Today Freja turns 3 years old. That’s right, it’s been exactly 3 years since we launched — and what a wonderful adventure it’s been! It still feels like yesterday that I was agonizing over what to name the brand and hauling every one of your orders to the UPS store by myself.
Last week I returned from a trip to see my parents and visit our factory in Guangzhou. It was my my first time back home in almost four years due to travel restrictions.
Our factory welcomed us with warm smiles and hot tea, and took us on a tour of their new facilities. The owner shared that we've become one of their biggest, most consistent clients over the past 3 years. In fact, the factory we were standing in was now Freja's dedicated space. I looked around the floor and saw ultrafiber stacked high in shades of neutral, fresh samples with red change markings, and curved Lafayette handles in bins, waiting to be attached. I couldn't believe we had our own factory.
I introduced myself to everyone who was working that day, and thanked them for their tireless work and commitment to our little brand. It was so rewarding to see how far we've come since our first 300 piece order. But at the same time, I also feel an immense sense of responsibility towards all of the 50-60 artisans who painstakingly craft each bag. They have chosen to dedicate their valuable time and attention towards Freja. This is how they support themselves and their families, and that is a humbling dose of reality.
Social media can make brands appear bigger than they actually are, and in reality, we are a tiny 2 person operation supported by small teams of amazing freelancers, agencies, and creators who continue to push our vision forward.
But most of all, we have the most incredible community that supports us and every pair of hands that goes into creating Freja bags. Thank you. Thank you for giving us this opportunity. Thank you for every like, comment, email, and order over the last few years. Here's to many more to come.
