Indie Designer Spotlight - Stitch & Swash

Leather so soft, it looks like it would melt with the slightest touch of your fingers.



This is what Seattle-based designer Angie Bowlds uses to create the beautiful, one-of-a-kind bags, coin purses and card holders for her line, Stitch & Swash. Angie sources this leather from dated, damaged and unwanted jackets that she finds in thrift stores.



She was taught how to sew at an early age by her mother and started specializing in bag-making a few years ago. A graphic designer by trade, Angie sees making her bags as the perfect way to combine the two things she loves - screenprinting and sewing.



Angie decided to make leather her material of choice because of it's strength, durability and ductility. She manipulates the creamy leather to create soft pleats, and the rich, neutral-toned leather makes an excellent background for Angie's brightly coloured, modern, screenprinted designs.



Angie runs Stitch & Swash from her basement studio in Seattle and has set up an Etsy store where she aims to offer products in a variety of colors and styles. Since Stitch &Swash does not offer wholesale items, she is able to keep the prices low so that her products are affordable for everyone. Currently, price of items range from US$6 to US$55.



Angie also has another store called The Crafty Devils which was started by her and friend Nicole, and it offers bags made out of new leather which she sells wholesale to a few shops. However, she finds it more rewarding to collect and recycle the soft, vintage jackets rather than use new leather because it gives them "new life as a bag that someone will love to have."

In the future, she plans to transition completely out of using new leather and also expand the Stitch & Swash line to include more tote and purse styles, men's wallets as well as new screenprint designs.




Click here to go to the Stitch & Swash Etsy store to see what other great items they have for sale!

Indie Designer Spotlight - Acrylicana

A list of things that would typically make cute themes for jewelry:

Cake, yes.
Fruit, definitely.
Ice cream, yeah.
Sushi, sure why not?
Blue poo.....huh?

That last one doesn't sound like it would be an ideal subject for women's fashion accessories but I've found a designer who can, in the words of Tim Gunn, "make it work."




Mary Winkler, the creative mind and talent behind Acrylicana, is a freelance illustrator and designer currently based in the Metro Detroit area.

Acrylicana specializes in jewelry, accessories, shoes, paper goods, toys, and much more.




Mary uses materials such as plastic, canvas and paint to make any items that can be printed, and occasionally sculpted, from her unique and humorous illustrations.

Many of the subjects for Acrylicana items are things we love like desserts, hearts and cute, girlie bows. However, there are also a few unconventional, less-than-desirable subjects such as coloured excrement and toilet paper, but Mary even manages to make those look totally cute and wearable!

In the Acrylicana Shop Announcement on Etsy, Mary tells her customers that "Handmade items are best when cared for as little treasures" and that is exactly what Acrylicana items are - little treasures.




Mary has been drawing, painting and crafting things since she could hold a crayon, so she says that Acrylicana is just an extention of that. The label is also the basis of her career as an illustrator and designer.





Mary draws inspiration for her Acrylicana designs from a specific group of art styles and well-known personalities.

"I simply love Erte, Charlie Harper, and Hugh Hefner. The design sense of Harper, the fabulous fashion and lovely ladies of Erte, and the business sense of Hef -- I aspire to combine that in my work and really, looking at it, need to push forth so much more with that in mind.

I also really get inspired by cartoons from the 30's and 40's, pop art from around the world, and fashion."




The price range of Acrylicana items currently in stock is from US$1 to US$120.

Visit the Acrylicana Etsy shop to see more delightful merchandise or to buy something of your own!

Cool Vintage Finds - Pumpin' 80s

Most people remember the eighties for some of the horrendous fashion trends that arose during the period. However, it wasn't a complete disaster of an era as there were some interesting trends that managed to actually still look rather cool.

One such trend in my opinion is geometric colour block pumps. I'm all about unique, interesting and funky accessories and these shoes easily fit the bill. What's also great is that I found these ones on Etsy all for US$30 and under!

Now I know these aren't for everyone, so for those of you out there like me, hope you like these shoes as much as I do!

Vintage 80s Multicolour Pumps
Price: US$23.00

Seller Description:

So 80s many hued pumps! Embodiment of the decade. In great condition, soles slightly worn.

