Meet Astrid

Astrid Haerens is a Belgian writer and poet that draws her inspiration from everything in the city around her. Subjects such as sociology, feminism and ecology lay close to her heart and guide her work. 

Astrid and Lies met when Lies moved to Brussels and they became upstairs neighbours in the same apartment building. Feeling instantly at home, the two became friends and regularly visited each other's apartment or shared drinks on the rooftop terrace.

“I read and write to understand the world and my place within. But also to find comfort in the beauty of language. Poetry is, for me, a thickened form of beauty. I love to combine the rational and the intuitive when writing.”

As a fervent reader, she regularly heads down to the park with one of her books. So Lies decided to design a bag that could easily fit a book alongside her other belongings. And so the Astrid bag was born; a semicircle shaped, elegant shoulder bag. Its curved silhouette offers enough space for your wallet, keys, current read and a small bottle of water. In addition, the bag has an extra compartment to store your smartphone or notebook and an adjustable strap so that you can carry it over the shoulder or crossbody. 

Because we are always looking for reading tips, Astrid shared some of her favourites. A mix of literary romans and poetry:

- De Wand, Marlen Haushofer
- Alejandro Zambra, Mijn documenten
- Wislawa Szymborska, Einde en begin. A book gathering all her poems.
- Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider
- Everything from Olivia Laing, but a great start is The lonely City

Happy reading!