Building Block with Nancy Wu
“We have always looked to design for longevity and timelessness, avoiding trend when we can.”
Are you one that loves handmade leather handbags and accessories that are functional and minimalist? If so, we would like to introduce you to LA based, Building Block, founded by Nancy and her sister Kimberly Wu. We are honored to have had the opportunity to speak with Nancy so that she can share Kimberly and her story with you on how they founded Building Block in 2011 and how it has grown in the last 9 years!
Curito:
Hi Nancy, can you tell us about Building Block?
Nancy:
Building Block is a design studio established in 2011, based in Los Angeles, CA. The intention of each object the studio creates is to discard conventions of luxury by magnifying the essential and omitting the excessive. Building Block suggests a minimal(ist) alternative to accessories, finding constant inspiration in the return to timeless forms.
Curito:
What did you do before starting Building Block in 2011?
Nancy:
I worked as a footwear designer at Nike Inc before starting Building Block.
Curito:
What prompted you to start your own brand, how was Building Block born?
Nancy:
Building Block was originally born from not being able to find a bag out in the marketplace that we desired. While walking around the hardware section of a Tokyo Hands one week, my sister and I were struck by the assortment of raw materials readily available (rubber, acrylic, unfinished wood, leather bits), took some parts and pieces home that day, and started sewing very basic bags together with an old Singer machine. The visual vocabulary of Building Block was born from taking a utilitarian approach towards the idea of what an everyday bag could be. From there, we began to build a foundation of forms that could function as various accessories beyond bags.
Curito:
What were some of the challenges you encountered when you started and what did you learn?
Nancy:
Challenges happen everyday and I don't think I'll ever stop learning or making mistakes, so long as I still have this small business! A handful of challenges when we first started out included streamlining quality control, building reliable relationships with our material vendors, and learning to draw the line between being sisters and business partners.
Curito:
When you started Building Block did you feel like there was a growing demand for bringing luxury back to its minimalist state? Has that market grown in the last decade? Have you seen a shift in consumer habits and mindset?
Nancy:
Yes, when we started in 2011 the demand for products with a minimalist approach was definitely on the rise, and since then we have seen tastes veer towards a more maximalist trend. Ultimately we have always looked to design for longevity and timelessness, avoiding trend when we can.
Curito:
Describe a Building Block customer!
Nancy:
Casual, confident, classic.
Curito:
Who are some of your mentors and what inspires you to continue to create beautiful pieces for Building Block?
Nancy:
There's an NPR interview from last year with Eileen Fisher that I repeatedly come back to in order to remind myself that keeping steady with a singular ethos is perpetually possible. I love Eileen's approach and personality, I completely relate to her hesitation with interacting with the marketing aspect of owning a design business and the innate urge to create a uniform for smart women.
Curito:
What are some of the other brands and designers you admire?
Nancy:
I tend to be really unaware of brands and the fashion world to be honest and really couldn't name one brand if you asked me haha! I'm so lucky to be in the wake of such a diverse group of creators on the daily, and my admiration for my friends is something constant so I'll name my top three favorites: Shin Okuda of Waka Waka (furniture designer), Alma Allen (sculptor), David Godshall of Terremoto (landscape architect).
Curito:
In this new decade what do you hope to achieve?
Nancy:
I hope to continue to practice empathy in all aspects of my life.
Curito:
Currently you sell Building Block online and in select stores, what are some of the ways people can keep up to date with your latest designs, collections and offerings and do you do collaborative work with others if so how do people get in touch with you!
Nancy:
Sign up for our newsletters! We're also really active on Instagram and email. Also, we just put up an FAQ section for a bit more transparency about our company ethos: https://building--block.com/about/faq
Curito:
Thank you Nancy for taking time to teach us more about Building Block and the process and minds that go behind each design you and Kimberly create! We look forward to seeing what other products you guys create for Building Block and hope to perhaps collaborate with you back in Taiwan in the near future! Just for fun we asked Nancy to list three books that have made an impact on her life, you can check them out!
Nancy’s Booklist!
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong (featured in our 2020 Book List)
City of Quartz by Mike Davis
First published on September 23, 2020