Brand: Jasmin
Size: 7 1/2

Get these pumps here.

Vintage Pastel 80s Pumps
Price: US$15.00

Seller Description:

Vintage 80s new wave pumps in adorable pastel colors! White and periwinkle pumps with pink stripes over the toes and 2 1/2" seafoam green heels. The insoles are lightly padded and seafoam green. There is mild discoloration on the inside of the shoes and a scuff mark on the right heel's toe. The right shoe's heel has a small cut in the vinyl next to the heel stop. Otherwise the shoes are is good condition.

Size: 7.5M
Man made sole
Made in Brazil
Brand: Village

Get these pumps here.


Vintage 80s Navy/White Chevron Spectator Pumps
Price: US$30.00

Seller Description:

vintage 80s evan-piccone leather pumps. navy blue with white chevron stripe across vamp. tapered heel. french pointed toe.

label: evan-picone
material: leather
size: US 6 1/2 (EUR 37)
length: 9 3/4"
width: 2 4/5"
heel: 3"
made in spain

clean interior. minor wear on back. VERY GOOD vintage condition.

Get these pumps here.

Vintage 80s Green and White Leather Pumps
Price: US$25.00

Seller Description:

Lovely vintage 80s white and green leather pumps, from the company 'Apart Apart'. Worn only a couple of times.

Size is a 7.5 US, 5.5 EUROPE

Get these pumps here.

Vintage 80s Neon Snakeskin Pumps
Price: US$28.00

Seller Description:

Wow! This is a pair of HOT 80s neon snakeskin pumps! Sassy! Sexy! Bright orange, yellow and magenta with a shiny silver edge. 100% real leather with the appearance of being snakeskin. Based on the condition of the soles, these shoes appear to have never been worn! In excellent vintage condition!

Details:
Brand: Jasmin
Size: US 6, Euro 26
100% leather upper
Length: 9.5”
Width (at widest, measured outside): 2 ¾”
Heel height: 2 3/4”

Get these pumps here.

Indie Designer Spotlight - The Domestic Feminist

Finding that perfect combination of beauty and charm is not always easy. Luckily, I have come across some great items that effortlessly fulfill both qualities.

Independent designer The Domestic Feminist creates one of a kind accessories which she sells on Etsy. Some items include hand knit scarves and scarflets, adorable feathered and lace fascinators as well as eye catching handmade purses.

It won't hurt at all to get something for yourself or as a gift for someone else because her products are also very affordable. Currently, the prices for items range from US$8.00 to US$35.

The Domestic Feminist says:

"My work is really a result of my short attention span and love of all things functional and beautiful--or this is how I see it.

I have a bit of an affinity for things kitchsy, things glamorous, and things practical. And I hope that as I mature in my crafts of knitting, sewing, and accessory design, that I can somehow make those things shine separately but in unison."


Like what you see? Go to The Domestic Feminist's Etsy store to purchase one or some of these unique and stylish accessories.

Indie Designer Spotlight - 32lives

Nicole Richie came out to support her boyfriend Joel Madden at the opening party of his DCMA clothing store in West Hollywood on March 14. As many of you may know, Nicole recently gave birth to a baby daughter named Harlow. In honour of her little tot, Nicole wore black circular pendant with a white H in the middle.

ETSY seller 32lives is a jewelry designer who makes a variety of initial pendants, some similar to this one. She also makes necklaces, rings and magnets. All her work is fun, inexpensive and one-of-a-kind. Also, since she takes customized requests, they would be a great gift to anyone with a love of fashion.

The designer says:

“I didn't intend to open a shop on ETSY. I was a customer at first and became increasingly impressed and excited with all the different ways people recycled items and turned them into something unique and fun.

I had saved up lots of wine corks over the years, intending to make a giant cork board out of them and suddenly it hit me to use them as jewelry! It's totally therapeutic for me to make pendants, necklaces and rings in my spare time, which is why I don't charge very much. I never had any idea that it would catch on so quickly!”

Below are some samples of 32lives' cool designs.

Click on the link below to go to 32lives ETSY store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5203666