HENK’s Heiko Pörz at the Light ‘em Up Lounge
Heiko Pörz, founder of HENK, has built a brand that merges refined design, functional innovation, and deeply personal storytelling. Drawing from decades of travel and an appreciation for craftsmanship across cultures, he has created luxury accessories that stand out for their individuality and enduring quality. HENK is not simply about products—it’s about experiences, memories, and the emotions objects can carry. Through his thoughtful use of rare materials, meticulous attention to detail, and hands-on approach to every stage of production, Pörz has positioned HENK as a symbol of distinct identity in a crowded luxury market.
How did you first get the idea for HENK?
I’ve always been fascinated by products that combine form and function, but I found that many so-called luxury items leaned too heavily toward one or the other. Either they looked beautiful but were impractical, or they worked well but lacked soul. My travels exposed me to countless ideas—bags in Tokyo with perfect ergonomics, Italian leather goods with incredible patina, German precision engineering—and I wanted to fuse these influences into something unique. HENK started as a personal project, but the more I worked on it, the more I realized there was a real demand for products that don’t compromise on any front.
What is your philosophy when it comes to design?
Design, for me, is about harmony. A product should be as enjoyable to use as it is to look at. Every curve, stitch, and seam should have a purpose, and that purpose should enhance the experience of the person using it. I’m not interested in creating something that will be forgotten in a year; I want my designs to stand the test of time—both aesthetically and functionally. Longevity is the ultimate form of luxury.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I’m a collector of moments. Inspiration can come from a shadow falling across an old stone wall in Lisbon, the color palette of spices in a Marrakech souk, or the clean, structured lines of Scandinavian furniture. I keep my eyes open and take mental snapshots everywhere I go. Often, these impressions resurface years later when I’m working on a design, and I realize they’ve been quietly influencing my thinking all along.
How do you choose your materials?
Materials are the soul of a product. I spend a lot of time sourcing leathers, textiles, and metals that not only look and feel exceptional on day one but actually improve with age. I’ll reject a material without hesitation if it doesn’t meet my standards, even if it means delaying production. For example, some of our leathers come from small, family-run tanneries that still use traditional vegetable tanning methods. This takes longer, but the depth of color and the way the material develops character over time is incomparable.
How do you see HENK’s place in the luxury market?
Luxury today is often mass-produced, which is a contradiction in my eyes. HENK caters to a client who values individuality, someone who doesn’t want to carry the same bag that’s in every glossy magazine. Our customers seek something that reflects their own personality, and they appreciate knowing the story, the craftsmanship, and the human touch behind each piece. That’s our space—authentic, personal luxury.
What role does functionality play in your creations?
Functionality is non-negotiable. A beautiful bag that’s uncomfortable to carry or awkward to use is a failure. I test every design personally, living with it for weeks to see how it behaves in different situations—whether I’m rushing through an airport, cycling through the city, or attending a formal event. Only when I’m certain it works flawlessly do we move it into production.
How important is storytelling to your brand?
Storytelling gives an object meaning. Anyone can make a nice-looking bag, but when you know that a design was inspired by a rooftop sunset in Havana or the intricate metalwork of a Moroccan gate, it changes the way you experience it. Each HENK product carries a narrative, and I believe that connection deepens the bond between the owner and the piece.
What’s your process when developing a new product?
It starts with curiosity—a shape I can’t get out of my head, a texture I want to explore, or a functional challenge I want to solve. From there, I move into sketches and prototypes, often going through multiple iterations. I’m deeply involved at every stage: working with artisans, testing durability, refining proportions. It’s a slow process, but that’s what ensures the final product feels complete and authentic.
How do you define success for HENK?
Success is when someone tells me their HENK piece has become a trusted companion in their life. It’s not sitting in a closet—it’s been on trips, to business meetings, to dinners. It has scratches and marks that tell their own stories. That’s when I know we’ve created something meaningful.
What’s next for the brand?
I’m exploring new materials—some high-tech, some ancient—and collaborating with artisans in different parts of the world. There are designs in the pipeline that push the boundaries of what people expect from a bag or accessory, but still carry the unmistakable HENK DNA. My aim is to keep evolving while staying true to the principles that started it all.
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It was with great pleasure and honor that we welcomed Heiko Pörz on the show as our special guest.
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Sensory expert, cigar passionado, and host of the Light ‘em Up Lounge
