The Creative Life of Clare Vivier: Style, Sunlight, and Social Impact

Clare Vivier has an uncanny ability to merge two seemingly disparate worlds—Parisian chic and laid-back Los Angeles cool—into designs that feel both timeless and fresh. As the founder of Clare V., she’s built a brand synonymous with effortless style, peppered with personality, and just the right amount of irreverence. Whether it’s through her signature handbags, playful collaborations like her recent home goods line with Schoolhouse, or the eclectic charm of her Craftsman-style home, Vivier’s creations are as functional as they are beautiful. But beyond the stripes, clutches, and pops of poppy red, she’s equally committed to social responsibility, weaving activism into the very fabric of her work. It’s this dynamic mix of aesthetics, values, and a dash of humor (yes, even her bags have “purse-onality”) that keeps her at the forefront of the fashion conversation.

What’s the design influence of Clare V.?

We like to say that the brand merges Parisian chic with LA style because I’m attracted to classic styles with a twist. The classic is the French part and the twist is the LA. In LA we have a lot of light and space to be creative and that comes out in our designs.

Your recent collaboration with Schoolhouse for home goods feels like a natural extension of your aesthetic. What drew you to this project? And what’s an unexpected way to style a piece or pieces from the collection?

We reached out to Schoolhouse for the collaboration. We are fans of their work and I feel like there is a real synergy between the brands. We are both colorful, and classic and aim to make functional objects that will last generations. An unexpected way to style the collection is put the striped sofa on the animal print rug. It works!

You live in a beautifully designed craftsman home. What’s a signature from your own personal style that influences a space in your home?

We’ve lived in our Craftsman for many years, one of my favorite things about the house is the light. I love a light-filled house and this is up high and has unobstructed windows that allow the L.A. sunlight in. The house decor reflects my personal style in its eclecticism – this is not a formal house and I’m not a formal person. I like colorful walls, print wallpaper, and patterned throw blankets – all on a base of classic and calm designs. It’s all about the balance.

What’s an underestimated item or a “can never have too many” item from the collection?

You can never have too many…Clare V clutches, of course. They are the perfect travel companions – throw toiletries and lingerie in them to pack then use them at night as an evening bag or in the day in your big tote as organizers.

Clare V. Clutches (a few we love)

What room in your house is your sanctuary? What elements make it peaceful?

My bedroom is my sanctuary at the house. I love the drenched rose color and the French doors that allow a view of our verdant backyard. The bed is so comfortable, it is my favorite place to read on the weekends during the day.

Your activism appears to be a strong part of who you are and the brand. How do you integrate your values into the Clare V. brand?

My parents were very active in social justice movements, and they instilled in me the belief that we should be active members of our communities. The moment we were able, I wanted to employ Clare V. resources for collaborating with organizations that hold the same values – like women’s healthcare, gun regulation, and LGBTQ rights. The ways you may see it in our designs are the products like the Vive La Resistance products that give back to Planned Parenthood and Maman, Je T’aime products for Every Mother Counts among others.

Nowadays, activism and fashion are frequently spoken of in the same breath. How do you see the fashion industry evolving when it comes to social responsibility?

I think fashion is evolving because customers are interested in buying products from companies that share their beliefs, which in turn reiterates to companies that it’s ok to have a point of view and stand up for progressive causes.

If your handbag collection could talk, share a brief story that one or two bags would tell.

We often give our bags a personality – we’ve even joked about “purse-onality” (bad pun, I know). For example, the Sandrine, a bag who has been off the line for a few years but is coming back soon, is someone we’ve always thought of as being a bit of a snob. She’s a lady bag and often scoffs at the fact that our offices are in Frogtown and not Beverly Hills. As soon as she gets into our offices from the factory she’s calling an Uber Black to get her to 90210.

What’s one handbag design you’ve made that holds a special place in your heart, and why?

La Tropezienne is one of my bags that will always hold a special place in my heart. It is one of my first bags. The design was inspired by the beautiful, vegetable tanned leather I bought off a bag maker who was closing her business. I designed and made the bag, took a photo of it, then put it on my blog with the title, “I’ve got your Summer tote.” I took orders for over 50 bags. It was pretty exciting for me.

The Clare V. brand is hugely popular. What’s been one of your proudest ‘pinch me’ moments so far?

I have a lot of pinch me moments – when we open a new store or when we gather our workforce together and I get to see how much we’ve grown. But one that was very special was when we did a collaboration with Monoprix last year and I got to see our name on the Champs Elysees.

What bright colors will you never tire of within the collection?

Poppy red and navy blue.

And lastly, name four people, places or things you’re enjoying right now (book, TV show, music, restaurant, lip color, snack, drink, sneaker, etc.).

Heather Taylor linens for holiday tables, Hermes lipstick in Pourpre Figue, Bjorn Qorn popcorn, and these New Balance x MiuMiu shoes.