiar, her namesake label, Rika, is anything but formulaic. "The first collection of bags I did were handmade by a saddle-maker in Spain," recalls Ulrika. "And it was such a success with my friends—a mix of stylists and models—I developed the ready-to-wear collection shortly after."

Now, six years later, the clothing range is carried at some of the coolest shops around the world (Colette in Paris and Brown's in London, to name a few). And perhaps, most newsworthy, she's just opened her first stand-alone boutique in Amsterdam this year, and her signature bags have become instantly recognizable thanks to her trademark star patterns. "I'm not sure where the star came from," the designer admits. "But [I guess] it's always been my signature because it's decorative and natural."

That sentiment is also extended to the designer's selection of materials and her commitment to the environment—in addition to using natural materials in Rika's clothing, none of the leather bag are chemically treated and they also don't use any glue in the production. "We also don't use plastic bags in the production studio," she says. "When people care more about their work environment, they will work and communicate better."

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