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| The Artist and Her Newest Protégé. |
Speaking with Alexandra “Lulu” deKwiatkowski is a bit like falling into a huge, down feather bed full of colorful, handcrafted throw pillows. The woman, whose mantra is “Always look on the bright side,” is unknowingly describing herself. She is the bright side; she lives the bright side, she paints and constructs on the brightest, most multihued side. It is no wonder that her brand, LULU DK, exudes the same sunlit warmth that is authentically and organically, Lulu.
Yet, I ask myself, how does a woman who has endured her fair share of hardship; losing both parents in her thirties, move forward so courageously in life, love and business? It’s in her DNA. Her father, Polish-born Henryk de Kwiatkowski, was a man of legend. The sort we remember from childhood fables. As a teenager, he escaped a Russian prison camp, narrowly making his way through Iran and South Africa to England, and then Canada; eventually becoming an airline tycoon, racehorse owner/breeder, polo player and art collector. Her mother was a glamorous former model, astute businesswoman in her own right, and horse breeder. The German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, possibly explains it best, “Mostly it is loss that teaches us the worth of things.
The petite,
striking blonde with the exotic eyes and Southampton-chic style was, needless to
say, an immediate success in the world of Manhattan High Society. With the
bones, brains, business and bank account, she gained one coveted label after
the next: “It Girl” (note: an “It Girl” 8-10 years ago was a much different
breed of girl than today), “Bright Young Thing” and “Thread Countess,” to name
a few. Yet, at the height of her societal reign, she and
her husband made the
decision to pack their bags and make Los Angeles their main
residence (Lulu and her family split their time between Los Angeles, New York,
Italy and the Bahamas).
So, how has the
former Park Avenue Princess taken to life in the City of Angels? “I love how much more laid back Los Angeles is in
comparison to New York. I could go to any party in LA in jeans, without makeup,
and feel pretty normal (for better or worse). Not the case in New York City. I also
love how people do everything in their homes, rather than at a restaurant or
club; more up my alley.”
When
I ask if she sometimes misses the glitz and social whirl of Manhattan, I get a
resounding, “Not for a second. But I miss my New York City friends.”
Today, after more than a decade of notable success, this wife and often sleep-deprived
mother of three young boys, is excited about LULU DK’s next big round: tackling internet retail through a new
online boutique. “I have an entire line of one-of-a-kind items that I have
collected through my travels. I turn them into stylized pillows, throws, etc. Additionally
featured are a myriad of other LULU DK
items: paintings, decals, note cards, art prints, etc. I hand paint everything
and am constantly updating these items as I travel.” She is also continuing to
build the LULU DK for Matouk line and LULU DK fabric and wallpaper. “We also
have a great, great thing launching in 2015 ... but I can’t talk about it at
this time ...”
It is obvious
that LULU DK puts a lot of thought
and labor into the artistry and quality of its products. “By trade I am a
painter,” explains the Paris-educated artist. “So I have a critical, perfectionist eye and I like it
that way. I am a traveler, a hunter and gatherer, and I love to see beautiful
things; particularly when they are hand crafted and show signs of the
craftsmanship and culture behind it … with that said, I like a Gap t-shirt
too!”
Lulu is hands-on dedicated
to the responsibility and craftsmanship of her merchandise, which coincides
with her support of organizations like Girl Rising: a grass
roots global campaign to empower girls through education. She was recently
involved and featured in the inspiring Girl
Rising film. She also supports the New York Head & Neck Institute (NYHNI), specifically as it relates to children.
When I end with
the inevitable inquiry about her coveted personal style and lifestyle: the
perfect collaboration of Hamptons Beach Chic, La Côte d'Azur and upscale California
Beach Girl, she relays, “Well, I went biking the
other day with some parents from my children’s school and their kids. Everyone
was in their sports gear, spandex, sweatshirts, etc. I wore a straw hat, jeans,
espadrilles and white Indian shirt. They poked fun, calling me, 'Riviera on a
bicycle' … it is a pretty accurate overall description.”
That’s
why we love Lulu.
www.luludk.com
