I approach handbag design with a fine arts sensibility. With gallerist parents, my appreciation for color, form and composition was developed from a young age. I pair vivid colors and unusual materials with minimalist shapes, so that the bags are striking and expressive without being overdone. The designs are clean and elegant, yet have character enough to start a conversation. I design in leather, exotic skins, and natural fabrics like silk and cotton. All the bags are lined in brocade. I try to use materials that have real tactile appeal. You spend so much time with your bag, I think you should enjoy touching it. My clients want accessories that work for different occasions and that won't drag them down while they're on the go. With that in mind, all the bags in my collection are lightweight and easily packable for travel. Optional shoulder straps and multiple pockets add convenience and versatility.

I launched the collection in 2006 as an alternative to mainstream hyper-embellished and logo bags. The timing was somewhat accidental, though I had been thinking about it for years. I had made some prototypes, which I would carry around town just because I liked them and perfect strangers would stop me to compliment my bags. That set the wheels in motion to go professional a bit sooner than I had envisioned. All the bags are made in New York City. Nearly all the bags in the collection weigh less than 1.5 pounds.

I'm fortunate not to have any terrible design disasters. We do "wear testing" before we produce anything, so we're able to catch potential problems early on. Working with a natural material like leather, there are always variations, so sometimes we have to spend hours hand matching leather grain and color shades for individual bags. That can be painful! The best reward in this business is hearing from clients who take the time to tell us that they love their bag, that they've gotten so many compliments and that they can't wait to own another.