Dream Bag
Photography: Kimberly Morrell
We all have our weaknesses for decadent indulgences. I've never met a donut or shoulder-dusting earring I didn't lust after. In terms of accessories, I've always considered myself to be more of a statement shoe girl than a statement bag girl. That all changed when I discovered Kathryn Allen Couture's luxury handbag collection. Last month, a vibrant, chevron fur bag popped up on my Instagram feed. My initial thoughts were, "What is this bag? Who designed it? And HOW do I not know about it!?" I joked that if I died and came back as a handbag it would be this KAC Chevron Macro Annabelle. It's an outfit all by itself! I began a long-distance friendship with Ms. Kathryn Allen and my admiration for her huge heart, her unwavering integrity, her keen business sense, and her exquisite eye for design, has made me fall even more in love with her gorgeous bags. Kathryn is quite a powerhouse and an inspiration for hardworking women who chase their dreams, so I would like to share a bit from her with all of you!
Q&A With Kathryn Allen
When and why did you found KAC?
My obsession with collecting beautiful handbags began when I received my first handbag from my grandmother when I was four-years-old. I would get very creative and customize handbags to add a touch of personal style whenever I had the opportunity. This passion led to a dream of designing my own line of handbags.
The desire for fine craftsmanship and excellent customer service was established before I even created Kathryn Allen Couture. I wanted to ensure that each of my clients would receive a handbag that exceeded all of their expectations. I wanted my line of handbags to be the best of the best.
Kathryn Allen Couture was founded in 2012 and we truly have a fantastic team and a base of the most amazing clients one could imagine. I am involved with every aspect of the design process and I enjoy being able to work directly with my clients to create their KAC handbag.
From where do you take your design inspiration?
My inspiration can come from many places and people. I am very inspired by the cities of Rome and Antibes. Everything about the historic architecture, stunning landscapes and unrivaled beauty of these cities truly speaks to me. I have always been inspired by my grandmother, who was an exceptionally stylish and strong women. I love to fuse my heritage along with modern inspirations into my designs. I also love to gather inspiration from the runways and magazines, however, my heritage will always be the core of my inspiration.
Who are your style icons?
I have many style icons! I love the demure and elegant style of Catherine Deneuve. Her style has always been on point. Iris Apfel has never been afraid to take risks with her wardrobe choices, and I strongly respect her unique point of view. I enjoy Kate Moss’ edgy meets minimalistic looks and I love how she is raw and unfiltered. Tom Ford is one of my ultimate icons. He is so dapper and always looks sleek and put together.
Describe the KAC woman in 3 words.
1. Confident, 2. Elegant, 3. It-Girl
Let’s talk about this mink chevron masterpiece. How did you conceptualize it?
The entire line of Macro Annabelles was derived from the idea of putting a youthful spin on the best-selling KAC Annabelle. We made the decision to push the limits and see how small we could go without losing too much functionality. The result was an instant success! The Macro Annabelle is a petite showstopper that is surprisingly spacious. These little cuties look amazing as a cross-body bag for day and as an innovative clutch alternative for evening.
The Mink Chevron Macro Annabelle, or as we call it, "The Liz-Abelle", was inspired by my love of punchy colors and fur accessories. I enjoy taking risks with my designs, and I wanted to create a handbag with a huge presence in a tiny package. The Chevron Macro Annabelle is a furry little showstopper.
What is the construction process like for your handbags?
Unlike many current handbag labels, we still adhere to many old-school techniques at Kathryn Allen Couture. We do not believe in the assembly line approach. We have experienced artisans creating each of these bags using old-world techniques such as skiving, edge-painting and our hardware is handmade in Italy. Each handbag begins with a sketch and then it is carefully pieced together by hand at our boutique workshop in California. The production time of a single KAC Macro Annabelle can take up to 40 hours from start to finish. It is a time consuming process, however, we believe in working on each handbag until it has been perfected.
What is your personal dream for your company’s future?
I would love to see KAC reach a younger demographic and inspire handbag enthusiasts to learn about the intricate process that goes into creating a couture handbag. I want to see KAC handbags inspire my clients to be confident and experiment with their personal style. I would love for KAC to gain recognition among my peers and I certainly would enjoy seeing a spread for KAC in one of my favorite magazines. I am also a big advocate for women conquering their dreams and I want to continue using KAC as a platform to inspire talented and driven women of all ages to pursue what they love most in life.
You’re such an encourager! What advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs?
That is the ultimate compliment! I would encourage them to stay focused and maintain their brand’s integrity. Never lose sight of your ultimate passion and do not compromise your integrity for anyone. It can be very beneficial to partner and collaborate with like minded women. It is so important to support and empower other women. We should always strive to be each other’s greatest support system. As women we are accustomed to multi tasking and stress management, but sometimes we all need to take a step back, refocus and redefine our initial visions in order to move forward.
For KAC ordering inquiries contact KathrynAllenDesign@gmail.com
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