Conversations with Laura Cheung Wolf

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cheung Wolf. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Laura Cheung Wolf is the founder of home décor and lifestyle brand LALA CURIO. On a mission to reinvent ancient artisanship with a whimsical flair, LALA CURIO boasts for their exquisite handpainted silk wallpaper with couture embellishments and luscious tiles made of the imperial craft Cloisonné.

Born in Sydney and raised in Hong Kong and England, Laura graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York, where she was honoured with the Parsons Interior Design Award. With a passion for ancient craftsmanship, she pursued deeper through her Master’s in Fine and Decorative Arts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art London where she specialized on Cloisonné. Laura’s diverse design journey began in New York with museum exhibition design for Global World Expositions, leading into a design director role in fashion event production with clients such as Tom Ford, Estée Lauder, Vogue and MoMA.

Upon her return to Asia, Laura spent two years exploring forgotten crafts in remote parts of China to build her first collection. In March 2014, Laura established LALA CURIO, opening her flagship in Star Street Precinct followed by Prince’s Building Landmark. LALA CURIO creations have been featured globally at Bergdorf Goodman New York, Saks Fifth Avenue Miami and Rinascente Milan. The company’s global presence continues to expand with wallpaper showrooms in London, Bangkok, Washington DC and Los Angeles.

Laura, as a strong supporter of women’s entrepreneurship, leads by example in empowering women artisans to express their creativity and specialized crafts through the LALA CURIO platform, sharing the same goal to foster the next generations in preserving lost crafts.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey of entrepreneurship I feel is always a roller coaster, one must embrace the thrill of it. Problem-solving keeps it interesting, as we are constantly learning and growing.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in Handpainted Wallpaper by our atelier of skilled artisans, perfecting the craft of gong bi painting for 18th-century Chinoiserie flora and fauna. Our creative team creates the most unique artwork always with a whimsical flair, we push boundaries in the traditional craft to make it relevant again for today’s interiors. Our embroidery works are haute couture for interiors, embellishing pearls and delicate beads for sparkles and three-dimensionality. Our wallpaper is made bespoke to narrate your personal story always.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I’m too much of an artist and not as in tune with the numbers. I’m so thankful for mentors along the way to guide me through everything I did not know. Finding a mentor and being humble and open to learn is key.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lalacurio.com
• Instagram: @lalacurio
• Facebook: Lalacurio

Image Credits
LALA CURIO Limited