How Wanderlust and a Generous Spirit Inspired Lola Banjo’s Travel Bag Brand, Silver & Riley
We're not sure if there's currently a buzzier handbag brand on the planet than Lola Banjo's Silver & Riley.
The premium leather travel and fashion bag company has been the talk of the down, bucking the trends to focus on timeless and classic styles, with a modern edge—especially with the brand-new The New Yorker Bag. Driven by founder Lola's love of travel, each bag is named after the city that inspired it, with The New Yorker emulating the spirit of her beloved hometown. The bags are made in Italy in the very same factories as some of the world's best-known luxury designers, but at more accessible prices, making Silver & Riley unlike any other brand we've encountered. We just had to get to know the story behind it, and were lucky enough to get to chat with Lola Banjo herself for all the details.
(Image courtesy of Lola Banjo)
Name: Lola Banjo
IG handle: @silverandriley
Hometown: New York, New York
1. Lola's mom was her very first style inspiration.
"She was the most stylish woman, so I got exposed to style and fashion at a young age. Her favorite thing was accessories. She'd accessorize with beautiful Italian-made handbags and these big (now vintage) Chanel sunglasses. Ironically, as a young girl, I was very into sports and didn't fancy dressing up much. However, as I grew older, I started to appreciate her style more and look to her for inspiration. My style obsession began in my mid-20s when I first witnessed NYFW in person, then in Milan. I fell in love with the runway fashions of designers like Stella Jean, Etro, Giambattista Valli and Prabal Gurung. I'd invest in one of two pieces each season that I could afford and slowly started to grow my collection from there."
-Lola Banjo
2. She's all about feeling confident in what she's wearing.
"My personal style is pretty much to wear what makes me feel good and flatters my figure. This is the style advice I would give to any and everyone! Style and fashion should make you feel yourself and beautiful. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, it probably isn't the best, even if it's trendy, because you will not feel your best. I wear things that make me feel good that I feel good in."
-Lola Banjo
(Image courtesy of Lola Banjo)
3. She says that as much as she loves dressing up, she's also a sucker for comfort.
"I have over 50 pairs of sneakers, so if I'm in a rush, I'd likely wear a pullover and a cute pair of shorts, plus one of my Jordan 1s low with some cute socks!"
-Lola Banjo
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4. She's a world traveler, having been to over 100 countries, and Silver & Riley was inspired by experiencing first-hand how frustrating travel bags can be.
"There was a void in the market for luxury luggage and accessories that were reliable, fashionable and designed with the traveler in mind. Silver & Riley fills that gap with artisan handbags, crafted in Italy with the finest quality materials attainable. We are made in the same factories that produce luxury designer fashion like Balmain and Alexander Wang, but we keep prices accessible so that everyone can have a taste of luxury. Silver & Riley products are built to last with versatility, functionality and timeless style that can be enjoyed by all."
-Lola Banjo
(Image courtesy of Lola Banjo)
5. One of the best pieces of advice she ever got is that you'll never know until you go for it.
"This can be applied to all areas of life as well as in entrepreneurship. You have to let go of the idea of perfection. Perfection will only hold you back. You have to start first and be okay with the reality that you are going to make mistakes in hindsight. Mistakes mean you're learning and growing as a person. With every setback comes improvement, so I say to go out there and take as many risks as possible, be it in your career path, love life, adventures. Do things that scare you because that means you're living!"
-Lola Banjo
6. She struggles to pick just one favorite piece from her closet, but she particularly loves fall jackets from designers such as Dries Van Noten and Carolina Herrera.
"I also love sites like Zara and ASOS for stylish any-season pieces that won't break the bank."
-Lola Banjo
(Image courtesy of Lola Banjo)
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7. She's not one to follow the trends, especially when it comes to accessories.
"I'll always favor classic pieces that are timeless. But if I were to pick one, I'd say I love huge sunglasses."
-Lola Banjo
8. She adores Paging Dr Dre on Instagram.
"She's an amazing doctor who shares great informational tips and looks uber stylish while at it. She was also one of the first to support Silver & Riley, and I'll always be grateful for that!"
-Lola Banjo
9. Currently, her favorite Silver & Riley piece is their new The New Yorker Bag ($995).
"It's by far the most stunning bag we've designed and a classic, timeless, incredible piece that every woman for sure needs to have in her closet."
-Lola Banjo
(via Silver & Riley)
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10. Last year, she got a seven-figure offer to buy the business, but she turned it down.
"There was certainly some temptation, but Silver & Riley is my baby, and we're still so young! There is so much more I want do with my company—so much potential yet to be reached. It's flattering to know that people are watching and are so impressed that they want to take ownership of a successful budding business, because I feel the same way! I'm proud of Silver & Riley and so excited for what the future holds that I didn't want to give it all away for money. I've always said that Silver & Riley is my legacy and will be passed down to my kids, God willing. You have to know your moral values and where your passion lies. Check back in 10 years. Maybe I'll have a different answer, but right now I want to be in creative control, to be engaging with my customers and to be fully immersed on this journey."
-Lola Banjo
12. Supporting others has always been key to Lola, thanks to her mother's generous soul.
"She was the most selfless person I've ever known and her gracious acts of kindness impacted the lives of countless people in both big and small ways. When I was first creating my brand, I knew I wanted to incorporate a give-back component that would grow with the business. I've seen firsthand that no contribution is too small for someone in need, so I didn't want to wait until I hit some arbitrary number before I started giving back. I decided to launch the Buy1Give5 program, which reserves 5% of Silver & Riley's yearly revenue to women on their own entrepreneurial journeys. We receive thousands of applications for our grant program every year, and it brings me so much joy to be able to support these dreams in some way. Silver & Riley's Buy1Give5 program is led by my mother's example, and I hope she is watching me with a proud smile."
-Lola Banjo
(Image courtesy of Lola Banjo)
For more on our favorite inspiring women in fashion, click HERE to read our interview with nuuds founder Daryl-Ann Denner.