Careers in Fashion: Handbag Designer
Handbags are every woman’s dream. We all go crazy for the latest design – such is the power of their attraction. Perhaps they harbor some addictive substance.... That might make a good question to ask a handbag designer.
This job, which is directly linked to the craft of leather goods, has become an art in and of itself. Fashion brands could not survive without accessories, since they represent one of the most significant portions of their sales. Thus, the role of the handbag designer is essential.
Designing a winning bag
During the process of designing a bag, there is a key point: the choice of material. Of course, design, shape, size, details...all are essential elements for achieving a unique piece; however, the material selected will be the determining factor in the design’s greatness. The designer, therefore, has an additional responsibility; he must design the bag, keeping in mind the constraints of a particular material, which may make production of the final piece more difficult.
In major fashion houses, the same designer usually conceives the design of the bags that form part of the collection as well as those that are seen during the runway show. He presents his ideas and chooses the material, color and shape together with a group of designers specializing in leather. These designers will shape all the pieces proposed by the handbag designer, and they will include some of their own.
When the handbag designer is the principal figure
In many other cases, the fashion houses or labels have their own cast of designers that handles the entire production scheme for the bags: from design to manufacturing, which is usually done manually. Specific studies are performed to find appropriate treatments for certain types of leather, and cutting techniques are studied to be able to include the desired ornamentation.
Of course, designing one of the pieces most sought after by the label’s customers is a huge responsibility, and the work must be thorough and of high quality. A handbag designer must follow trends while remaining faithful to the lines that characterize the brand he works for, as a handbag is not just one more accessory. For many, the bags are the symbol of a particular brand and the best proof of their savoir-faire.
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