Names: Lily Rafii and Sulaika Zarrouk
Ages: 32 and 33
Location: New York City
Education: Lily: Bachelor’s in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York. Sulaika: Fashion Design Certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City; B.A. in Individualized Study from New York University
Job Titles: Cofounders of Felix Rey, a line of affordable luxury handbags, umbrellas, and belts
What They Do: Lily and Sulaika are the creative minds behind Felix Rey’s whimsically beautiful bags and accessories, which are sold in upscale department stores and boutiques across the country. Celebs such as Jennifer Lopez, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton favor Felix Rey, and Sarah Jessica Parker’s TV alter ego Carrie Bradshaw clutched one of their evening bags on an episode of Sex and the City.
How They Got Their Gig: While Sulaika had a background in design (she worked in the collection design department at Donna Karan), Lily went the corporate route after college, becoming an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. “I knew I wouldn’t stay forever, but it was a great platform,” says Lily, who’s collected vintage handbags since she was a child. After mutual friends introduced them in 2001, the two immediately clicked and began talking about ways to start a business. “At that time, there weren’t many companies making affordable luxury handbags,” says Lily. “We definitely saw a niche in terms of what we would buy ourselves, but we started Felix Rey without knowing where it would go.”
The Big Break: In the beginning, Lily and Sulaika designed a handful of bags and belts, photographed them, and sent them around to retailers. (The name Felix Rey comes from a Van Gogh painting by the same name that they both found inspiring.) One of their first bites was ultraluxe department store Barney’s. “They kept selling out and reordering, and after that we were on this trajectory. We were very lucky and were able to grow organically from there,” says Lily.
Always on My Mind: While Lily and Sulaika love being their own bosses, having your own company is a 24-hour/7-day-a-week job. “You can never really shut it off,” says Sulaika. “You can be on a beach on the other side of the world and if there’s something going on, you can’t remove yourself from it. It’s very much a full-time commitment.”
Fashion Fodder: To keep current, Lily and Sulaika read style tomes such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. “We also love international magazines, because they give a different perspective,” says Sulaika. People-watching helps too. “We look at what people are wearing on the subway. Anything can catch our eye,” says Lily.
This Job’s for You if: You’re patient, dedicated, and have a good eye. “Give yourself at least four years [to get things off the ground] and be really sure you want to do it, because you have to give yourself to it wholeheartedly,” says Lily. Also, Sulaika advises to be prepared for your potential success. “People think that somehow [owning your own business] is going to be easier or less time-consuming than working for someone else, but it’s really not,” she says. Still, both women agree the effort is worth it. “One of the most satisfying things is seeing people on the street wearing your product,” says Sulaika. “That’s very rewarding.”
