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Subscribe Accessories Are King, and Poppy Lissiman is Our Queen
We catch up with Western Australian-born fashion accessory icon Poppy Lissiman about all things business, bag design and everything in between.
When it comes to Australian labels, few brands are as eye-catching and easily identifiable as a Poppy Lissiman bag. Poppy’s eponymous label has soared to global heights, spotted on celebs such as Beyoncé, Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, and Kourtney Kardashian… just to name a few.
With an eclectic range of bags, sunglasses and accessories that toe the line between fashion and function, Poppy’s playful style means that your wardrobe never needs to see a dull day, but you don’t have to compromise on quality or comfort.
Recently partnering with H&R Block to showcase her ultimate new work bag, Poppy had some advice to share with Sitchu about business, bags and everything in between.
The Write-Off Collection feels both playful and practical, a nod to side-hustlers and creatives who live between art and spreadsheets. How did the idea of collaborating with H&R Block come about, and what excited you about it?
The amazing H&R Block team reached out, and it was an immediate yes from us. I learned really early on in starting my business how important getting your taxes under control is, so I loved the idea of partnering with the experts at H&R Block on an unexpected collaboration.
I really enjoy doing a left-of-centre collaboration, they’re always the most fun and get you to think outside the box.
What do you hope this collection shows other creatives and small business owners about the crossover between fashion, function and finance?
I think to be successful in any business, you have to consider the function of not just the products you make, but the backend of running a company. I’m a creative at heart; spreadsheets, budgets and finance are not my forte.
I know my strengths and stick to them. As much as figuring things out as I go and upskilling in different areas has been a huge part of how I have grown with the business, there is one thing I know I need to work with the experts on, and that’s my taxes.
The reality of building a global brand is rarely as polished as the Instagram feed. What’s something about the behind-the-scenes that people might be surprised to know?
Oh gosh, there are so many I wouldn’t know where to start… I’m heading back to Paris Fashion Week next month, and I was recently reminiscing on previous trips I’ve done for Fashion Week over the years. It’s notoriously expensive and hard to get accommodation that week, and one year, my accommodation fell through at the last minute. There were virtually no other rooms in all of Paris, so I booked a few nights at a sketchy hostel, and the guy at the front desk was super creepy.
He insisted that he keep the key to my room every night when I came back to sleep or when I left for the day to go work, no matter how many times I said that wasn’t normal, or that I didn’t want to.
I was travelling alone and was scared he was either going to rob me while I was out or attack me in my sleep, so I slept with my hand clutching a knife under my pillow!
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You’ve built a brand around statement-making accessories. Off-duty, are you the type to switch bags daily, or do you have one in particular that’s become your daily go-to?
I’m usually pretty consistent in my work bag – I will use the same one for months on end. Lately, I am loving the Koko Bag from the PL x H&R Block collection. This style was inspired by the school bags that are used by Japanese high schoolers that I clocked when I was living in Japan.
For my essential items like phone, wallet, keys, sunnies I always have a smaller PL bag that I will usually switch every other day according to my outfit. At the moment, I’m road testing a new sample before we order it in bulk. I do this to get a feel for what works, if any improvements can be made, and to gauge other people’s reactions to the bag.
Recently, I took my Poppy Lissiman bumbags to Europe (and made friends with fellow Australians also sporting your label). Those designs are the perfect mix of style & practicality, which has me thinking… The reach of your brand is incredible — Australians and beyond are sporting your pieces worldwide. What does that kind of visibility mean to you as both a designer and a business owner?
Oh, it means the world to me! I honestly get more of a rush from seeing everyday people wearing my pieces than when a celebrity wears something from my brand.
I can remember the exact moments I saw strangers wearing my brand. The first time I saw people overseas carrying one of my bags or wearing my sunglasses really got me!
One particular moment that sticks with me was my first time Burning Man about 10 years ago. The sun was rising, and I was with a small group of people riding on an art car deep in the desert, kilometres away from the rest of the camp, when a girl appeared out of nowhere on her bike and hitched onto the back of our car for a brief moment.
