DESIGN
MATERIALS
Vintage Kimono Fabric
There are three main techniques for decorating kimonos; tie-dyeing (shibori), paste-resist dyeing (yūzen), and embroidery (shishū). My purses are designed and handmade using pieces of vintage kimonos: silk, wool, and embroidery. Purses and makeup bags are lined with kimono silks. Large clutch purses and makeup bags are designed using larger pieces of woven kimono fabrics or silk shishū cut from elaborate obi’s and wedding kimonos.
I use remnants from vintage kimonos that have been deconstructed so that the fabric can be repurposed. As such, fabrics may have small imperfections, such as thread or needle marks from where they were once painstakingly hand sewn. I love this about the materials I use. I try to honor the craftsmanship that has gone into each piece of fabric by repurposing it and making something beautiful with it.
Italian leather
There's no other country in the world that can match the quality of Italian leather, and that's largely due to the highly skilled artisans, the premium hides used in their products, and the dyeing process. This results in a quality that cannot be compared to any other country that produces leather products.
I use a premium leather merchant from Avellino in southern Italy. All purses are designed and hand made using cut offs and remnants from larger pieces to minimize waste. I place the scraps on my cutting board and let the materials shape the design.
