Interview: Carlos Falchi – Artist and Designer
Published on November 14th, 2008.
PB: When you paint some of these handbags, how long does it take you?
CF: Well, I am pretty quick – I’m used to it. I pain the skins first and then build the bag. My hope in the beginning was to change every color. Also, I had to use the piece of the skin I had because I didn’t have any money. I had to use what I had.
PB: When you started the boutique, were you still doing clothing?
CF: I did clothing, but Bendel’s really pushed me into the handbag business. At that time, there really wasn’t such a thing as a new handbag designer. To everyone else, it was like I was doing something that was completely nuts.
PB: Now you stick to bags. I heard you were getting back to shoes, are you going to do that again?
CF: Yeah, shoes and gloves. I’ve been doing gloves for a while.
PB: You’ve been at this location for a while?
CF: I have close to 7 years. But I have factories all over the place – all New York.
PB: When you were talking about your clothing, you mentioned patchwork. What was the style of clothing?
CF: Everything was pretty free form. At first, I didn’t even know how to put zippers in the pants. I would lace everything up, it was very rock-n-roll. I’ve not big into hardware. Even with the handbags, I very rarely use hardware.
PB: Right, I very rarely see hardware on your bags. You really utilize the skins.
CF: In the olden days, we really never used hardware – I wanted the focus to be on the skins.
PB: How many pieces do you have in the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
CF: Five. Basically bags. This is another place where America gives such great opportunity – to evolve.
PB: You have your own niche. Do you have a favorite exotic skin to use?
CF: I am a product of the 60s so I am always very aware of the environment and animals. Everything that I use here is farmed, nothing is wild. I am very involved with the farms. The ecological part of the business is something i am very interested and involved in. The species I use is based on how available they are.
PB: Working with the material, do you have a favorite or least favorite?
CF: No, not really. I like everything. At this point, if there is something I want to use or work with, I will make it work. The skins tell me a lot. I look at it, I see it, I talk to it. My kids make fun of me because I talk to the skins.
PB: Are all of the skins easy to absorb the color?
CF: It has been a long process to learn how to use and work with color. I don’t use any harsh chemicals or dyes. It is important to touch and use the bags. The more you use it, the softer it will feel. Don’t be afraid to touch the bags and really use the bags!
This is the best interview yet!!! Thank you so much
Thanks for doing this great interview! and do you happen to know how much the painted python bag on page 3 costs?? And where I can lay my hands on one? Even my boyfriend who was next to me reading a mag said.. “whoa.. WOW thats great.”
Evster, the hand-painted bag you mentioned costs $1570 (all thumbnails are clickable for more info!). Inquire here for availability:
http://www.carlosfalchionline.com/contactus
I met Falchi at a personal appearance at Neiman’s in the DC area. He was a very lovely person and the bags are beautiful. For the price though, I would have expected a suede lining. The quality of the Jimmy Choo exotics is comparable and better constructed imo for the same price.
It’s good to see a talent from my country doing so many beatiful things. It’s a pity he doesn’t come to Brazil as much anymore.
jane, while I appreciate your input, I will tend to rather side with the word of a person I actually met, instead of a comment posted anonymously.
Jane –
I will follow up and look into it. I don’t see why anyone would lie… I really do not think he would, but I will ask. Where did you get your info from?
Thank you for publishing this lovely interview! Mr. Falchi did a line that he marketed on QVC about 10 years ago and I used to love watching him make his personal appearances. He was so creative and entertaining and gracious. In those years there may not have been so much pressure from the tv shopping channels for their high-end designers to cut cost corners for the mass market. I splurged and purchased an amazing all shearling Carlos Falchi bag from QVC. It was a limited edition — pure, undyed, untreated shearling. Imagine a huge pouch with the shearling fur on the inside and the “raw” suede on the outside. Fabulous! Alas, it was an enormous bag and I ended up selling it just a few years ago. Thanks for the memories….!
great interview! – love his way of using everything and let nothing go to waste
I had the opportunity to meet Carlos in person and he is everything as you have described him – a first class professional and a wonderful person. His handbag products are to die for, and he manages to cover various price ranges, from microfiber to exotics.
i love the interview. got to know the designer that i love so much. the bags are awesome, and i would love to win one, since money is so tight, and i could use is desperately!!!!! please, pleae, please………
It seems he was really put on earth to do what he does. You can understand it from the passion with which he speaks and the amount he gets involved. I would prefer to give money to buy one of his bags than one from a massive house with a huge production line.
Hi! I recently purchased my first Carlos Falchi bag from Neiman Marcus. It is the crushed lamb poof bag and it is absolutely to die for. Such a gorgeous piece of art. About 4 or 5 years ago, I passed on a motorcycle bag that I saw on the Neiman’s catalog. That bag has haunted me for years. Since becoming a member of the purse forum, I have collected Louis Vuitton extensively. However, after finally taken the plunge to the Carlos Falchi crushed lamb, I have decided to branch out and discover other fabulous designers. Thank you purse forum Meg and Vlad for publishing this interview! Veronika
What a fascinating man and interesting interview……thank you!
Great interview!The bags are very beautiful!!!! thank you Vlad and Meg!!!
I enjoyed this interview. Among other things, it reminded me why I love the art of the handbag… and stories of success, too!
A truly inspiring story! I love his handbags!
He is an artist, whose canvas is his handbags
Great interview; thanks to Megs and Vlad for sharing this! I really admire that Carlos Falchi does not stray from his humble beginnings of using scraps to make art/handbags. What a true artist and a true ‘green’ capitalist!
I just wanted to share some first hand info about Carlos. I have worked for him for a few years and he is a wonderful man. An incredible designer- with an amazing eye and full of creativity! The office is a family environment- and always full of fun! He really wants everyone to enjoy their job, treats them great, has a wonderful family– and it makes you want to work even harder! Not to mention the bags are beautiful- and made right here in our office! It is so cool- and I think everyone should have a CF bag- it is $$ well spent and you will have it for the rest of your life! I hope everyone gets to meet him someday!
Salve Carlos!
Since those difficult days in the seventies there was no doubt about your talent and sucess.
After years rediscovering Brasil in Porto Seguro, I´m back in Rio organizing the ARCHIVOS IMPOSSIBLES for a retrospective expo. Some photos of that atelier in Madison Ave. will be on. Would like to re-contact you personally. please send e-mail/tel. Abração