She was wearing a pair of my sunglasses. I’d never met her, and she wasn’t from Australia, and the fact that someone halfway around the world in the middle of the desert had a pair of my sunnies on just blew my mind.
The new Koko Laptop Bag is giving workwear a serious upgrade (thanks, tax time!). I loved your story about Japanese schoolkids slinging their backpacks off one shoulder — it reminded me of my own schoolbag days (accessorised with a Roxy lanyard and bad posture). What is it about bags, do you think, that makes them such powerful vessels for self-expression, even within uniforms and dress codes?
That’s an interesting question. I feel like with bags, the possibilities of design are endless. As opposed to eyewear, where the parameters are much tighter, based on strict guidelines set by government bodies like the FDA, or just based on the basic dimensions you have to work within, so they stay on your face.
When it comes to bags, I feel like they’re always an accessory, the final piece of the puzzle to an outfit. People are more comfortable expressing themselves with an item that comes on and off easily. I’ve noticed that people who have quite conservative tastes will be willing to take it to the next level when it comes to a handbag.
It’s a chance to show off your personality in a small way. Even with this trend of bag charms, they say a lot about you, and it’s a way to bring that self-expression to an item that is fairly essential to going about your day and making it your own.
Which design has sent you spiralling into chaos, budget blown, but you had to make it anyway?
Probably our best-selling spike bags (the Bingo Prick and Snapper Spike). There’s so much hardware on them, which is quite expensive, and actually all custom-made. The spikes originally were too sharp, so if you hugged someone wearing the bag, it gave a pretty nasty stab. We had to recast the metal spikes with a slightly rounded-off nib on the end, so that they’re less stabby.
Anything with custom metal is super expensive, and these bags are covered in spikes, for a minute we considered not making them because of the cost but everyone who saw the samples absolutely fell in love with them so even though they’re super expensive to make we just had to do it, and I’m really glad we did because they’re still one of our bestsellers.
Building a cult brand is one thing; scaling it globally is another. As a creative at the helm of a fast-growing business, what’s been your biggest lesson so far?
The ability to adapt and pivot when required. Some of the best decisions I have made over the 17 years have been when I’ve made a massive pivot.
The first thing that springs to mind is my shift to accessories after doing six years of ready-to-wear dressy women’s clothing. I had limited success with the clothing in Australia, but the range of clutch bags I made outsold it all, so it was a bit of a lightbulb moment.
Interestingly, I am coming back to clothing after an 11-year hiatus, but the timing feels right now.
When you travel (or even just leave the house), are you team minimalist or full Mary Poppins — snacks, chargers, three books you’ll never open? And while we’re at it, what are the strangest things hiding in your handbag right now?
I’d say I’m a Mary Poppins for sure. I go everywhere with my laptop, diary (much to my team’s dismay, I’m old school and write all my meetings down in a daily planner), my notebook, sketchbook, several pairs of sunglasses and often my dog Skuttle and some of his paraphernalia.
The strangest thing I have in my handbag right now is probably my gold tooth. My husband bought me a gold tooth cap for Christmas so I can finally live out my dream of looking more and more like a pirate. I took it out for lunch, so it’s sitting inside its little velvet pouch in my bag.
As a WA-based brand, we’d love to hear some of your fave places to go when you’re back home. Can you share some of your hidden gems or local favourite cafes, or that one local restaurant you can’t stop going back to?
Well, of course, I have to get my new shop a shout-out! We recently converted the front of my head office in Fremantle into a retail space – it’s a beautiful old bank, come see us at 86 High Street in Fremantle!
Then Vin Populi in Fremantle for my favourite Italian – I’m there at least a few times a week, epic wine list and even better service and vibe
Wines of While in Northbridge (won best bar in Australia a few years ago – their wine list is unparalleled), and their small plates are also incredible.
Little Loaf Bakery in South Fremantle for their chicken Caesar rolls, cinnamon scrolls and bread.
Now that you’re up to speed on Poppy’s top business tips and Perth hotspots, discover more of the best places to eat in our guide to the best new restaurants in Perth. Looking for a beautiful wine bar to unwind in? Explore our edit here.
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