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    How I got my job as… Founder of the accessories brand, Wandler

    by

    Life

    by Sarah Joseph
    53 mins ago

    This week, Emirates Woman spoke to Elza Wandler, founder of the incredibly luxe leather bag and accessory brand, Wandler.
    Welcome to the Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and business women both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
    Elza Wandler’s namesake brand, Wandler has solidified its status as an A-lister favourite, street style staple and innovative newcomer in the fashion industry.
    THE OUTNET now has an exclusive, upcycled capsule in partnership luxury leather goods brand, Wandler. This exclusive 16-piece collection focuses on beautifully crafted leather handbags and shoes. Her namesake brand is committed to redefining craftsmanship, with an expertise and passion in leather, with the capsule being a true reflection of Wandler’s visual identity and message.
    From playful mini and crossbody bags made with responsibly sourced leather of the highest quality,the collection will be available globally on The Outnet from today, June 25, 2024.
    To delve into her journey more, Emirates Woman understood how it all began and learned about how Wandler innovates season after season.
    What was your first job?
    My very first job, when I was about 14-15 years old, was working in the blueberry fields in my town. It taught me the value of hard work from an early age. During high school, I worked at a fashion boutique, which sparked my interest in the fashion industry. However, it was through my official first job after my studies that I really learned what it took to build a brand. As a designer for the ‘Made & Crafted’ line at Levi’s, I saw the entire spectrum from sourcing materials and branding to marketing and sales. It was an invaluable learning experience that provided me with the right tools to understand what is needed to build a fashion brand.

    What inspired you to launch Wandler?
    I always wanted to have my own brand. I started with handbags because I love their sculptural and architectural qualities. Their bold shapes and colours are my canvas to play with.
    What are the key elements of your role?
    As the founder and creative director, I am involved in every aspect of the brand. I work closely with my team on designing the collections, branding, and content creation, overseeing production, managing business operations, and ensuring that our brand vision is consistently represented.
    Talk us through your daily routine.
    I start my morning by waking up and drinking lemon water with sea salt. Then, I practice mindfulness and write half a page of notes in my notebook. After that, I get my daily coffee from a place around the corner and walk to the office, which is just a five-minute walk from my home. I love that I can walk to work. No day is the same in the office, and since I travel a lot for work, I try to savour the moments when I’m there. I begin the day with meetings with my team, including content brainstorms and planning sessions, working on new designs, and doing research for upcoming collections. In between, I walk my dogs, which is the perfect excuse to go outside and get some fresh air. To wind down, I love to cook if I have time, take a yin yoga class, read a book before bed, and go to bed early to prepare for the next day.
    What are some of the pieces the brand sells?
    Wandler is known for its high-quality Italian-made handbags, bold in shape and colour, each named after people who inspire me, including family and friends. The Hortensia bag, named after my mother-in-law in honour of her, is the first and most recognizable shape for the brand. It gained recognition when Lady Gaga wore it during Pride, it was just 3 months after launching the brand in stores. That was an insane moment. Other popular styles include the Carly Mini, named after my best friend in high school, and the Georgia, named after stylist and friend Georgia Tall. These two styles will be reintroduced in THE OUTNET capsule, which I am very excited about. Handbags are the core of our business, but we have also expanded into the footwear category. The most popular style in this category is the Isa family, which has been worn by celebrities like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Beyoncé.
    What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
    My advice would be to stay true to your vision and not be afraid to take risks. The fashion industry is very competitive, so it’s important to differentiate yourself and offer something unique. Also, be prepared to work hard and stay resilient, as there will be challenges along the way.
    What is the best piece of advice you ever received? And what is the worst?
    The best piece of advice I ever received was to trust my instincts and believe in my creative vision. On the other hand, the worst advice was to play it safe and stick to conventional designs. Authenticity and creativity are what drive the fashion industry forward.
    What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
    One of the biggest challenges was establishing the brand in a crowded market. It took a lot of persistence and hard work to get our name out there and build a loyal customer base. Managing the rapid growth of the company while maintaining our quality and vision has been a challenge, but it’s also very rewarding if you keep fighting for the best outcome possible. In the end, my drive to create my own world is the reason why I do this, and that passion has helped me overcome many obstacles along the way.

    How does it feel to have launched on THE OUTNET – tell us more.
    It feels incredible to have launched on THE OUTNET. This partnership allows us to bring our beloved styles back to life and offer them to a wider audience. THE OUTNET’s platform gives customers the freedom to explore and appreciate our designs at their own pace. I’m thrilled to see our archived styles reimagined in new colours and to continue our commitment to sustainability by utilizing stock leather. We’re excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings.
    What are your goals for the future?
    Looking ahead, we aim to continue growing the brand while staying true to our core values of quality, craftsmanship, and with a strong emphasis on colour. Accessories will always be at the core of what we do, but we want to continue to build the Wandler world beyond that. We envision crossovers with interior design and the art world, something I can’t wait to explore more in the coming years.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied  More

