“These are the things I love, things I’ve worn. I get more compliments on accessories than anything else. I think they’re kind of like herbs and spices. They give zest and zing to an outfit.”
(Iris Apfel)
Hello and welcome to Maple And Oak Designs!
- Maple And Oak Designs is mostly me, Leonie. Since 2012, I make colourful fashion accessories and home decor for people who believe in maximalism.
- Inspired by vintage fashions, flowers, dots and stripes, I work with reclaimed, vintage and eco-friendly fabrics.
- Everything is painstakingly handmade by myself in small batches in my home studio in Quebec City.
But let me tell you a bit more about what brought me here: I was always the kind of person who loves colourful, sometimes eccentric clothes and bold accessories. With that fashion sense comes usually a healthy sense of adventure. So after finishing my university degree in History and English, I went off to explore the world.
Australia, Canada, Latin America & Europe, so much excitement! But after a few years, I found myself back home in Germany teaching. While I love teaching (and still teach languages a few hours per week), it just wasn’t enough to quench my thirst for creativity. That’s when Maple And Oak Designs was born. I spent a few years in Western Canada, playing in the Rockies, making friends in Calgary and exhibiting at artisan markets all over Alberta & the Prairies before moving out East to Quebec. My husband is from “La Belle Province” and it was time for a change. Since then, I’ve been practising my French, honing my creative skills and having fun with a colourful, maximalist lifestyle.
My three favourite accessories
- Big earrings
- Headbands
- Bangles
My three favourite crafts
- Sewing
- Drawing
- Pottery
My three favourite Maple And Oak products
- Summer: the Rockabilly Headband
- Winter: the Walkstoff Collection
- Travel: the Sleep Mask
