How a 22-year-old Swarovski crystal heiress launched a luxury handbag brand that counts the Queen of the Netherlands among its elite clientele
There are currently seven people working for Raphael full-time, but it took over 200 people, including press and sales teams, to get her operation off the ground. She recalled that her first year of production was like most entrepreneurs: a bit wobbly."My first 10 bags were an absolute disaster," Raphael, now 22, recalled. "But all of these things happen and they are just part of the job. You just have to keep moving on.
Now, nearly two years later, Raphael says the brand is "going really well" and works with top influencers including WhoWoreWhat founder Danielle Bernstein. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is also a fan of the brand — the royal has been seen on numerous occasions sporting Raphael's latest designs. Patrick van Katwijk / Contributor / Getty Images
She is also following a near-zero waste policy, where the company tries to reuse old leather and skins.
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