About Mono & Lena

Hi, my name is Noura, the designer/maker behind Mono & Lena.

Before Mono & Lena

Before I started hand-casting home accessories and launching Mono & Lena, I used to work as a footwear designer. I did this for about 10 years, during which I worked for small independent brands up to large high-street retailers. The motivation or creative input behind those designs would often be the latest trends. Trends that would dictate what the next big thing will be, but also what will be out and make the designs look old-fashioned. The rate at which these trends would come and go became faster and faster, and also often felt irrelevant and detached from real life. This emphasis on ‘in/out’ is definitely not something I wanted for my home accessories.

During that time I was also commuting daily in/out of London and it became a strain and often caused lots of anger and anxiety, this made me really long for a slower pace of life. So when I was made redundant, I made the decision to not go back to designing shoes and one year later Mono & Lena was born. This has given me the opportunity to take control of my time and maybe even more importantly has given me a newfound sense of creative freedom. Not being told what to design has reawakened my love for drawing and dreaming up ideas, a favourite pastime for an introvert like me.

Why home accessories

Enjoying a calm life and being an introvert doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t like to stand out or make a statement though, I just like to do this in a quiet way… and that’s what my accessories are: little silent statements where quality, detail, colour and texture do all the talking.

My home is my happy place and sanctuary where I can fully relax, recharge and also enjoy the beauty of the objects and furnishings I have chosen to surround myself with. Over the years my boyfriend and I have collected things that we love and that bring character to our interior, some of these objects hold dear memories, some are passed down and some are just there because we love them. They add touches of individuality and tell something about us. I hope that’s what my accessories will feel like for you, like pockets of quiet statements that turn your home into a joyful & relaxing retreat.

A few small/random facts about me:

• I design/create everything from my home studio (aka the spare bedroom)
• When I’m not making, I can be found in the garden, baking something, browsing bookshops, visiting art exhibitions or watching crime/interior shows on tv
• My favourite colour is blue
• My star sign is Taurus (I’m a proud one!)
• I’m Belgian and moved to London in 2012
• I like odd numbers