7 things in her bag: Charlotte Eskildsen

Danish fashion designer Charlotte Eskildsen is still relatively unknown in Singapore, but she has been quietly making waves here with her brand, Designers Remix.

The brand, which has been stocked at multi-label boutique Club 21b for the last three seasons, has seen such positive sales that a two-week pop-up store was set up last month.

Founded in 2002, Designers Remix is everything that Scandinavian fashion labels are known for, such as functionality and minimalism. Fashion brands such as Cos, Acne Studios, Tiger of Sweden, Filippa K and By Malene Birger are other brands to note. Fans of Designers Remix include singer Rihanna and actress Kirsten Dunst.

Born to two interior designers, her interest in the field started at a very early age.

"It was really the environment that I was brought up in that cultivated my interest. My parents would take me to many museums and galleries as a child," says the 39-year-old, who was in town for the opening of the pop-up store.

Later, she decided she was most interested in fashion and enrolled in the fashion design programme at the Design Management School in Kolding, Denmark.

"Denmark is this small hippie country where it is really possible to follow your dreams," says Ms Eskildsen. Her husband, Niels, is the brand's chief executive.

Her first collection for the brand was made out of repurposed vintage clothes, thus giving rise to the name, Designers Remix.

Neoprene and wool are used heavily in her latest collection, as they lend themselves to a structured quality. Expect easy-to-wear separates and dresses that are mostly in black and white.

The mother of two girls, four and eight, also has a clothing line for girls, which she started when her elder daughter was born.

Her plans for the brand include expanding on her offerings for shoes and accessories.

As an expert in Scandinavian cool, the petite blonde rattled off a list of style tips when asked about how one can dress in cool Nordic style.

Among her tips is to wear a sweatshirt with a cocktail dress, opt for flats instead of heels when wearing a dress and to invest in a stylish leather jacket.

"Dressing in an effortless way is what Scandinavian style is all about."

7 THINGS IN HER BAG

1. EVE LOM CUTICLE CREAM

I don't really need this here but my cuticles can get really dry back home.

2. RINGS

I carry these around in case I need extra accessories. These are rings that I did in collaboration with jewellery designer Maria Black last year. They were inspired by my parents' wedding rings.

3. NOTE

When I travel alone, I like to have things that remind me of my daughters. This is a note from my older one. It says "Mum and Dad, you're super cute. Hugs, Smilla" in Danish.

4. CELINE SUNGLASSES

I wear sunglasses a lot and this is my favourite pair. This is an updated version of Celine's popular Audrey design.

5. CHANEL CARDHOLDER

This is what I use in place of a wallet. I find it more convenient to carry just my credit cards.

6. RUDOLPH CARE EYE CREAM

This is from an organic Danish brand called Rudolph Care, which my friend started. I use it when I look tired and it works almost instantly.

7. FAZER LIQUORICE

This is a very salty liquorice candy from Finland. I think it's an acquired taste though, because most people are used to sweet liquorice.

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This article was first published on Nov 14, 2014.
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