The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

M ost often, working in the city or anywhere else in London doesn’t afford you suffi- cient time to shop at your favourite designer or accessories store during your lunch break. For over 35 years, Aquila Agha has been purchasing luxury handbags for her personal use. It was whilst on a career break from her role at an Inves- tment Bank in Banking and Finance with her second child that she decided to start an e-business, as she truly believed that was the future. She looked into the preloved luxury designer handbag market and saw it as “an opportunity to develop a business around this area since buying was becoming less accessible in terms of price and affordability for a lot of people.” She further added, “In addition, there needed to be a process where sellers could sell their used items to buy new.” This process is called Circular Economy where a product has many users in its lifecycle, and helped birth Papillonkia in 2014. Firstly, Aquila started a trial in her study at home and sold items on eBay as they had the best marketplace at the time and a worldwide customer reach. “During the first three months, we became a top seller with a 100% feedback score.” The business outgrew her study and progressed into an e-commerce website and office space. “That’s when I knew this was a viable business. It’s always been our mission not to have retail shops as we want to keep costs down so that the end-user, our clients, will benefit.” The Papillonkia founder loves the designs, quality and luxu- rious leather used in designer handbags and their longevity. She believes they should last for a lifetime although some do not. “The designs are so innovative depending on who the creative director is and are timeless.” Being perpetual and an investment, designer bags and jewellery rarely lose their values, especially brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA). Having a business that is customer-friendly, transparent and at the forefront of the preloved luxury market allows Aquila to create and manage a work-life balance around her family. The hours are indeed longer than a regular 9-5 job but it is a business that she is 100% committed to. “I want to make luxury affordable and accessible to all regardless of their background and finances.” She is 100% fully supportive of the Circular Economy and Diversity, and her brand motto is “Buy, use and sell preloved luxury.” At Papillonkia, you can expect to see luxury wares such as the CC Mania Camera Case in pink leather with gold hard- ware. It has an internal slip pocket, embroidered Chanel CC logo, flat exterior pocket and a zip-top closure. The stunning Chanel Large Tote in beige with ruthenium hardware has a double chain and leather straps, an inner slip pocket and an inner zip pocket that can be worn handheld or as a shoulder bag. It is said to be so soft that it moulds to any body shape. The Dioramour Vanity Case in white and black squares filled with embroidered red hearts canvas and silver hardware is from the 2021 capsule collection. It bears the Christian Dior logo, embroidered adjustable and removable shoulder strap, an internal slip pocket, small adjustable top handle and two zip closures. Miss Dior Bag, the exquisite bag by Dior in black leather with gold hardware, was re-invented in 2018 and includes three roomy compartments as well as a beau- tiful chain strap. Although discontinued at Louis Vuitton, you can still get the popular and desirable St Germain Bag MM in beige leather with gold hardware, an interior slip pocket, zipped pocket and two interior compartments. The Saddle Wallet on Chain Exquisite Bag by Dior in navy oblique canvas and leather with gold hardware is designed with a removable zipped pouch, three patch pockets, six card slots, front ‘D’ stirrup and remo- vable chain strap. Papillonkia also carries preloved shoes and boots such as the Gucci x North Face Boots in cream leather or GG Marmont Sandals in pink or gold leather with sequins and silver hard- ware, ankle straps and leather sole. Designer Joseph Azagury’s court shoes in black suede with 9 cm heels and a square toe is attractive while the Saint Laurent Metallic Python Platform biteaccessories Papi Jada Brookes discovers how a city worker traded her hours for a preloved luxury e-commerce business that provides her with a family-work balance and a love of designer accessories. Preloved Luxury