Today we have a great opportunity to have an interview with the CEO of the premium luxury Argentinian brand, which makes one of the most amazing and extraordinary bags and clutches in the world, Mrs. Alexandra De Royere. 

Mrs. Alexandra De Royere, many thanks for finding a gap in your precious time for the interview.

How did you reach SOLANTU?

I met SOLANTU’s founder, Silvia Gold, at a gathering of Argentine collectors of contemporary art. Silvia is a great entrepreneur, the founder of Grupo INSUD, and a collector of contemporary art.

At that first meeting, Silvia talked passionately about her sustainable luxury brand SOLANTU and her project for the preservation of the Argentine caiman species Caiman latirostris. Then she invited me to lead a consulting project on the business strategy and to conduct an audit of the SOLANTU brand. At the end of that stage, we agreed on the diagnosis and the roadmap for the brand.

So, she invited me to be the CEO and to relaunch the brand around the agreed vision and strategy. She gave me the freedom to gather the Argentine ‘dream team’ I envisioned for SOLANTU. It is a clear case of ‘intrapreneurship’ inside Grupo INSUD, i.e., an example of entrepreneurship but with the support of the Group, combined with the fact of having exclusively the exotic skin of Caiman latirostris.

I share with Silvia our mixed Argentine and European vision: Silvia is Argentine but lived in Spain for many years, and currently lives between Buenos Aires and Madrid. I am from Paris, but having lived in London, Boston and Madrid, I now live mainly in Buenos Aires, even though I never left Paris. I have a Porteño and Parisian spirit.

We share the same values: ethics, which is an imperative in life, and aesthetics, which is a choice in life. Both values are reflected in the sustainable luxury brand SOLANTU.

What is your goal in this project?

To develop a luxury brand that stands the test of time, which always sparks excitement and awakens a desire at the special crossroads of bag-making, sustainable luxury, art and design. A luxury brand is built over time. Having Silvia Gold and Grupo Insud as a shareholder enables us to build a roadmap for the brand over the long term.

What role does your passion for art play in the SOLANTU Art Déco collection?

It plays some role. I have a keen eye for artists and works of art. However, an haute- couture bag is something different. It is a design object with a precise functionality. The clasps we introduced, inspired by Art Déco, add a unique and arty touch, but these are luxury bags that can be used at different times of the day. One can take them out on several occasions; not put them away and wear them once a year.

What do you think you can contribute to the brand?

I am a driver of change: I can contribute a vision, a passion, entrepreneurship and leadership of both the creative and commercial teams.

How would you describe SOLANTU Buenos Aires?

SOLANTU is a brand of sustainable luxury bags. We wanted to reinforce the Argentine identity of SOLANTU, which in fact is at the origin of the brand and its founder. Argentine chic has always existed and continues to exist. Buenos Aires was dubbed the ‘Latin American Paris’ in the 1930s. Buenos Aires is both a European and Latin American-style city.

In this city there is a tradition of excellent craftsmen working with leather and silver, there are designers and Porteñas who are as sophisticated as they are cool and contemporary. At the SOLANTU brand, we aim to convey that essence.

Respect for social and environmental aspects... Is that your philosophy?

The traceability of the products we use is one of the concerns of the younger generations, who want to know not only where the products they buy come from but also the impact that their manufacture and sale will have on our world. The conservation of the Argentine Caiman latirostris and the creation of jobs are two foundational aspects for the brand. SOLANTU is a brand born from the impact caused by nature and a calling to turn that into value. We have decided to strengthen our commitment to the economic and social impact: not only are raw materials sourced in Argentina; the design and manufacturing are also from Argentina.

What is SOLANTU’s differentiator compared to other design bag brands?

SOLANTU has an identity and unique style associated with the skin of Caiman latirostris. This handbag collection stands out for the exclusive combination of noble materials, including the exotic skin of Argentine Caiman latirostris and the clasps made of semi- precious stones or native woods, with a very extensive color palette.

Which one is your favorite model?

I have two favorite models. One for daywear, the ALICIA cross-body, which is both chic and simple. Its name pays homage to Alicia Moreau, an Argentine politician, pacifist and human rights activist. And for the evening, the PALOMA clutch, with a clasp that is a true Art Déco sculpture. Its name pays homage to Paloma Herrera, a great Argentine ballet dancer who was prima ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre and now resides in Buenos Aires.

Prices range from € 3,000 – € 5,000. How do you justify the pricing of the bags?

The price is in line with the price of an international brand bag, but in calf leather. For a caiman skin bag with beaded clasps, it is an attractive price. The cost of the skin is high, and so is that of the silver clasp. Each bag is different because each skin is unique in terms of pattern and color, with hand-made clasps. Making a caiman bag involves craftsmanship, which takes a long time. Each skin and each bag has full traceability from the moment it exists at the caiman farm until it reaches the point of sale.

What do clients find in SOLANTU that they cannot find in other brands?

A unique identity. It is a brand for “treasure hunters”, awakening a desire for their beauty as well as their usefulness! 

Mrs. Alexandra De Royere many thanks for the interview, we do appreciate it. We wish you and SOLANTU every success in the future and all the best in your new adventures and discoveries!