To mark the arrival of our latest release — the textured and timeless Exotics Collection — we sat down with our founder, Jenny Lei, for a behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration, materials, and creative process behind the timeless forms reimagined through texture.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the collection?
J: As someone who gravitates to minimal hardware, simple designs, and neutral color palettes, I’m always looking for ways to add interest in other ways — through proportion, stitching, and now texture. The exotics collection feels like a natural extension and exploration of the Freja world, a fresh twist on our most iconic silhouettes.
Q: Was it hard choosing the right texture?
J: We’ve been testing suede for almost a year, and still have a few iterations to work through! Croc and lizard leather were immediate winners — perfect pattern and easily wearable. We also tested snakeskin and pony effect finishes (all vegan), canvas, etc.
Q: How many pieces are in the initial drop and why? Why did you choose these colors?
J: We chose the Mercer and Hudson styles to launch in exotics first — two styles that are universally flattering and Freja signature pieces. We chose oat and black because they are seasonless and very classic Freja, and also added a very exciting new shade Berry. This is the 5th deeper red/burgundy shade we’ve sampled and it’s so delicious — definitely a new favorite at Freja HQ and I can’t wait for you to see it irl.
Q: Will you make them in more bags in the future?
J: Absolutely!! We already have more styles (existing and new) queued up for production, as well as little accessories to match with your bag that will launch very soon x
