BIKER STARLET
Standout arm candy from Korea as seen on your favourite K-dramas
In the 2000s, Jacey Chae couldn’t find any clutches or small bags in Seoul that were fit for parties. “I wanted something reasonably priced, so I can buy multiples and rotate them,” she says. Thankfully, she found some options under the recommendation of her Thai friend when she was on a trip to Bangkok. She brought a couple of bags back to Seoul to sell to her close friends and they were well received. “Soon after this, the bag-making business became my day job,” she shares.
One look at Biker Starlet bags and you’ll notice that they are all striking, but never over the top.
Jacey says she digs through old trends and styles to “translate the old into the new, because trends run themselves over and over again”. Her polished and practical pieces have been spotted in K-dramas, and even films like the award-winning Parasite.
Jacey loves people-watching for inspiration. “There’s this place – one of the generic American coffee chains – in Seoul where I sit for hours. You get to pick up the latest fashion trends in real time.”
Doing her part for the environment, Jacey considers how her products and manufacturing process affect the earth and hopes to adopt more eco-friendly ways for her business.
“I plan to change all our shipping tape to paper tape and use biodegradable poly bags by late next year,” she reveals. “It’s probably a touchy subject because we use mostly leather and leather tanning is not exactly environmentally friendly. There is still a large demand for leather bags, so it’s always been an issue for us to incorporate sustainability. I plan to introduce more sustainable products made with alternative materials in the next few years.”
Going forward, Jacey looks forward to reopening her store and meeting her Singapore customers whom she considers as friends. The health-conscious creative director also plans to add a lounge area to her store: “I’d like to create a space that can connect our products with wholesome foods and beverages.”