Obsessing over designer handbags
Print Edition
AFTER 19 years of working for some of the world’s most prestigious labels, Tonya Hawkes released her own line in 2012.
“All good things that come are usually some sort of a wonderful accident,” Hawkes said. She was working at DKNY in the clothing department but loved to chat with the handbag designers every morning. When Hawkes was asked if she would prefer working in the accessory department, she instantly jumped at the opportunity.
Hawkes began making her mark as an expert in the field. During her nine years with DKNY, she steered the DKNY accessory design team to become one of the most profitable divisions of the company, which eventually made her an executive at Donna Karen and VP of shoes and accessories.
Giovanna Furlanetto, the president of the global luxury accessory brand Furla, personally chose Hawkes to become the company’s creative director in Bologna later on. Hawkes continued working in Italy for different luxury brands and built an outstanding reputation for creating original designs that capture the essence of a brand.
Her namesake brand features collections of funky clutches that bright up your evening wear. “My style is raw and refined using materials in a modern way,” she said. “My references are always Art Deco, contemporary architecture, sculpture, African culture and animals. In addition, I will be inspired by indigenous culture.”
Hawkes said the concept behind her work is to make women feel unique and to connected to their “artist” within themselves.
“Quality is essential. We use an acrylic structure under all our external materials, where all the designers in this category are using only acrylic and designing acrylics in various ways,” Hawkes said.
In the creation process, the designer always starts with the inspiration and then moves into the color palette, selecting materials one by one.
“We have a long process of building the hardware which we enjoy because it’s like making jewelry to adorn our little boxes,” she said.
Having worked several years for Donna Karen trained her eyes for beautiful design. “I’m grateful to Donna Karen for passing down her knowledge to me,” Hawkes said.
Barbara Bonner creates luxury bags for chic women who live a free-spirited, bohemian lifestyle. Each of BB’s pieces showcases a rebellious classicism with a wild eccentric twist.
The designer, who has been in love with fashion since she was a little child. While she studied psychology, Bonner started a clothing line with a friend and turned fashion into her work.
In 2008, Bonner conceived her first fringe bag in Ibiza in the Balearic Island. The design was so peculiar that other shops from around world started to ask her to supply that bag, which is still her iconic piece. Bonner then started her own accessory line that can now be found in the world’s fashion capitals.
“A Barbara Bonner bag is more than just a bag,” Bonner said. “They are a fashion statement on her own, complete your outfit giving personality to your look.”
“In designing each collection I try to create ultra-luxe handbags that celebrate the archetypical strong women who always inspire me. Since the brand inception, I do design for sensual and empowered females,” Bonner said.
Each bag is crafted using luxurious, high-quality leathers and cutting-edge materials. The bags are manufactured in Tuscany by the same artisans that tailor Prada and Rick Owens bags. Bonner uses lamb leather, much lighter than veal leather. All of the metal details are designed specifically by herself.
Bonner said she tries to look to other designers as little as possible.
Among the collection, her favorite models include the Baba bag in hand-knitted leather, the Elle Back Pack in cream leather and the Lilith bag delineated in Batik denim printed leather.
Both designers’ works are available at www.trustluxe.com and its showroom in Shanghai.
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