Making It | Brooke of Binky & Lulu
I was introduce to Binky & Lulu at Alt Summit through one of their stockist, Emily Grey founder of The Flourish Market in Raleigh, North Carolina. I geeked out when I read that Binky & Lulu’s earrings were handcrafted out of mango wood in the Philippines! I would say this was the start in my search for Filipino creatives and organizations. This is why inclusion and representation matters, ya’ll! I set out to know more about Binky & Lulu and was fortunate to meet with Brooke (via email because Covid) and I’m excited to introduce you to Binky & Lulu, a brand that makes beautiful sustainable earrings and who supports Filipino artisans!
1. I love that your packaging is plastic-free. Why is sustainability important to Binky & Lulu?
As a company and as individuals we understand the current state our world is in, we know it is at its capacity in regards to human footprint. B&L consciously takes this into account on all levels so that we may have as low an impact on the environment as we possibly can. We do this by using recyclable and biodegradable packaging only- more specifically Paper Earring Cards that are printed and dye-cut in our home city (no carbon footprint) and Glassine Envelopes that are water, air and grease resistant but also 100% recyclable and biodegradable,
2. I love seeing the growing appreciation for Filipino artisans! How did the Filipino family who made the earrings become part of Binky & Lulu’s story?
The founder of B&L, Lee Reinhold, connected with the company/artisans in the 1980’s when she was working with an East Coast based sourcing company. She went on to found B&L with the Filipino company as a vital part in creating her vision. B&L was rebranded and relaunched as a company in 2015 by the founder and the founder’s daughter with the goal of working with the same Filipino company that Lee worked with in the 80s.
3. Mangoes have a very significant meaning for me and my family. It’s one of the reasons why I connected so much to your product! What is the significance of Binky & Lulu earrings being made of mango wood?
Hearing about our customers' connection to our C-Hoop is a spark that contributes to keeping the flame burning at the company. It’s important to us that our product has meaning, and most importantly that meaning differs with each person. For us, the significance is based on environmental concerns and meaningful forms. Mango Wood is a sustainably sourced wood- we won’t go into the minutia of it (a simple google does that trick.) Wood allows us to remain confident that our product is not contributing to landfills in being a natural material. Beyond that, human beings have had a long and deep relationship with hand-carved wood objects.
4. The Binky & Lulu website finally launched in November of 2020. What is it like to make the move from working solely with stockists to having a website and making your product more widely available? What advice would you give to small business owners in a similar situation?
Monetary value aside, having our own website helped further our vision of who we are and what we look like. Stockists are our bread and butter, we wouldn't be what we are if it weren't for these wonderful, true-blue stores that believe in our brand and product. However, in that process of selling, as a brand you are collaborating with 3rd parties and their interpretation of who you are. Without your own platform for freedom of creativity and curated aesthetic, you are at the mercy of others' portrayal. More simply put, a website is a fabulous tool for a brand to have more control over how the public views and knows you.
