'The Starter' - the return of Fringe...

Fringe played a major role in the very birth of this line nearly three years ago. Some of you know, I am a moderately picky shopper, and would seek out only truly unique items, that satisfy my acceptance criteria. One of those items, was a well made, true to the original suede Fringe bag I could wear for years to come. Fast fashion chains, or department stores in greater Vancouver did not have what I was looking for, so I decided to get some suede and build one myself.

My first bag ever...

Some of you have seen this image... this is the Fringe bag I made back in Spring of 2009...

... The bag got some unexpected attention, some ladies wanted me to build one for them, or just suggested to buy the one I was wearing, so I listened.. and became a designer...

Kerry, Mocha, - I have to post it on the Web-shop!

My simple prototype evolved into THIS bag - Kerry, from S/S 2010 Intro collection, which got us our first retailers, just mere two months into the "business".  Kerry remains one of my most requested designs so far...

In the next six months or so, Fringe exploded in the mainstream retail, with everyone featuring a tasseled design - from Gucci to H&M. Even though, most of the bags were not all that similar to mine, I moved on from shredding suede for Pre-Fall 2010 Coming Of Age Collection.


But, I have not stopped loving Fringe, and that's why nearly three years later, I decided to release a different Fringe design... One of my lovely retailers have said, that i might as well finish a trend I started...

INTRODUCING -  The Starter - an all new Fringe shoulder slouch, coming in Spring of 2012...

Speckled White Elkskin

Featuring a shorter, modernized Fringe, expanded darted base, a zipper closure and front pocket and tie on adjustable straps, this bag is a cross-body, that doubles as  a clutch... For the first time, I have worked with wild leathers - Deerskin and Elkskin, embracing their matte, velvety finish and incredible pliability...

The Starter comes in several colours: BLONDE

SADDLE TAN

GOLD TAN

CHOCOLATE

... and  SPECKED WHITE

I am very excited about my new Fringe design. There are very few of them - and they will make their debut in my first show of the season in Ontario...

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Alex Petit

I have been working on a unisex bag for quite a while, with little to no success, and Alex Petit was one of those attempts. But, even though the leather I use for this design is far sturdier and rustic, the size of this bag would take it right back to the ladies' side of things. And, so would the knots.

I initially worked on two sizes of Alex, but the larger version of it resembled a laptop bag, especially, since I first intended to use a magnet for closure, instead of the button. Laptop bags are nearly the only bags men carry these days (besides gym duffles), but, to me, unfortunately, a laptop bag encompasses everything, that is boring about mainstream menswear. I had no interest in making more laptop bags.

After the small Alex prototype was finished, I decided to shelf the design, and continue drafting ideas for a unisex bag (I eventually landed on this one, but that design will get it's own post). I tied many knots and swapped the magnet closure idea for a vintage button...

Alex Petit was a small - definitely, - ladies bag, and, even though it had a very different look from all my other work, I did not see it as a part of my third collection.

Antique Brown

As the Collection progressed, I created the other styles, and assigned colours to each of them. Alex Petit remained just a prototype, a one-off purse, meant to go straight onto the sample rack... Until I first showed it this past summer.

Oakwood, Prototype

The prototype found it's home at the Harmony Arts Festival in July; I also took a few orders for it and shortly made the first Alex Petit batch, still somewhat surprised about the response to a bag, not much bigger, than a wallet. This style also flew of the rack at the shows to follow, and I guess by then, I was convinced to keep it.

Birchwood

Alex Petit has now several leathers assigned to it, and is the last design of FW 2011 Cebrellex to be finally listed at the Web-shop. It has been going just too fast!

Oakwood

Raw edge finish, compact and adjustable, with a small zipper divider inside. Simple. Not a laptop bag...

Antique Brown

Black suede

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Tasmain: New Materials, New Skills (to learn)...

One of the perks in my line of work is contacts with the savvy Fashion Students. They have a great network and information resources through their schools, and they do not mind sharing it with us, self trained folk...  During the launch party of my line at Blushing Boutique last year, one very savvy young lady tipped me off, that a fur coat business in my neighbourhood is closing down – and they are selling off their supplies... I knew that they would be a great source for beautiful, well kept, soft garment weight leather, just waiting to get rescued amidst their mayhem of pre-closure down-sizing. 

The next day, I paid the Fur Place a visit.

What I discovered was a happy ending of a long career of a fourth generation fur traders and crafters. Since early 19^th century this family have been working with growers, hunters and trappers, they sourced fur and produced high end clothing, and now, decided to retire. For me, what they had in store, was lambskin in three lovely colours! None of my usual suppliers carried lambskin, so this was a great opportunity for me to try working with something different, and rescued! (of course, needless to say, I loved their huge work-space and tall cutting tables, mannequins, sergers, machines - I wanted to get my hands on everything!)

