Leather Bags, Anyone?

by Xin Yi on Fri, 19/11/10 04:00 UTC.

At Tongue in Chic we are constantly looking for new trends happening in the Southeast Asian fashion scene. Recently, we discovered a new trend where young professional women (who may not be trained as a designers) trying their hands at designing leather bags due to the pure love they have for fashion. Besides, who doesn’t love bags?

This is nothing new to the World of Fashion. Society darlings such as Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton and Tinsley Mortimer have all been famously known for designing bag collections for Japanese brand Samantha Thavasa. All these ambitious women juggle a booming career, designing bags and looking stylish all at the same time. I’m just glad that this trend has finally hit our shores.

Paris and Nicky Hilton with Japanese model Jessica Michibata at a Samantha Thavasa event

So allow me to introduce you to these fabulous women and their new baby.

saku
Saku (a Malay noun for pocket and bag) is the brainchild of Tengku Nadia Amran, a multi-tasking woman who juggles two full-time jobs as the CEO/Director of a sports events management company and Saku.

Alexa Oversized Clutch

Kara Oversized Wristlet

Saku’s official debut was in late 2009, Nadia decided to embark on bag designing when she noticed a gap in the market and wanted to create leather and exotic skin bags accessible to everyone. She also said that Saku bags are for every occasion – it can bring you from day to night with its luxe, plush and sometimes playful designs.

Deanna Bowling Bag

Lizzie Quilted Clutch

Tribal Envelope Clutch

All Saku bags are designed around the natural grain and texture of leather skins with minimal embellishments to ensure that the skin is the main focus. Saku bags also have a touch of playfulness with their signature braided handles, pleats and contrasting edging and pockets.

Deanna black

Hot Pink Kaleidoscope

Ink Blue Kaleidoscope

If some of you prefer handbags that are more exclusive, Saku has a bespoke service called Saku Me . I mean who wouldn’t want to create their very own bag? I would! This bespoke service is by appointment only and they do no more than three bespoke bags a year.

Marina Ring Clutch

Nadia Amran with her masterpieces…

Bag yourself a saku by heading to Maizen or saku’s website (International orders are allowed).

Maizen is located at:

No 112, Jalan Maarof
Bangsar
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm daily

For the latest on saku head over to their Facebook page and Twitter account.

+ + +

KLutched

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that KLutched is from KL. But don’t you think the name is such a clever play of words? And the great thing is the bag designs are just as clever as the name itself. The person responsible for KLutched is Ung Yiu Lin, who already has two successful brands – Shoes, Shoes, Shoes and IdyLinn under her belt.

Starting KLutched was no doubt a natural expansion for Yiu Lin but being solely responsible for two brands, she wanted to start KLutched with a partner. As fate would have it, in 2009 she found a partner in her best friend Zaireen. Fast forward to June 2010, KLutched launched their very first collection at M Women in The Gardens.

Patchwork Ko Lanta Miniaudiere

Being a proud Asian brand, each KLutched bag draws inspiration from different places in Asia. Hence, each design is named after a city, district or area in Asia such as Ko Lanta, Kay El, Menilla and Tokeo. Klutched bags are all made in exotic skins with luxurious textures.

Menilla Oversized Clutch

Ke Mang Satchel

Yarra Clutch

With such unique bags, Yiu Lin shares that if KLutched was a person she would emulate non other than the most visionary designer of all time – Coco Chanel. Yiu Lin states “Being in an era where women were only seen in kitchens and homes, and with such dependence on men, Coco managed to break free from that mindset and social norm, to establish her own fashion business and at the same time carve such a strong identity.”

Studded Sentrel Clutch

KLutched signature designs are the Kay El clutch (with its signature ostrich leg flap), the ToKeo Satchel which can count blogger Bryanboy as one of its many fans and Miniaudiere which the brand will be releasing every season but with design elements that will vary.

Kay El Clutch

To Keo Oversized Satchel

Da Ca Miniaudiere

Zaireen (left) and Ung YiuLin (right) at their grand launch begining of this year

Like what you see? If you do, head over to:

M Women
The Gardens Mall
Mid Valley City Lingkaran Syd Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603 2282 0093

Retail Therapy
#02-22 Mandarin Gallery
333 Orchard Rd,
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6733 5583

For everyone else around the globe, check out their online store and start filling up your shopping cart. For more on KLutched stalk them on Facebook and Twitter.

+ + +

Sasha Rowena

Next up is Sasha Rowena. Looking at her sumptuous designs, it is hard to believe that she is actually a law graduate. Sasha Rowena initially dabbled in bag designing to create bags for herself since she could not find any bags in the market that were made in colour combinations that she liked. While she was taking things into her own hands, she realised that there was a lack of homegrown luxury handbag brands in Malaysia and the rest as they say is fashion history.

Alana Clutch

The Sasha Rowena label was launched ironically on Friday 13^th November 2009. The launch was a success despite the taboo of the date. Since then the brand has been growing in leaps and bounds. The running thread that is obviously consistent throughout the brand concept, design and the origin of materials is Sasha Rowena’s trademark aesthetic of east meets west. She shares that this aesthetic is a reflection of her maintaining a good balance between the eastern and western way of life.

Sasha Rowena Fall/Winter 2010 collection’s Body Tote Bag

Yellow Leather Snake Skin Embossed Clutch Bag

I have to say that I find Sasha Rowena’s wayang kulit inspired Spring/Summer 2010 collection – Silhouette to be the most interesting amongst all the bags featured here. The motif of the aged old art are intricately hand carved onto the handbags and the contrasting colours of the lining also helps bring out details and motif.

Silhouette Puppets & Gamelan Purple

Silhouette Python Tote

The signature Sasha Rowena bag – Lara Envelope Clutch

Gold Evening Clutch

Currently, Sasha Rowena is adding a homeware line to her already impressive repertoire. The Moo-ve homeware line produces storage boxes made out of vinyl and upcycled magazine, they also feature quirky designs in vibrant colours. This side project acts as an initiative for the company to do their part in contributing to the environment.

Moo-ve homeware – Mini Compartmental Storage Box