OUR STORY & PHILOSOPHY

fluo is a design label specializing in the creation of products for interior design, fashion, and everyday life.

 

The label was founded in 2001 by Ilke Penzlien and Sandra Thomsen during their studies at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg, Germany. Since 2011, Sandra has been running the label independently alongside her design studio, while Ilke works in the field of interior design with her Berlin-based studio.

 

The duo’s first design was the fluo bag — a disposable plastic bag reinterpreted in soft calf leather, retaining its standard proportions, including the punched crescent handle and bottom fold.

 

By translating the form of an everyday shopping bag into a refined leather object, they created a simple yet durable product that has since become the label’s classic. The bag has been presented in various exhibitions, including at

the design store of MoMA in New York and at the gallery of artist Katsuhito Nishikawa in Tokyo.

 

fluo develops products across disciplines, ranging from furniture and textiles to a variety of accessories.

Sandra Thomsen’s design approach is defined by a sensitive use of color, texture, and a deliberately restrained formal language. Her aesthetic is characterized by simple forms, a thoughtful and precise use of materials,

and a strong sense of proportion.

 

A central aspect of fluo’s philosophy is the careful refinement of useful objects.

Working primarily with high-quality natural materials, fluo creates functional, long-lasting products that embody clarity, elegance, and simplicity.