Bespoke Maura Coscia Italian handbags

As the bespoke trend is in a full swing i'm always on the look out for the next special item. My newest discovery comes out of Milan, Italy and is "Maura Coscia" handmade handbags. "Maura Coscia" handbags' style is a classic, upscale European with a design twist of having a client make the final concept decisions such as picking colors, lining and hardware. After that each bag is entirely handmade by local artisans in the tradition that was passed down from generation to generation. A"Maura Coscia" bag can be recognized by the embossed "The Three Flower" logo. No wonder such attention to details and craftsmanship made "Maura Coscia" bags the darlings of Italian ELLE and Glamour magazines. Recently I had a chance to interview the visionary behind the brand, designer Maura Coscia. 

Sabina Les:  Who is the designer behind the brand?
Maura Coscia: "Maura Coscia" was created in 2006 by me. I trained at the Accademia di Brera in Milan and started with designs mainly executed in fabric then developed a penchant for strong designs coupled with vibrant colours in leather. In 2009 i showed my Spring Summer 2010 collection at the Paris Zip Zone and Milan’s White Show.

Gilda Scarlet

Material: Textured calf leather

SL: What inspires you?
MC: My emotions are fundamental to any inspiration. They are born from my attention to small details, insignificant to many but not to me: a walk in the park, an object seen in a shop window when I am cycling through Milan. An idea sometimes is born from a fundamental necessity, the project takes shape and changes according to other requirements. Mood and atmosphere are fundamental.  I develop my color palette and choice of fabrics around these. I am constantly inspired by the 1940s, and not only by the fashion but also, the architecture, art, and color which has always been the true protagonist of every choice.

Regina Noor 

Material: Python

SL: What is your woman/customer like?
MC: Our clients are strong independent women who are absolutely not fashion victims. They are, generally, well travelled women that have developed a taste for the refined and exclusive. Women that wish to invest in a bag which combines style, functionality, exclusivity and refined workmanship in one.

Stella Ceres

Material: Black glossy python

SL: How long does it take on the average to produce a bag?
MC: There are several stages in the development of a bag when the bag has precise recquisites above all quality:
a) The design goes through various stages. The first sketch which I usually do whilst travelling on a scrap book.  If the idea is good it goes to the next phase.
b) Project phase – where one thinks about the volume, its final use, and all the small details.  It’s the most important phase since it will determine the whole mood of the bag.
c) At this point we start making the cardboard model, then we make a model in ‘nappa’’ which will be modified several times:  The proportions and details are decided at this stage. The next passage is that which we call ‘first model’ which is made of leather or fabric which will help us determine whether it has turned out as I had imagined it before putting it down on paper.  Once that is confirmed we pass to the first prototype.
In this business time is money, however at Maura Coscia we believe that all the necessary time MUST to be taken to ensure that the product is 100% satisfactory both to us and to the person who will eventually wear it and this is why it can take up to 3 months for each creation!
For more information and order please go to "Maura Coscia" site and happy designing.

"Maura Coscia" collection

Wearable art handbags, LaLucca summer 2010

Miami based LaLucca handbags grab your attention with their rare and diverse design aesthetic. Behind each bag there is an intelligent design story and strong sustainable branding thought. A successful creative and business collaboration of this wife-husband team, Dominican Republic born designer Laura Pimental and international artist Aleksandar Kirilov of Bulgaria, resulted in sexy wearable pieces of art. Distinct bright hued artwork, signature hot pink lining, hard to detect hardware and Kirilov's signature make LaLucca bags identifiable and appealing to a woman who appreciates handmade quality and uniqueness. Travel bags and accessories are also part of LaLucca's selection. No wonder LaLucca's fan base include celebrities like Eva Langoria, Fergie, Blake Lively, Rihanna, Sienna Miller and many more.

LaLucca's Summer 2010 Preview in New York City was hosted by bag-a-licious mavens, tv personalities and bag experts Pamela Pekerman and Michelle Finkelshteyn of bagtrends.com. Each limited edition ornate bag goes through a fascinating production process as explained to me by Laura and Alexandar: first the leather canvas is shaped as a bag, then painted with acrylic paint and sealed for practical functions such as being able to be washed as any leather bag. The time of creating such a bag ranges based on Alexandar's inspiration and painting process. Then the raw materials get send to their Dominican Republic factory for the final hand made finish. LaLucca Summer 2010 collection presentes six new styles featuring feminine and soft lines and shapes. The colors are various shades of reds, blues, pinks with a strong influence of black and white.

Bags as vintage "Deck of Playing Cards" in time for the Alice in Wonderland fashion craze

Aleksandar Kirilov (artist), Laura Pemental (designer) and Alex McCord  (co-star of BRAVO's "Real Housewives of NYC) 

Digital techno trend

Graphic flowers

Folkloric influence by Aleksandr's homeland, Bulgaria

Japenese inspired Cherry blossom elements

The bags are available on their website as well as numerous locations in U.S. and worldwide. 

Aleksandar Kirilov (artist), Laura Pemental (designer), Pamela Pekerman (bagtrends.com), Alex McCord (Real Housewives of NYC), Michelle Finkelshteyn (bagtrends.com)