Crafting Handbags Beyond Cut and Sew

There are lots of things that make our leather goods special. But do you ever wondered what really goes into crafting your favorite handbags, from beginning to end? Join me on a journey behind the scenes as we explore all the steps involved with bringing our designs to life, which often times take 6 months to a year!

Alright, so picture this: it all starts with a vision and a problem to solve. It usually starts out as a simple sketch or idea. Like wanting to create a universal all in one piece, like my Lauren bag or a wallet that is more streamlined, like my Kimerly. I pour my heart and soul into each stroke, envisioning the final masterpiece.

Now to turn that sketch into reality. Once the design is nailed down, the next step is sample making. We don't just jump into making a bunch of bags. First, we create a sample to test it out. Think of it like a trial run. We want to make sure the bag looks good, feels good, and can handle whatever you throw at it. This is where we work closely with skilled artisans who bring my designs to life, stitch by stitch. Each prototype gets adjusted until it meets my standards of durability, functionality, and style. And believe it or not, at this point sometimes we're already hundreds of dollars into the project and we decide not to move forward, either because something just doesn't feel right or we can't figure out how to make it under a certain price point. So we scrap it and move onto the next project. The ones we decide are exactly what we had envisioned are ready for the next step.

But here's where things get technical. Before we can make a bunch of bags, we need something called steel die patterns. These are like super-precise templates ensuring consistency and accuracy in every piece, even in limited runs. It's all about making sure every bag looks the same and fits together perfectly. These can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over one thousand, depending on how many dies we need to create the piece.

After that comes the crucial step of selecting materials. You're all about quality, so we opt for soft, supple, high-quality leather sourced from Italy and South America. Sure, it might cost a bit more, but we believe in the superior craftsmanship and the luxurious feel it brings to our handbags.

Now, let's talk numbers. Designing and producing handbags in America using high-quality materials and skilled labor doesn't come cheap, especially in small batches. From sourcing the finest leather to paying skilled artisans fair wages, every step adds up in terms of cost. For me, I refuse to cut corners or sacrificing quality. And sometimes if a style isn't selling well or only bought on sale, we retire that style although it's a tough decision because all that went into creating it. Sometimes it gets a slight redesign and brought back and other times it's simply gone for good.

Because here's the thing: While small batch production might come with a higher price tag, it's a price worth paying for quality, craftsmanship, and supporting local communities. We're not about mass-producing handbags overseas – we're all about creating unique, artisanal pieces that stand out from the crowd. But at the end of the day in order to stay in business we need to make enough so we can invest in additional talent to continue to grow the business.

The resulting price isn't just about the materials you see, but about the entire process from start to finish. Sure, you could find cheaper bags made overseas, but there's something special about being made in the USA. It's about more than just the product itself – it's about supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and being a part of the process. By keeping production local, we're not shipping jobs overseas – we're investing in your community and making a positive impact. 

Because when you buy one of our bags, you're not just getting a purse. You're getting a piece of craftsmanship, made with love and attention to detail. You're getting something that will last you a lifetime, you are supporting a dream. I love how my leather goods make women feel, I read it in all our 5 star reviews over and over. And that's something you can't put a price on.