Meet the Makers: Alix Bigois from Bandit Circus

How would you describe Bandit Circus?

Bandit Circus is a bold, colourful & unisex brand producing fun backpacks for mini individuals and their grownups. It is a combination of practical and fun for the whole family. It is designed with children and parents in mind. It is a wild child brand, for all the personalities a lot of freedom and adventures ahead.

What was your journey to setting up Bandit circus?

Setting up a business or starting a studio/brand was always at the back of my mind. I am a surface/textile designer so I have always wanted to see my designs on products. At the time I wasn’t sure what form it would take but I knew it would be related to kids.

The idea itself started when my eldest, Oscar, started nursery. I was looking for a nice bag with bold prints that would be practical for me. I couldn’t find anything that would fit both my criteria and as I love children’s fashion/books/decor it just sparked in my head and my heart. I wanted to make a bag that could be used by the whole family and at different stages of the children’s lives. My bags can be used as a nappy bag from birth, a backpack from 3 years, a lunch bag for older kids, a shoulder bag for the parents (with the additional shoulder strap) and a handlebar bag on the bike!

WHAT IS YOUR MAIN Thought WHEN YOU’RE DESIGNING A COLLECTION?

I don’t follow trends, it is more a thing of the moment. It can come from a word, a colour, a book, an artist, anything really. It is very spontaneous as well, I design following my instincts. I have a lot of ideas that I write down, less than 10% will materialise into something concrete but I know it's ‘the one’ when I am overexcited and have butterflies in my stomach!

Why is it important to you that your collections are unisex?

I never liked the idea of having things for girls and different ones for boys. Everyone should feel comfortable wearing or playing with what they want and just be themselves. It was my very first rule when I set up Bandit Circus. Childhood should be the best time of their lives, a time when everything is possible. I want my bags to be supportive and encouraging for their creativity and their personalities.

HOW IS SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT TO BANDIT CIRCUS?

All the bags are made in the UK in a one-person studio. In the future I would like the fabric to be made of recycled bottles so I am looking for places. For the home prints, they are printed on recycled paper and all our packaging is recyclable. I send the bags in potato sacks!

WHo or what gives you inspiration?

I love Matisse for his Paper Cutting, I grew up with his work as I am from Nice. I remember we went to the Matisse musem with school. I was around 8 or 9. We sat down in the room with his Paper Cutting and we did our own version of it. I still remember everything about it and it has been a big inspiration, the colours, the simplicity, the organic shapes. Colours are a big inspiration as well, some ideas come from one colour. And I think my main inspiration is children. I find them so inspiring, imaginative, playful. I love the story they make, their honesty and their freedom.

WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOU, AND WHY?

Frida Kahlo is a big inspiration and role model. I love her work but what I love more is her tenacity, and how art was such a big part in her life and part of her recovery. But my mum is my biggest role model, she is always so positive despite everything she went through in her life, she is the kindest and strongest person I know. She is not scared, she is independent, confident, she always sees the solution, never the problem. She always smiles and is always happy. She always supports me, even when I said I wanted to study design and she had no idea what it was and where it would lead me!

What’s on your post-lockdown wishlist?

The main thing we would like to do is go and see our family in France and see the ocean. We love Les Landes and the Basque Country, it is relaxing, family friendly and a place where we love to be. For the boys I’d like to get a cap from New Kids in the Hood. They use used fabrics and have those flappy sides that I love.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR BANDIT CIRCUS IN THE FUTURE?

I would like to expand the brand with more products, some for adults and I would love to do some collaborations with other brands I love! And more print and patterns!

Find out more about Alix and Bandit Circus at banditcircus.com and on Instagram @banditcircus