Introducing...

It is a small world. I have been in all ends of the world and run into people that somehow know someone I know. It happened again recently and tied one of my best friend’s family friend’s daughter to an internship with a handbag designer in New York. That was a long line of knowing, but it is closer than it seems. So thank you Kathleen for the introduction to Danielle Nicole Handbags!

Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando’s passion for fashion started young, like many of us. She went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and later studied in Europe, where her love for the design and manufacturing that goes into major design houses begun. Since then Danielle Nicole launched her handbag line which are composed of luscious Italian lamb leather, crushed patent leather, and French embroidery fabric.

Read more about Danielle Nicole Handbags...

Gustto handbags are not new to us here at Purse Blog. In fact, we like these handbags so much that they are without a doubt one of our favorite Savvy Brands over at Purse Blog Savvy.

Recently I had a chance to speak with Founder and Creative Director of Gustto, Agathe Planchon. As she splits her time between San Diego and NYC it was no shock that I picked up on her easy going and approachable San Diego vibe.

Her story is not only amazing, but also a breath of fresh air. Of course we are all aware of the current state of the economy, but Agathe’s outlook is inspiring and uplifting. More than anything else, it was wonderful to hear that people still dream and believe in success. And it is no wonder so many celebrities have been spotted carrying these bags. They are unique, well made and a great accessory to so many outfits. We’ve had a chance to photograph some of these bags in person for our Bag Art and they were certainly hard to give back. We hope you enjoy the interview and make sure to stay tuned, there is much more Gustto to come!

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Shoes and handbags seem to go hand in hand. Just as this is the case, there is no way we can leave out other essential accessories, like jewelery! Whether you love rings, bracelets, necklaces, ear-rings, most girls can’t shy away from jewelery of some sort. So just as I love to check out Jimmy Choo handbags and shoes, I love that there is a designer out there who designs two of my favorite things - handbags and jewelery.

Read more about Darby Scott!

Breaking into the designer handbag market is not easy. It takes skill, longevity, the right look, the right name, the right people. Two weeks ago we met the designers behind Hunting Season, a relatively fledgling handbag company which burst into the handbag market and is already sitting comfortably on the main floor at Barneys New York. Danielle Corona, previously with Valentino, and Jason Salstein, formerly with VBH, may be young, but their drive, knowledge, and passion shines through both their personalities and work. Their focus is quality. And with every detail that is taken into account, each handbag proves it is a seasonless masterpiece. These high school friends, who happened to grow up down the road from me, are a dynamite design duo; truly, a force to be reckoned with.

  

We chatted for hours over a delectable Italian meal in the Miami Fashion District, in which we learned Danielle and Jason will eat just about any type of eccentric cuisine (octopus was their appetizer). More importantly we talked about the Hunting Season collection. Their story is jam-packed with stints in Italy to fashion consulting in NYC. They have spent years learning the ropes and being go-to’s for the best of fashion industry. And while the purpose of our lunch was to go over their line, we hit it off with them from the beginning. They are truly a down-to-Earth duo who just so happen to have a brilliant handbag company. Our lunch concluded with an array of Hunting Season bags being shown to us so we could truly see what their brand entailed.

Read the interview and find more info below...

Where does inspiration come from? When it comes to fashion, when it comes to designers, we all know that inspiration can be drawn from just about anywhere. I am always intrigued by where inspiration comes from; it seems so unique and provides such a profound insight into the designer. A little while back I spoke with Rebecca Robinson, the designer and founder of psnob. The idea behind her amazing clutches is turning fine art into a functional purse. As I spoke with Rebecca, I could hear her passion, her love, and her dedication to these handbags. With a background in photography, fine art, printmaking and graphic design, it is no real shock that these handbags show amazing attention to detail.

When using acrylics on cotton canvas to make the clutches, Rebecca went through a lot of trial and error. She said that she has spent much time perfecting her technique in order to make sure the color doesn’t bleed, crack, or fade. Yet, all the hours that went into creating these pieces of art made into handbags was worth it. The end result isn’t just a clutch. It is a piece of art. Imagine carrying one of these as you head out. I imagine countless people stopping and inquiring about what I was carrying. The clutches are fabulous and we are more than extactic that we get to share them with you. Make sure to take a look at other options by clicking here.

