Artisan craftsmen from various global locations add their unique touch to renowned handbag designs by Valextra
Valextra Unveils Collector's Item Handbag Collection
Italian luxury leather goods brand Valextra has announced a new collection of its classic handbags, reimagined as collectible pieces that showcase the beauty of artisanal craftsmanship from around the world.
The collection, titled 'The Journey of Craftsmanship', features unique interpretations of Valextra's iconic handbags like the Iside, Sportami Via, and Milano. These reinterpretations are the result of a collaboration with eight artisans from countries including China, India, Japan, and Italy.
John Pawson, the designer of the Milan flagship store of Valextra, was the inspiration behind the original designs. Now, these designs are being transformed by artisans who bring their own distinct traditional techniques to the table.
For instance, Qian Lihuai, a Chinese artisan, is evoking historic bamboo weaving techniques to reinterpret the Milano handbag. Riku Matsuzaki, a Japanese artist, is creating a unique polka-dot pattern on the Iside handbag using traditional indigo dyeing. Indian atelier Chanakaya is applying their renowned embroidery skills to produce a mosaic of 715 individually hand-stitched mirrored sequins, with each bag taking seven days to complete.
The collection is a response to the mass-produced items that dominate the market today. Valextra describes the collection as 'juxtaposing materialities and their makers', a testament to the desirability of handmade objects.
Xavier Rougeaux, who was appointed CEO in 2021, oversees the project. Rougeaux, who has worked at Smythson, Loro Piana, and Sergio Rossi before joining Valextra, is positioning the collection as a dialogue between diverse artisan cultures, making each bag a testament to handcrafted uniqueness and artisanship.
The collection continues Valextra's project 'The Journey of Craftsmanship', which was initiated in 2019. Valextra, a Milanese leather goods brand founded in 1937 by Giovanni Fontana, won the Compasso d'Oro in 1954 for its '24 hour' bag, a classic of mid-century design.
With its eclectic expressions of tactility and color, the collection is expected to be valuable collector's items. Each piece in the collection is a unique work of art, a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans who have worked on them.
Sources: [1] Valextra press release, 2022. [2] Valextra website, 2022.
Exploring a blend of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, Valextra's latest collection, 'The Journey of Craftsmanship', includes unique, handcrafted versions of iconic handbags like the Iside, Sportami Via, and Milano. These reinterpretations, created in collaboration with artisans from various countries such as China, India, Japan, and Italy, provide a travel-inspired touch to the home-and-garden segment by incorporating traditional techniques and incorporating them into the designs.
