Freja New York’s Jenny Lei On Love, Community And Chasing Her Dream

It was a sunny Wednesday afternoon when I met Jenny Lei at The Hari. The Freja New York founder had made a brief stop in Hong Kong before visiting the brand’s partner factory in Guangzhou to prepare for a new product launch. With nary a proper introduction, she instantly greeted me with an open-armed hug and asked how my work had been as if I were an old friend — even though we were only meeting for the first time. Before I even glanced at the drink menu, we had embarked on a conversation about anything and everything: Freja bags, failed bags, dreams, finances, girlhood, growing pains… And as our chat went on, something became abundantly clear: Lei’s authenticity and affectionate spirit is what gives Freja its soul. Jenny Lei, Founder of Freja New York For those unfamiliar with Freja New York, the name “Freja” is of Scandinavian origin and draws inspiration from Freyja — a goddess in Norse mythology associated with love, femininity, and strength. “When I started Freja, three words guid

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• Ying Ge