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      How I got my job as…Managing Director at The Outnet

      by

      Life

      by Ruman Baig
      39 mins ago

      Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
      This week we chat with Emma Mortimer, Managing Director, The Outnet. Emma’s professional journey commenced within the realms of media, with notable roles at esteemed establishments like Hearst Magazines and Haymarket Media Group. However, her career trajectory eventually led her into the world of retail and e-commerce. Prior to her return to THE OUTNET, Emma lent her expertise to brands like matchesfashion.com and the Arcadia Group, making significant contributions to the launch of The Modist, an e-tailer specializing in modest fashion. Moreover, her tenure as a fashion specialist for the British government’s Department for International Trade underscored her commitment to the industry’s growth.
      At the helm of The Outnet, Emma Mortimer assumes a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s global business trajectory and setting its strategic course. Her purview extends across critical facets of the store’s operation, encompassing everything from procurement and merchandising to commercial trade, brand communications, VIP customer relations, and creative content development. Her mission: is to maintain The Outnet’s esteemed reputation as a premier destination for savvy fashionistas seeking discounted designer treasures from past seasons.
      With two decades of experience straddling the realms of retail and media, Emma brings to the table a profound understanding of the luxury e-commerce landscape. Her leadership is a testament to the fusion of commerce and creativity, a recipe for long-term prosperity in this ever-evolving industry.
      To delve into her role and career, Emirates Woman spoke to her to see how she overcomes challenges and creates a niche for herself in this industry.
      What was your favourite subject at school?
      I studied chemistry, biology, and art & design in my final years at school. It’s safe to say art & design was my favorite subject given my career path in the fashion industry. However, I did appreciate the combination of the arts and science and using both sides of my brain – something that is essential to my role as Managing Director, which calls for both creative and analytical thinking.
      What was your first job?
      I used to work in my family’s fine art shop, helping out during the holidays. Looking back, it was an invaluable experience – from seeing the day-to-day running of a retailer to learning how to connect with the customer.
      Walk us through your role at The Outnet
      I’m lucky to have a wonderfully diverse role. Each day is different, a lot of time is spent reviewing our performance and working with our commercial planning and finance teams. I enjoy continually learning, especially about our customers and their behaviour, analysing updates from our customer insights team along looking at our brand and performance marketing results. I also have oversight across the buying and merchandising teams and love to hear about new brands coming to the site along with exclusive collaborations and capsules. Also, a big part of my role is liaising with our regional GMs, ensuring what we do on a global scale is regionally nuanced and relevant.

      You started your career with media, what made you switch to e-commerce?
      It happened very organically – I was working in production for a mail-order catalogue company that was moving away from printed catalogues into e-commerce at the time. I’m always stimulated by future-facing innovations, and e-commerce is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry.
      Talk us through your daily routine.
      Every day is book-ended with nursery drop off and pick up. I hugely value this time with my daughter, though getting out of the house is a far more drawn-out process these days! I try to partly plan what I’m wearing the night before for speed and ease. I used to do a lot of exercise before having a child, but now it consists of a 20-minute speed walk to the nursery before heading into the office for a day of meetings.
      What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
      It’s less so advice and more the great examples set by my parents. They both worked extremely hard and had incredible ethics. I learnt a huge amount from watching and listening to them growing up. I remember my mum always saying to me ‘Just do your best’, whenever I was being tough on myself, and I try to remember this when things become challenging.
      And what is the worst?
      I honestly can’t think of any, which says a lot about the mentors and role models I’ve been lucky to have in my life. I value positive thinking.
      Can you share some strategies you’ve found effective for fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment?
      Ensuring an open, collaborative, and supportive team culture. I’m extremely proud of THE OUTNET’s culture which we’ve managed to maintain over all the years. It enables anyone who joins the team to feel valued, respected and supported.

      How do you balance your leadership responsibilities with maintaining a healthy work-life integration?
      Fortunately, being in the position I am in, I am able to help lead by example and ensure that we all switch off from work at weekends and spend time with our families and friends. The weekends are when I can take a class at the gym or go swimming with my daughter. I think it’s important she sees me looking after myself, as well as just working and looking after the family. Although, this is far easier said than done!
      What advice do you have for aspiring leaders in terms of building strong professional relationships and networks?
      Be open, show humility and vulnerability – it helps to connect you with your colleagues. Check-in with people; ask how they are and listen to their responses. This builds strong-rooted relationships. Keep in contact. Always be respectful, and kind and help people without an agenda. Paths often cross and you may find someone helps you out in a similar way in the future.
      How do you see the role of technology evolving in your industry, and how are you adapting your leadership style to those changes?
      Having the ability to access so much is a real positive. We work in a fast-paced business reacting to an ever-changing landscape. Data really helps to support decisions for a stronger customer perspective and for our business strategy. As a leader reacting to these changes has helped me become nimbler and more adaptable, whilst always having the data to support thought processes and make informed decisions.
      Can you discuss the most impactful decision you’ve made as a managing director and the results it brought about?
      For me, it always comes back to the people – deciding how to nurture and support our talent. This involves stretching and challenging teams with greater responsibility and opportunities. In turn, it motivates, develops, and helps to retain knowledge and talent, which leads to greater success and results.
      In your experience, what qualities or skills have been most crucial in your journey to becoming successful?
      Learning fast, adapting and being flexible to change. Alongside being a team player. I always remember the proverb ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied  More