Who started it?
Felix Rey was created in New York City in March 2001 by friends Lily Rafii and Sulaika Zarrouk. Rafii was previously an investment banker, while at Morgan Stanley. Zarrouk was a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and also worked on the design team at Donna Karan.
They decided to launch a line of handbags when they saw a niche in the market for stylish handbags with fun designs that were affordable yet still luxurious. As lovers of vintage bags, they scoured flea markets for inspiration. The brand took off after it was featured on the cover of Women's Wear Daily in August 2001; stylist Patricia Field used several Felix Rey bags for Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.
Rafii (below, left) and Zarrouk (right) branched out in 2005, making handbags for New York fashion label Luca Luca. The team expanded this year when they hired Parsons School for Design graduate Jennifer Meng as an assistant designer. They now develop private labels as well as speciality ranges for stores such as Scoop, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman and Mitsukoshi in Japan.
The look:
Quirky and whimsical, the brand is known for its evening wear clutches and signature embellishments. The autumn/winter 2007 collection boasts feline animal prints, bows and sequins. Look for chain mail clutches with bow accents and patent leather purses with gold chain straps. The range has expanded further to include belts, umbrellas, hats, gloves, scarves, small leather goods, as well as cosmetic and diaper bags.
