Moira Laporta is a Chilean designer and entrepreneur, known for co-founding the handbag brand Moi & Sass. The brand combines her Latin American heritage with a minimalist aesthetic inspired by modern art. She has successfully combined her training with a modern vision of sustainable and functional fashion.
What memories do you think influenced your taste for design, aesthetics and fashion?
“Since I was little, I was fascinated by well-made objects. I remember watching my mother getting ready calmly, choosing every detail with intention. I was always drawn to how aesthetics can transform the everyday: the way something is made, how it feels, how it ages. I believe that this interest in functional beauty — more than fashion as trend — is what led me to design.”
The concept of “slow fashion” seems central to your brand, Moi & Sass. What role do slow fashion and craftsmanship play in your daily life?
“For me, slow fashion is not a strategy, but a way of living. At MOI & SASS everything starts from the idea of doing less, but better: noble materials, conscious processes and objects that last over time. In my day-to-day life, that translates into valuing what I already have, choosing intentionally and surrounding myself with things that convey calm and authenticity.”
Who are your references and how do they influence your work?
“I admire brands and designers who have managed to build their own universe without following trends, like The Row, Phoebe Philo or Loewe under Jonathan Anderson. I’m also inspired by creative and real women who combine elegance and naturalness effortlessly. I admire those who manage to find beauty in the simple and make the everyday special. I’m also inspired by architecture, art and nature—how forms, silences and materials dialogue with each other.”
In what way do your Latin American roots play into your way of seeing design?
“My Latin American roots are very present, although subtly. I believe they bring a warmth and emotional connection that I always seek to reflect in the bags: pieces with a soul, with a story behind them. There is a way of looking at colour, texture and imperfection that comes from there, and which balances European sobriety with a more vital energy.”
Your favourite Moi & Sass bag?
“The Lotus Bag. It is the most symbolic to me because it represents rebirth, the balance between structure and fluidity. Also, it was one of the pieces that marked the beginning of a new stage for the brand ….. it’s the photo with the white bucket-bag”
What place in the world would you like to travel with your espadrilles on?
“Italy in autumn. I imagine walking along cobbled streets, entering small bookshops or enjoying a good coffee.”
How would you design your perfect Cayumas?
“I would make them in sand-coloured suede, with a simple silhouette but very carefully in the details. Comfortable, versatile and timeless, like everything I like: pieces that integrate easily into daily life, effortlessly, but with character.”
