Clare Vivier Womens clutches and more!

Clare V in NYC

Last year I discovered the wonderful line of Claire Vivier clutches, bags, and totes all designed and manufactured in Los Angeles.  On a recent trip to NYC I visited the Clare V shop on Elizabeth Street in the hip Nolita section.  I purchased this fabulous canvas tote bag with chambray lining which I really love.

Matilde Tote stylishly made in the USA!

Clare Vivier’s initial business model was developed several years ago out of her own need for a nice laptop cover.  She designed an oversized clutch style cover for  her laptop and then friends wanted the same for their laptops.  The laptop clutch is still a staple of her product line along with flat clutches and foldover clutches.

Great foldover clutch with monogram

Smaller change and credit card cases.

Her leather handbags and totes are unique, beautiful and classic.

Clare is also known for her details such as adding a rich leather tassel  or making any leather or suede bag monogrammed.

Inspiration wall at the Clare V Nolita shop

I hope you will check out the Clare V website for all her latest offerings.  Go to clarevivier.com for lots of fun!  And until next time enjoy Spring and happy stylish shopping Made in the USA!  L

 

 

 

Nanette Lepore Womens Couture

Nanette Lepore NYC

Hello Everyone!

For as long as I can remember I have been a big fan of the Nanette Lepore clothing line but it wasn’t until I started this blog and researched American made products that I was pleased to find out that Nanette Lepore manufactures over 85% of her clothing in the garment district of New York City employing many of the same couture seamstresses since her inception over 16 years ago!  And her stylish shoe line is made in Los Angeles!  The company is planning to eventually make 100% in this country too!  If you are not familiar with Nanette Lepore she is known for her great colors and bold prints.  Nanette Lepore has become one of the leading names in contemporary American fashion. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Nanette  headed east to New York City with only her talent, tenacity and a $5,000 loan from her father, Nanette launched her label in New York City’s Garment Center.

Inspired by her artsy, bohemian childhood,  Nanette’s designs are worn by celebrities including Michelle Obama, Nicki Minaj, Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift, Abigail Breslin, Blake Lively, Arianna Huffington, Carly Rae Jepsen and Kristin Chenoweth.

Nanette’s outspoken efforts to protect New York City’s Garment Center have helped to raise awareness and demand for American-made clothing.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Flag Ship store in NYC Soho district and chat with the warm and welcoming store manager, Shonda.  If you visit this store for no other reason than to meet Shonda you will be happy.

Miss Shonda

Today, Nanette Lepore has grown into an international brand that offers women’s apparel, swimwear, accessories and fragrance. Nanette Lepore has shops across the United States, Europe, and Asia—including boutiques in New York, Los Angeles, Bal Harbour, Chicago, Las Vegas, Boston, London and Tokyo with openings in Shanghai and Hong Kong in the near future.

Check out her website for store locator or shop online like I do!  Everything comes beautifully wrapped and look at the hand signed card she encloses with each shipment!Until next time………. have a happy Spring and happy shopping Made in the USA!

Stylish handbags made from recycled newspapers in Massachusetts.

I am super excited to tell you about a unique and stylish line of ladies handbags all designed and made in Massachusetts from recycled newspapers!  Connie Carmen, founder of Couture Planet, who works at the elegant Copley Fairmont Hotel in Boston came up with the idea of making these bags after seeing tons of daily guest room newspapers hauled away.  The ingenious clutches, wristlets, handbags, and totes, utilize choice newspaper print with eye catching graphics, titillating  topics, and interesting advertisements, via publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times.  Custom bags can be made to order as well.

The lovely ladies from Couture Planet invited me to visit their facility located in the historic Lady Pinkham factory in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Here I was thrilled to see dozens of bags hot off the press!

So they start with newspapers.

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Then newspaper pages are selected and “fabric” sheets are made. Ten layers of newspaper are used and each sheet is laminated and double stitched.

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Fabric sheets sorted for various portions of a bag like front, back or bottom.

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A selection of clutches.

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I love the grommet closure.

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A wine theme clutch. Notice how the ingenious design carries the theme inside the clutch!

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A Coco bag with lucite handles. I always wanted a Louis Vuitton bag!

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An assortment of ever changing clutches, totes, and handbags.

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The boutique at the Copley Fairmont Hotel in Boston.

For more details, prices and store locations check out their website, www.mycoutureplanet.com