Posts with tag wallets

We've all heard about the wonders of duct tape, how it adheres, fixes and does anything. Some say it is the cure to all that ails us. While that might be taking it a bit far, it is something special, we agree wholeheartedly. Does it fix comma splices?

The good folks at Shalgo Industries are believers. They take it even further by suggesting that duct tape is not only a mender of things, but that it can actually be the thing itself. By that rationale it should be able to repair itself. It's like some sort of regenerating miracle. We should probably keep an eye on it.

Alchemy Goods has a simple mission: "Turning useless into useful." Hence the name. Alchemy is the process of transforming matter. It hit its peak of popularity in medieval times, the age, not the restaurant, when turning lead into gold was all the rage.

Alchemy Goods isn't as obsessed with gold as their forerunners, rather they strive to turn "something of lesser value into something of greater value." Sure, they're a business and like to rake in a bit of the green, but they're much more interested in producing it- green that is. The emphasis is on the ecological not the economical.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews. Today's interview is with the designer behind Oh So Retro, a line of fun handmade handbags, wallets and accessories.

Tell me a little about your work. I'm Adrienne, a seamstress turned designer hailing from Winnipeg, Canada. As my chosen business name implies, I am a fan of all things vintage and retro from furniture to dishes to textiles and books. I collect a little bit of everything and am always on the look out for vintage stock to incorporate into my designs. I do all of my sewing on a vintage Singer sewing machine from the 1950s which can prove challenging at times but things were made to keep back then. I try to incorporate that mentality in my own designs, to create something that is visually pleasing yet still functional enough to use everyday.

How did you get started running your own business? I started Oh So Retro back in 2004 as a vintage clothing boutique. I had been sewing my own clothing for years before that and took that knowledge into my reselling business by altering vintage clothing and doing custom sewing jobs. I began making matching bags out of the salvaged fabric from floor length gowns and much-too-small tweed skirts and soon enough the bags started outselling the clothing! I knew I was on to something good, and worked on creating my own line of bags and accessories. I was selling well from my own website and did some local consignment but things really took off for me once I started selling on Etsy.com. I'm really happy to have found my home on there.

Who are your favorite designers? The Vintage Zoo does some amazing things with her own brand of vintage + handmade clothing. Nice Face makes the cutest tunics I have ever seen. SRB Designs by Miss Bohl designs the most gorgeous clothing. I want everything.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? It`s hard to be fashionable in the winter, but I try! Right now I`m loving skinny jeans and tunics paired up with bolero sweaters for a little extra warmth. I love flat shoes and I have an amazing pair of mary jane flats from Stops And Starts. I've been using a lot of extra large shoulder bags and still wear my over sized Jackie O sun glasses. I`m very simple when it comes to make up, just a touch of mascara and lip gloss. I use a great lip gloss from The Plaid Mushroom. Thanks to her I've not had chapped lips once this winter!

Currently, I'm on the hunt for a wallet and the wallets of Poketo caught my eye since I'm looking for something a bit more "out there" than your standard Coach wallet (fetching though they are).

Poketo wallets are all created by artists and have different patterns on the front and the inside. The website includes the bio of each artist. Each wallet is made of vinyl and has three slots for credit cards, a bill slot and a change pocket. They are a bit large ( 8" x 4") but are meant to be folded into a 4" x 4" square. They seem better suited for back pockets than purses. The wallets sells for $20. But if you are daring you can opt for the secret bag of wallets option. You get four wallets for $50 but you don't get to pick the patterns.

The new Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom collection adds a little bit of cute to the basic LV monogram style. The designs feature the groom character, an illustration from vintage Louis Vuitton advertisements. The bellhop in his gray uniform holds a small bag and drapes one arm across a band of white and and a bright color such as yellow, red, green, orange or blue. The collection features only small travel items such as the agenda shown here, an organizer, wallet, and two cowhide keyholders. The line is a must-have for Louis junkies and last time I checked it was already out of stock on eLuxury.