My line of handbags was created as an off-shoot of my handmade tile company Bonton Designs. The company designs and manufactures custom ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications. I came up with the idea to reuse some my excess tile and design a fun and fashionable handbag to promote the company. The result was an overwhelming amount of interest from friends, family, clients and people approaching me on the street inquiring about the unusual handbag. The line is only about 6 months old and continuing to develop. I have designed roughly 40 handbags and have only scratched the surface.

The line of handbags, known as “Eye Candy by BonTon Designs” uses handmade ceramic tile to adorn the handbags. The tile is designed and manufactured by my company in our Minneapolis studio. What makes the handbags so special is the fact that it combines fashion and ceramic in a way that few have ever seen. Our target audience is that consumer who is looking to carry a work of art out on the town, while also enjoying the utilitarian aspects of the bag. Even people who are not drawn the tile (like I am) find a interest in these handbags. I look for inspiration everywhere. From a child’s kaleidoscope to a crystal chandelier, to the fashion industry.

The line was originally developed as a marketing tool. The handbags were created to match our tile concept boards for a trade show, Coverings 2009 in Chicago. The feedback was highly positive, and if they were for sale that week all would have sold out quickly. In addition, it has turned out to be a great way to recycle unused clay and tile scraps. In an attempt to promote “green” business practices, the line of handbags killed two birds with one stone. It allows BonTon to reuse leftover materials that would be headed to the dumpster, and promote the business in a unique and fashion forward direction.

While BonTon Designs LLC is one of the fastest growing handmade tile companies in the country, I have no formal ceramics training. This actually has turned out to be a huge advantage in the development of my line. With no constraints of what I can and can’t do, it left me with the ultimate freedom to create without boundaries.
I knew from the formation of the company that I was not going to focus solely on ceramic tile. BonTon Designs is a company I started to create new and functional works of art. Ceramic is our main focus now, but who knows, maybe the handmade ceramic shoes of the future will take off?

I am lucky not to have any “nightmares” worth discussing. The greatest achievement has been closing an agreement with the trade show Surfaces 2010 in Las Vegas to provide 30 handmade tile handbags for their market efforts. This tile, stone and flooring industry trade show in February 2010 will prominently feature the “Eye Candy by BonTon Designs”. The handbags will be presented to high profile publishers and editors at the functions media luncheon. Many of the most well-known print media will be represented. It is a true launching point for the line and the brand. It is all worth it because the desire to keep pushing new and unusual design never ends. I am constantly seeking new ways to express myself in many different mediums.