Brian Atwood is sinking his heels into the luxury handbag category.
The footwear designer is unveiling his first collection of clutches for spring. Larger silhouettes and shoulder bags will follow for fall.
“The addition of a wonderful shoe or bag to your outfit transforms the whole look,” said Atwood. “Plus, handbags are a logical addition to footwear.”
Atwood said while some of the bags are designed to complement the shoes, the collection as a whole is intended to stand on its own.
“I want the collection to be about the great proportioned bag,” said Atwood. “I wanted to create something that my customer would never get tired of using and if she falls in love with the bag, she can come back to us for a new interpretation because we are working to perfect the shapes so they will serve as a signature for us.”
Atwood’s clutches, which include day-into-evening and evening styles, are made in Italy from materials such as crocodile, stingray, double-faced silk, hand-embroidered organza, patent leather, napa leather, suede and raffia. High-end touches include suede linings, leather trim and custom hardware. The looks are anticipated to retail from $1,500 to $6,700.
Atwood said the larger bags for fall, which include structured and softer designs, may retail at a slightly higher price range. He is targeting distribution to accounts that carry his footwear, priced from $500 to $4,500, which include Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Jeffrey in New York and Atlanta, Stanley Korshak in Dallas, Colette in Paris, Browns in London and select Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom stores.
“I definitely think having the shoes behind me is only a plus,” said Atwood. “The aesthetic and the integrity of the brand have already been established with the footwear, and the handbags will carry that forward.”
Atwood, 39, honed his skills in the category at Versace, where he was promoted to chief designer for its women’s accessories in the mid-Nineties. The Chicago-born designer created his own shoe label in 2001 and in 2003 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Atwood its Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design. Atwood declined to provide sales figures for the privately owned firm, but did say growth is on its agenda.
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“It’s too early to say how we will do,” said Atwood, who resides in New York, Los Angeles and Milan. “But I see this as having the potential to be an amazing business, as we are applying the same elegance, luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship to the bags that we do to the shoes.”