Moni Moni Italian Leather Handbags Interview

LoveToKnow had the privilege of learning more about Moni Moni Handbags and designer Cinzia Moniaci in this exclusive Moni Moni Italian leather handbags interview. Cinzia is from Italy, where she can't help but be inspired by the people, the beautiful hills and rich foods. The purses are made in factories in Italy, where real attention is paid to quality. Cinzia considers red a neutral color and her style and cutting edge design savvy is apparent in all her work.

Cinzia earned a degree in Literature and Communications from the University of Turin. She also studied arts in Lyon, France and journalism at Sorbonne University in Paris. As a writer, Cinzia worked with many fashion publications and designers. Moni Moni International was started in 2004 and has grown into a powerhouse since that time.

LoveToKnow (LTK): Tell us how you first got into designing handbags...

Cinzia Moniaci (CM): It was a bit by chance and a bit by inevitability. I won a scholarship in design when my academic background was in marketing and communication. I was a journalist and I interviewed people in the world of music, fashion and movies. I constantly got asked where I got this piece or that piece so I started my own business importing high end goods from Italy and I became pretty successful with it.

When I got pregnant with my daughter I decided I wanted to create something of mine, something she could be proud of one day and that would allow me to work from home when she was a baby. The business grew with her, she is now four years old.

LTK: You and your husband had a band called Bionica. Can you tell us a little about that experience and if it had any impact on your creativity as a designer?

CM: Yes, making music is a big part of our lives to this day, we wrote songs that have been featured in movies and TV shows and it's a very rewarding hobby if treated as such. It is a very tough business, one that will make you grow or one that will burn you alive. It truly prepared me to do what I do today, at the end of the day it is a product of your creativity that you are marketing. When we used to play gigs and hang out in the LA musician scene I never knew what purse to wear, it definitely wasn't the kind of place where you can show up with a Fendi "baguette", so I started designing something that was a bit rock and roll, but that I could wear everyday just as well.

I'm not involved in a new music project called the Perfect Nines. We just launched our CD preview and our music will be featured on TV shows this winter.

LTK: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

CM: Shapes, colors, textures, the grain of leather and Italy of course, that's where I am from and where I manufacture, I work with some pretty incredible people and we like to experiment a lot.

LTK: Your Moni Moni Italian leather handbags are absolutely beautiful and unique. Why did you choose to work with leather as a material?

CM: Leather is organic, imperfect, ancestral, artisans have been working on it for generations with their hands and tools. Once you wear leather, it molds to your body and it has a very lived in quality that manmade materials will never have.

LTK: Your red Luna bag is absolutely gorgeous. I think it's my favorite. Which of the bags is your favorite?

CM: Thank you so much, I love to hear people's favorites. I have a hard time choosing just one but the bag that got me the most satisfaction so far has been the Splendor, followed closely by the Lily and the Dolce Vita.

LTK: Tell us about your next collection. When can we expect to see it and what will it be like?

CM: It's a faithful back to school, back to work fall collection with all the practical magic that comes with it. It's understated but chic, very versatile, the hues have a subtle "kick to them", like blacks with hints of purple or forest green, they will make you love to wear your cardigans and coats again.

LTK: Tell me about a Moni Moni girl...

CM: A Moni Moni Girl is someone who doesn't follow trends, she sets them. She has a love of life and adventure and her "everyday" needs to be special. She is someone who looks for beauty and quality and in her own individuality she does not want to wear what everybody else is wearing. She lives by her own fashion rules.

LTK: You have a really impressive list of celebrity clients like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Brooke Shields, Hayden Panettiere and Debra Messing. Do you ever do custom work or create bags in their honor?

CM: Yes, I am very flattered that a number of celebrities like to carry my handbags, it's a bit like the icing on the cake. The intent is always to be putting out a product that is appealing and current. Truly when I design I think of women like me. I think of women who work, have children, study, have hobbies, friends and full lives so their bag needs to be the true companion for their daily adventures. I have been indeed asked to customize some of my designs for a couple of celebrities but have not gotten around to it yet. I have created and customized bags for close friends.

Following the Emmy Awards stars from The Hills and Jennifer Love Hewitt were seen carrying Moni Moni bags.

Cinzia Moniaci's down-to-earth, unique personality transfers over to her beautiful handbags. It won't take you long to become a Moni Moni girl and own at least one, but preferably several, Moni Moni handbags. Get yours at monimoni.com

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