LAURENCE LEENAERT | HARPER'S BAZAAR ARABIA | INTERVIEW

Harper's Bazaar Arabia, July 7, 2022

24 Hours With Belgian Textile Artist Laurence Leenaert

What’s it like to be the founder of Marrakech-based lifestyle interior brand LRNCE for a day? The Belgian textile artist walks us through an ordinary day around the clock…

 

8:00AM I wake up and have my coffee in our little garden with some sun, read the news and create the day’s to-do list. Two days are never the same in Marrakech; I love how unexpected things often come up and we always go with the flow. At the moment, we are opening a boutique hotel, a riad in the Medina of Marrakech called ROSEMARY.

 

Every morning around 9:00AM we go on site to check renovation updates and meet with the artisans, who work with us on the project. We are designing everything ourselves, so we are learning so many new crafts and techniques these days. At the moment we are busy making samples for the floors in terrazzo, tadelakt and marble. This is for sure my favourite part of the day.

 

2:30PM I am back in the studio after lunch working on samples and following up on production for LRNCE. Some afternoons during the week I go to the pottery atelier outside Marrakech to paint ceramics or source new materials. As we do a range of textiles, ceramics, clothing and furniture, I am always drawing and creating new objects. I do also take all the photos myself for our website and social media so I am always on the hunt for new spots to shoot new objects weekly.

 

4:00PM I make a coffee and take the time to answer emails rather than running around everywhere. Taking a breath.

 

6:30PM I am at the door about to leave the studio with my scooter either heading towards home or attending a yoga class at Root as I do a few times a week. I love to drive my scooter in Marrakech; being a constantly dreamy person, I always enjoy my ride.

 
8:00PM I have dinner with my husband Ayoub, and meet with friends. In Marrakech we go out for dinner most of the time, which I love as I do not like to cook. My favourite restaurant to go to with friends is +61 in the centre of Gueliz, and afterwards a coffee at Les Negociants – the oldest cafe in Marrakech.
 
10:00PM I arrive home. I love to organise the house and my clothing as it makes me feel calm. Or, sometimes I would put on a movie and meanwhile sketch – the best meditation for me before going to sleep.
 
 
11:30PM Bedtime.

 

 

 

 

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