From The Art of the Handbag

Dustin says she likes to create purses “because purses are functional. You are supposed to touch them, caress them, and examine them. Your life is enhanced because it’s wonderful to carry beautiful things around with you and use them.” Recently, she’s found herself paying attention to the small things of the natural world, such as seedpods and flower buds. The delicate fernlike tendrils emerging from the top of her “Blumen Bachia” handheld purse (opposite page) echo the curves of the sheltering pod.

From The Art of the Handbag

João Sabino’s “Keybag” got its start in 2003 as a graduation project for his degree in industrial design at the College of Art and Design in Caldes da Rainha, Portugal. His inspiration? An old computer keyboard. By deconstructing the keyboard, randomly rearranging the keys, and adding a zipper, Sabino created something new and fun. When he posted a picture of his original design—which looked more like a cosmetic bag—on his blog, he got about 400 emails from people who wanted to buy one

From The Art of the Handbag

Gibbs says a lot of her work is derived from her “observations of nature and finding beauty in ordinary things, little pieces of moss, grass, and peeling bark.” In her “Silver Birch” and “Green Birch” bags (opposite page), paper-thin slices of sterling silver over silk evoke the peeling bark of birch trees. The clasps are twigs of silver leaves and the handles, gossamer silver chains.

From The Art of the Handbag

Balatsos chose to design handbags and began by turning ordinary canvas bags into wearable works of art Today, her collection includes handmade exotic leather clutches and handbags that she embellishes with metal studs and spikes Her “Stud Ball” evening bag (opposite page), covered with two-inch spikes, is not for the timid It could almost be mistaken for a morningstar, that menacing mace-like weapon wielded to great effect by medieval warriors

The Art of the Handbag: Azumi and David are probably best known for their shoe bags, which were introduced in 2001 Over the years, the bags have been produced in a variety of styles from a flat heel on bowling-style bags to a spike heel on dressier purses Some of them even have double heels, just like a pair of shoes