I immediately loved working with lambskin. Not only is it soft, and perfectly pliable, but also, very resilient, which is extraordinary for a 1.8 oz weight. I first dug into the small pre-cut pieces, to try and build a new, evening bag design with pleated detail, I had sketched a few weeks prior.

Tasmain prototype, still with rivets...

Tasmain – a compact and elegant shoulder bag, with pleated front pockets was designed for lightweight leather, such as Lambskin. It proved to be the perfect experiment and a challenge. I re-inforced the body, pocket bases, connectors and the straps with stabilizer, I picked up at the same place. Then spent the evening pleating the pockets with glue, folding them in narrow strips and attaching them to the base for a structured finish. 

Tasmain in Cocoa

Tasmain was my first Western Rounded Sack design, to have the strap base connectors sewn onto the shell, as opposed to riveted, which I used to do in the past (for Kerry or Sarah bags).  I cut down on using metal even further, replacing  hardware, that attached my straps to their bases before, with re-inforced leather ties. Tasmain has made me more confident about my sewing skills....

Tasmain, Pistachio  - showing off my strap ties!

The final result was a sculpted evening bag; a design that plays up the elegance of Lambskin, it’s pliability and natural beauty. It holds it’s shape naturally without being a hard-shell purse. Darted bottom, just like the Sarah bag, closes with a non-flashy zipper and has two pleated front pockets. Strap can be adjusted by changing the length of base ties.

Tasmain bag comes in Black, Cocoa and Pistachio.

Fall/ Winter 2011 Cebrellex collection.

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com/

Update on Cigar...

When designing a new item, I really do not know, how it will be met by my shoppers. Same goes for leather I source, there is always some faith - or crap-shoot - involved. I have been mostly right with some intuitive purchases of materials, but I also have had several surprises - good and bad.

During one of my most successful leather hunts, I have brought back about eight amazing hides I had rescued. One of them, was a deep brown, waxy finished 3 oz'er, called Echo Cigar...

Here it is, at my studio, third from left. When I sourced it, my current Collection was not even really in the works. I was suffering a burn-out from a busy Holiday season of the previous year, combined with full time day-job and the unrewarding situation that was part of it. I just knew, I loved what I found, and hoped I can come up with a design, suitable for this leather, later on.

And, it appears, that I did. Echo Cigar, a.k.a. Cigar became the opening colour of the Khela bag.






Since the time, the prototype was made, nearly all 64 beautiful square feet of this amazing leather has been used - and sold as my new, labour intense and graceful country tote. I was able to build five out of six intended Khela bags in Cigar. Four of those have fled the nest already - and I only have enough leather for one final Khela....

So, I would be thrilled that my final, sixth Khela in Cigar went to someone, who would really appreciate it. Simply, because to find another Orphaned hide as beautiful, as that one was, would be far too unlikely.

Khela Cigar No 6 will appear at the Webshop shortly.



Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

On the runway at the Vancouver Eco Fashion Week

I wanted to do something special to celebrate the launch of Cebrellex, my third collection. I did feel like it was the strongest one so far, and I was finally ready for people to see it and be acknowledged of my work... . Even though, I had two collections in the past, I never felt quite as ready for media, launch events or reviews. This year, for the first time, I felt, like I was improving significantly, growing and heading to the direction I had hoped.

So, the invite to show at the Vancouver Eco Fashion Week came at the perfect time.
Vancouver Eco Fashion week (EFW) is a fashion event, happening twice a year and focusing exclusively on ecological labels: recycled, organic, all natural, locally made and vintage. Our salvaged leather handbags fit right in withe the rest of the bunch of eco-friendly designers.

I was able to show my full Collection to the public for the first time, do a collaborative runway show with Sofia clothing, a great match for me, and my first choice of an apparel designer. It was a great effort, and so far the biggest project I took part in, but it also was a great experience.

Here are the runway looks and other snapshots:


Patrice Has Options - in black re-claimed lambskin; worn as a wristlet..

Tasmain - also black lambskin, worn backwards.. Oh well!

Khela - Syrah, repurposed cowhide

Butterfly Clutch - black lambskin

Dovana Bow - Nude, repurposed upholstery cowhide

Closing walk-out:

 Everybody "must" have their picture taken at the media wall - with some help from Pinot Grigio, we did it.

 Eco Fashion World interview - I am yet to hear/ see...

My set-up for the tradeshow.... (Ask me about my neighbours next door...)

So, it was whirlwind of fun - glad I was a part of it; and glad it is finished... 

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com