In Part 2 of a special Dawn Dusk series, Margo sits down with designer and maker Chelli Look, whose story is at the center of the documentary Dawn Dusk. Directed by Jason and Blue Gerber, the film follows Chelli’s journey through grief and healing after the devastating loss of her sister to domestic violence.
In this conversation, Chelli shares how creating leather handbags under her brand CHC became both a lifeline and a language for navigating profound loss. She offers her perspective on how the documentary came to be, what it means to create beauty amidst grief, and how creativity continues to shape her work as a designer, advocate, and visual storyteller. Through her story, we’re reminded of the resilience found in making and the quiet strength of simply being.
Margo and Chelli discuss:
- How the documentary Dawn Dusk unfolded from Chelli’s perspective
- The role of creativity and design in navigating grief and emotional recovery
- Why beauty is a necessity—not a luxury—in the healing process
- How CHC handbags became a vessel for processing and storytelling
- The evolution of Chelli’s work as an advocate for domestic violence survivors
- Learning to slow down, be present, and allow healing to unfold over time
Connect with Chelli:
https://www.dawnduskfilm.com/trailer
https://www.chellilook.com/
www.instagram.com/chelli_look
www.instagram.com/dawnduskfilm
