view slideshow »

Luxury for Less with Lena Erziak Handbags

Sisters Leona and Hasna Erziak opened their downtown New York boutique Stella Filante six months ago during one of the rockiest retail climates in over a decade, but so far their warm, chicly designed space is holding strong - and they’ve found a way to launch the second season of their handbag collection, Lena Erziak.

Sold in the store and available at Fred Segal and Intermix next February, Lena Erziak is a collection of bags handmade in Florence, Italy from some of the softest, supplest leathers they could find. Intended to be more than just another basic brown or black leather collection, the range features an inventive color palette of rich fuchsias, periwinkles, lavenders, oranges and metallics – “the new neutrals,” said Leona – and crocodile or python embossed skins.

The sisters, who grew up in a Belgian-Moroccan family of artists, divide their time between New York, Paris and Florence, and decided to open their own store after stints as interior designers in Marrakech and as celebrity stylists in France. Their design sensibility is a reflection of their cross-cultural, on-the-go lifestyles.

“I’d love to say, ‘Oh, I was inspired by this exhibition,’ but I’m a very busy mom,” said Leona, “I just thought about what I would love to wear, and what women want.” She said a lot of her inspiration simply comes from looking out from the terrace of her apartment in Paris.

Erziak opens up a large, slouchy hobo bag and points out a built-in key chain, which she points out is perfect for those nights when you’re coming home late and night and don’t want to have to frantically rummage around for your keys.

“An independent woman coming home in the middle of the night, she might get scared and think, ‘I wish I had something to open the door with right away,’” said Erziak.

Other clever details include soft suede linings, detachable tassels and shiny brass hardware, and youthful touches like studs.

There are fifteen styles in the Spring 2010 collection ranging in price from $350-$980.

		* A Very Betsey Birthday Bash * Martha Davis: Industrial Design Meets Shoes