Proenza Schouler Bags

Proenza Schouler has been in the industry since 2002 and was founded by Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. The brand, which designs a high-end line of women’s apparel, recently delved into the world of handbags and shoes. Their handbag line is so extraordinary that we know you will love it. The reason I am raving is because these styles cater to my exact style, want, and need, when I am looking for a handbag. Proenza Schouler Bags have started to make a name for themselves as the fashion world has been going nuts over their designs. It started with Mary Kate Olsen carrying the famed Proenza Schouler PS1.

Read on and watch a video of the men behind Proenza Schouler Bags below...

I have to say, I feel so lucky sometimes. An example of this would be the opportunities I have to interview new designers. But, more than that, when I speak with an amazing designer who makes gorgeous handbags, I can’t wait to share everything with all of you! Not that long ago, I had the chance to talk with Erin Voorhies, the founder and creative designer of KEMPT handbags. We had a fantastic conversation over the phone where I was able to learn a little more about how she got into the handbag business, her line and herself.

Erin was gracious enough to send us a few KEMPT handbag samples so we could see them in person. Erin and I agreed, purchasing handbags really is a complete experience. It was great to hold the bags, try them all, notice the amazing attention to detail and feel the amazing materials (ie: anaconda and ostrich) she uses. Vlad shot the bags here in our studio and he talked about how immaculate the quality of the bags was for days! We hope you enjoy the introduction as much as we did.

PB: How long have you been interested in handbags?

EV: Since I was a little girl, I have always been interested in accessories. My grandmother was a huge influence. For as long as I can remember I was always making bags for myself and my friends. In 2006 I started the collection. For me, if my hands aren’t involved in creating something, I get antsy, I always need to be creating something.

Click here to keep reading and see some of the KEMPT handbags!

We all love our favorite designers. You know, those designers we’ve followed since as long as we can remember. But, I have to say, I love keeping an eye out for up and coming designers and here is one I’d love to share, Ellie Handbags. As so many of us spend most of our time in front of a computer, it is no surprise that my first encounter with these handbags was over the internet. I was pretty impressed with the images but then when I got a chance to see the bags in person, they truly are gorgeous.

I truly feel that not just buying but also lusting after handbags should be a complete experience. And as much as we all love our current favorite designer, if nothing else, it is always fun and exciting to broaden your horizons and maybe even be turned onto new designers. In fact, I love when I am carrying a lesser known designer handbag and I get stopped by someone who is admiring the bag. It makes me feel like I am on the cutting edge! What about the image to the right? Does it intrigue you a bit? Luckily, I had a chance to see a few of the bags in person as well as have the designer, Ellie answer a few questions. Click here to learn a bit about Ellie and see some of her fabulous handbag designs!

We are excited to introduce Abbe Held, the creative director, behind the designer handbag line Kooba. As Megs and Vlad plan their next trip to NYC, and line up their meetings, we are thrilled to think about the interviews, insider information and fun details we will be able to share with you upon their return. We’ve been in contact with the wonderful people at Kooba and while in NYC Megs and Vlad will have the opportunity to meet Abbe in person. But, until the full interview occurs, we thought we would whet your appetite just a tad. Abbe was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us and we love that we can offer some insight to all of our readers. We hope you enjoy this teaser and eagerly await the full interview like we do!

PB: Abbe, how did you originally get involved in the handbag world?

Abbe Held: Actually, it was my mother who got me involved….she has a great passion for accessories and vintage shopping and continues to be my style inspiration. As we shopped for bags, we would never find exactly what we wanted to wear – handbags that had an edge or contemporary sense of style. Living in New York City, I was struck by how much sameness there was in the marketplace, so my mother and I took the leap and founded Kooba.

Click here to read the rest of the questions we asked Abbe!

Recently, we had the chance to sit down with New York-based designer Kara Ross, discover her collection of exotics and learn more about her background, knowledge and motivation. Enjoy!

Click here to read the full interview!