The Moxie Catalogue- Meet The Founders of Ploosh Place

by Delaila Catalino · November 5, 2014

In a time of social media the possibilities are endless. During fashion week back in September I networked with a young lady in front of the tents and asked her to take my photo. We chatted a litle and exchanged Instagram handles. When I followed her and glanced through her gram I instanly noticed Ploosh Place. The name itself intriguing, I clicked on to their page and I was immediately fascinated. Whose idea was it to make these super cute hippo purses and how did they build their success to become mainstream. I did notice the stylish hippos made an appearance at Miami Swim Week. I needed answers and so I reached out and to avail I reached Yuriy. Initially I thought the designers were women. I was intrigued when I noticed that the partnership included a man, it made the brand that much cooler in my eyes. And so I want to make it cool in your eyes too. Read on to get a glimpse of PLOOSH PLACE Leather Toy Collection.

In 3 words who is the Ploosh Place customer. For those who don’t know tell us about Ploosh Place.

Sasha: Kids at heart.

Yuriy: fashionable, fearless, individual.

For those who don’t know tell us about Ploosh Place.

PLOOSH is the idea that all of us still have a child within us. PLOOSH bags therefore allow us to tap into that inner child and take him with us anywhere we go in the form of a playful handbag. It’s a company that makes endearing and sophisticated animal purses. They are both, fashionable accessories and cute stuffed toys. We feel there is no need to grow up completely and that there is beauty in staying vulnerable and playful. PLOOSH helps people preserve this part of their personality.

Since the brand incorporates aspects from childhood with adulthood, what was your favorite childhood toy growing up?

Sasha: I had a cute dog with floppy ears and long paws that I could wrap around my neck. I was madly in love with that thing

Yuriy: I loved playing with GI Joe’s, sadly they have nothing at all to do with our current PLOOSH line; however, some part of me still enjoys action figures to this day.

What were some challenges bringing toy bags to designer status? What were people’s initial reaction?\

Sasha: The first time we introduced our purses to the public was at Miami Fashion Week 2013. Most people’s reaction was a mix of being puzzled, intrigued, excited, or curious…The more they touched the PLOOSH purses the deeper the fell in love with them. PLOOSH ended up on a runway that summer at IMG presenting with AZ Araujo.

Yuriy: We really didn’t know what designer status was, Miami SWIM exposure was really a matter of taking a giant leap into a world we were really unfamiliar with. Many people didn’t know what to think, they were really intrigued. Those who “got it” got it very quickly, those who didn’t, understood it, but didn’t really “get” the concept. Over all it was a very warm reaction, you can only be put off so much by a smiling hippo.

What is your biggest brand accomplishment to date?

Sasha: Getting into Henri Bendel on Fifth was pretty exciting for us, we were only a few months into our work. So was showing with Colin King in New York Fashion Week S/S 2014.

Yuriy: Ditto on both. But I would also say that getting exposure on a more frequent basis and having more and more people carry the brand and consistently having contact with media still impresses me to this day.

Where do the inspirations from designs come from?

Sasha: We find our inspiration in all the things that surround us, runway fashion, nature, beautiful materials that we come across. It’s completely unpredictable to say how when and what will inspire us to make a certain piece or collection. We chose little animals because it is way for us to show our playful side and let other people experience child-like excitement and joy over favorite stuffed toys. Plus they are fun! Fun and different and they bring smiles to people’s faces, which is absolutely priceless for us. We have two main lines, PLOOSH Leather Toy Collection which features animal purses out of genuine leather and Swarovski crystals, some of them also come with cross-body straps. The other line is called PLOOSH Downtown and it is a more affordable edgy line that consists of purses made out of faux leather and other fun fabrics such as denim and sequin.

Yuriy: Also, I think for me, my mood and experiences in fashion on a daily basis inspire creativity in one way or another. Much like a purse accessory or any type of fashion or way of dressing is an expression of self, the designs behind the PLOOSH bags are an expression of how the designer feels. To that end, the traveling we do, the different things we see, the exposure to life really drives the style and concept behind PLOOSH.

Since we are all about GLAM here what’s your definition of the word?

Sasha: Something that has to do with “magic”.

Yuriy: David Bowie. As in over the top, unapologetic fierceness.

Best piece of advice for an emerging brand or entrepreneur.

Sasha: Get out there and don’t be afraid to be misunderstood. There are people out there who get it but in order to get to them, sometimes you have to deal with rejection and its okay.

Yuriy: Just leap. You have to risk everything. Most importantly, you have to be unafraid of failure. Don’t lose yourself and the parts of you that lead to the birth of your designs and ideas; don’t let them get torn apart by the buyers, the critics, and the naysayers. Follow your own path and be unapologetically you. That way you’ll have no regrets regardless of the outcome. You’ll always know that you were true to yourself and your ideas.