Peruvian-born, St. Louis raised Daphne Benzaquen always knew she wanted to own a business someday, though she wasn’t quite sure what it would entail.
But as often happens, a personal need or want turns out to be the driving force behind a person’s life path. For Benzaquen, it was the desire for a unique backpack that led her to form daph., a St. Louis-based lifestyle brand specializing in sustainably made Peruvian leather accessories and baby alpaca fur designs, which merges both of her worlds.
With a bachelor’s degree in biology and an MBA from Washington University’s Olin Business School, creative designer and CEO of a handbag and now, clothing company might not have been the obvious choice. After a lot of research and self-education, and two handbag collections, and a Winter Apparel Collection later, she took the time to tell Gazelle how her company was conceived and evolved, and about her work as a business consultant, which also combines two aspects of her life.
What brought you to St. Louis and how old were you? My family came to St. Louis from Lima, Peru, through Geneva, Switzerland, when I was 2 years old. My dad accepted a fellowship at Washington University Medical School.
What inspired your company? After I began learning the fashion design process for my backpack creation, I realized I could use my fashion sense to create more pieces. Being Peruvian, I’ve always been proud of the craftsmanship and resources that the country has to offer. By starting a fashion brand that showcased these resources, I bring something unique to the U.S. market. Llama leather and baby alpaca fur are both sustainably collected resources native to Peru, high in durability and quality.
What led you to go beyond your own backpack to create the company? I started working on daph. in 2016, but it wasn’t until December 2017 that I launched my first collection. Inspired by women who cheered me on and pushed me to take chances on myself and my dreams, each piece has a unique use and personality. Without the support of my loved ones and confidence in myself, daph. would still be an idea.
What is your primary goal with each design? I like each design to be versatile in use, and high in quality and durability. For example, our bestseller, the “nicole.” is a belt bag, crossbody and belt bag. Therefore, it can be shown off at various occasions and events. The designs are not only practical, but also show off the quality of the Peruvian resources and craftsmanship used.
How have your offerings expanded since the beginning? The Winter Apparel Collection was designed to complement our handbags. Each piece is immensely comfortable (but also completely elegant). Our leisure-to-evening apparel line includes wide-leg pants, joggers, sweaters and more – in two colors. The line provides beautiful, versatile looks that are equally suited for the office, a Saturday trip to the farmers’ market or a coffee date. Additionally, all pieces are designed to be complementary to one another and to other wardrobe staples, making it simple to mix pieces to create fashionable outfits. We’re excited about expanding into a lifestyle brand!
How does your role as brand stylist and consultant complement your role as a designer and/or business owner? I started Daphne Benzaquen Consulting in an effort to share my knowledge with other entrepreneurs and help their businesses grow by diving into their brand story, personality and messaging. I love meeting fellow business owners and connecting them with resources around the city, while helping them learn from my experiences, so that we can come up with a brand concept together. Since I design my collections on my own, it’s nice to be able to work with other people, bounce ideas off each other, talk concepts through and grow together – things I do with all my consulting clients.
What are some of the treasures that can be found at your pop-ups? We love having our pieces available for our clients to experience firsthand. One of our favorites is the mosy. baby alpaca fur clutch. It’s sustainably made and a real standout piece at any event. We also love the sleek and elegant Nazca Envelope Clutch. We’re very excited to have our apparel in the pop-up shop so clients can try every piece on and combine it with one of our handbags for a day-to-night outfit!
On the Lighter Side:
Are you married and/or do you have children? Nope
What do you do for fun? When I have time, I love cooking and baking. I have several of my go-to Peruvian recipes, and I always like trying new dishes!
Favorite St. Louis eatery? Cate Zone Chinese Café
Favorite thing that you can’t do without? I always try to make time for self-care, whether in the form of reading a book or taking a yoga or Pilates class. I find that I get some of my best ideas when I take time for my brain to rest and stop racing.
Do you still carry that original backpack? Yes! I have it in magenta, and I love to take it traveling with me or to business meetings. It’s the perfect combination of practical and fashionable, and the magenta color really stands out!
Daph. supports local organizations by participating in pop-ups around the city throughout the year. For more information on upcoming pop-ups, or to order online, visit shopdaph.com.
