Brand to know
We're putting a spotlight on our coveted up-and-coming brands. This week: SÓUN
SÓUN
Launched in 2019 by designer Anne-Fleur Simon, SÓUN is a Netherlands-based accessories label that makes luxury bags out of tanned salmon skin. Handcrafted by Italian artisans based in Lucca, the brand launches with a four-piece collection that embodies both timeless craftsmanship and contemporary style.
SÓUN gets its salmon skin from sustainable fishing farms based in the Netherlands, and the tanning process is environmentally friendly. It involves using natural, non-polluting dyes and results in the collection’s beautiful colours, which range from a startling emerald green and midnight blue to an eye-catching cream and fiery red. Fish leather is strong and thick, which makes it a durable choice, so a SÓUN bag will last a lifetime. Here, Anne-Fleur talks us through three of her favourite pieces.
The Lune wallet
“This piece can be worn as a clutch or as a cross-body bag as it comes with a removable chain. It’s available in a few different colours: green, midnight blue, red and cream. All the colours are very earthy, referencing the elements of life: water, fire, earth and nature. I love cream the most as it really shows off the natural pattern of the salmon skin, which is very, very rich in terms of texture.
“I’d style this with an evening dress for a smarter look, but it can also be worn as part of a festival outfit with the chain at the front and the bag at the back. With all of my designs, I’ve tried to create timeless yet contemporary pieces that will still be relevant in five to ten years’ time.”
The Croissant bag
“With this bag, and the collection more broadly, I wanted to combine graphical forms with natural shapes and play with the idea of circularity. So here I started with the shape in mind, in reference to the circular process of using salmon waste and turning it into a luxury item. Then I decided to divide the circle in an uneven way, to highlight the fact that we live in an uneven, unbalanced world.”
The Cube bag
“Here the salmon skin creates a nice graphical effect, which is enhanced by the stitching on the bag. There are two versions of this bag, the medium Cube and the large. The medium is more of an evening bag that can be worn as a cross-body or carried like a clutch. The large is more of a work bag and perfect for the entrepreneurial-minded woman. It’s not only big enough to fit a laptop in, but it’s also classy enough to wear out to dinner afterwards, too.
“For a casual look, I’d wear the medium cross-body with a pair of loose jeans and a beautiful silk top with a romantic, billowing sleeve. For a smarter look, I’d wear it just with the handle and pair it with a nice dress and boots. I also think it’s a nice idea to go sleeveless with this bag as the material looks beautiful against bare skin.”