Tag Detroit

Why Not Pledge To Slow Down And Learn To Enjoy The Simple Things Again?

Life is about simple pleasures – watching the sun rise, enjoying the summer breeze with a favorite glass of wine, conversation with good friends, writing with a good, flowing pen in a beautiful notebook. As life moves faster and faster, and people get busier, we lose some of these moments. Everything is about speed and efficiency. People want the latest toys, the latest technology and there literally is an app for everything. Why not pledge to slow down and learn to enjoy the simple things again? It’s important to stop and remember the enjoyable moments in life. If you’re a wine connoisseur, take the time to really taste it. Savor the flavors, and write down what you notice about it. Although there are many great apps for wine lovers to take notes, there’s something special about documenting your find in a beautiful, luxury leather journal. Beau Satchelle creates gorgeous, bespoke handcrafted luxury journals in lambskin and premium parchment paper. They make for a wonderful writing experience at the time that you are documenting your notes. The feeling of the pen flowing over the beautifully smooth parchment paper, the smell of the ink and the pages, and the feel of the cool leather and paper under your fingertips is truly a treat for all of your senses. And when the journal is complete, you have a wonderful, tangible record of your experiences. It’s a souvenir for the rest of your life – and for generations to come. It’s collectable, it’s sentimental, and it’s a memento that you can hold in your hands. As handy as technology is, you don’t – and we guarantee, won’t – get those same feelings from using an electronic journal, or an app. This is about taking the time to slow down and enjoy those same, tangible […]

Launch Getting Closer…

Beau Satchelle has begun the countdown to launch! It is our hope to bring you on our journey of building our brand to contend in the luxury lifestyle market. It has been a splendid, yet humbling experience preparing for the introduction of Beau Satchelle – crossing our T’s and dotting the I’s, completing the business plan, consistently writing and posting blogs by incorporating luxury lifestyle with our leather products and of course, the production process. As entrepreneurs with our new launch in the luxury leather category, it is just never enough hours in the day! After a number of months of turning our visions into designs, which then were made into templates and then sourcing the right hides, threads and tools, T. Michael has diligently crafted a line in a few areas which will be revealed in the coming weeks and months. What has been particularly interesting in the last several months is our participation into the world of wine. We were thrilled to be asked to design and showcase creations that are used exclusively by wine connoisseurs and lovers of wine in the areas of leather backpacks and messenger wine bottle carriers and leather wine tasting journals, along with bespoke leather accessories for the wine tasting world. And, as per request, we would also like to mention extending into bourbon and whisky tasting journals as well. We are anticipating that this project will cater to a market wanting heirloom quality luxuries for a lifetime of memories in which we are perfecting to serve. T. Michael has always preferred to work his magic in bespoke items for the high end and affluent market that searches for one of a kind items, whether for home, fashion or travel. This pathway will allow us to offer other specialty merchandise for the discerning […]

Celebrating the Fashion of the Kentucky Derby!

This past Saturday, the “Superbowl” of horse racing sporting events took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby with the participation of twenty jockeys and their horses competing for the top four finish. The undefeated Nyquist (3:1 odds) completed the first leg of his journey to the triple crown (which means winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness held on May 21st and finally the Belmont Stakes which will be held on June 11th) earning the win of a most thrilling race. Nyquist took home a $1.24 million dollar purse for his owner, J. Paul Reddam. As incredibly it is to witness the race, what is just as fascinating is the celebrated cultured events that are held with fashion being the star of the show that attract visitors from all over the country. The Derby is steep in tradition with the drinking of mint julips and Kentucky Bourbon and all things that represent Southern belles and gentlemen. The Derby festivities include a two week public festival, a number of galas with auctions and many pre and post parties with celebrity and affluent attendees. Over 150,000 people attend the Kentucky Derby every year and there are races all day up till the actually Derby that starts around 6:30 pm. So what else is there to do until the main event, but watch the fabulous fashion. And, based on Derby etiquette, the more expensive your tickets, the more formal you should look. Let’s be clear again….. as exciting as the race is, the Derby is not all about the horses…but being seen in the finest attire. The hat is EVERYTHING. Whether it is modest or magnificent, ranging from a trendy London fascinator (a chic, dainty headpiece decorated with feathers and netting and secured with a comb) […]

Mother’s Day Message from Beau Satchelle

To our Moms and all Mothers who have taught us swag, style, beauty, jazziness, grace, laughter, healing, and being powerful. Who introduce us to patience, acceptance, being grateful and humble, showing class and being devoted. Who told us to follow our heart, keep it real, living a life of giving, fall in love, and being open minded. To love ourselves, to being committed, having self-respect and doing the right thing, and experiencing unconditional love. To say nothing if you don’t have anything nice to say. Always represent Mom well in public through manners and appearance. Never stop learning no matter how many years you’ve lived. Take care of Mother Earth. And to pass all of this knowledge on to future generations. T. Michael is not only a master in building stunning bespoke leather products, but he has the talent to create word symphonies into beautiful poems. We decided that there was no better way than to honor Mother’s Day by sharing this poem he wrote years ago for his Mother. Enjoy! Blessings from Above Going from one child to another I love what you made us become, Mother Your beauty and grace makes you a queen And your children are proof of your winning team I do not see you often but I miss you much You have an everlasting effect that keeps me in touch I thank you for your support and trust If it were not for you, I would be in the dust I remember those times when you gave us an inch and we took a mile This was knowledge gained as our lessons started to pile Teaching us each day was your mission And wanting the best for us, you were wishing I will never forget those hot meals right before sunrise Hearing you call […]

Luxury Style In Detroit? Yes!

Today, news broke on our local stations that our city will be visited by the Commissioner of the Major League Soccer (MLS), to meet with two of our wealthiest Detroit ambassadors, Quicken Loans owner, Dan Gilbert and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores in bringing a MLS franchise to downtown Detroit. From a diehard sports fan viewpoint, these are exciting times for our fair city. To be one of the few cities in the country that host a professional soccer team along with the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings (come back home Pistons!). With 4 professional teams in the heart of downtown Detroit, over half of the year, fans will be experiencing some type of professional sporting event on a daily basis. My point is that the announcement is more evidence of the revival of Detroit to be a contender with other metropolitan cities as younger and sophisticated adults flock to our city not only to work, live and play, but more importantly keep their dollars in the city that can offer a range of products and services from the inexpensive to the luxurious. City leaders, who work to bring tourists to our city are seeing an increasing uptick in conventions and out of town visitors. They rely on retailers, restaurants and other small businesses to provide a “Detroit” unique experience and offer products and services that reflect our amazing community. We are a city under constant construction, including renovations of buildings in downtown led by luxury hotel developers such as the Westin, Hilton, and Four Seasons. All three Detroit casinos, Motor City Casino, Greektown Casino and MGM Casino offer high end rooms as well as boutique shops to match. Entrepreneurs see Detroit as the new frontier as start-ups and tech companies have discovered our city as a viable alternative to […]

Detroit’s French Connection

I find history fascinating when studying people, events, and decisions that were made in the past that influence our present day. Innovation, creativity and necessity have developed processes, inventions and products that makes life a breeze compared to our forefathers. Consider this. Tools originating from stones and sticks to hunt animals for food, harvest farm land and construct shelters are now robotic marvels. Wax and oil used for early lighting in lanterns brought about electricity, and now the invention of solar panels use the sun for energy. Horse drawn carts were the early babies of automobiles that now use engine ‘horsepower’ to travel. Early books were bound by hand; parchment paper sewn with thread and cased in wood or leather covers or a combination of both, then adorned with jewels and gold leaf are now made with machines. (Although these type of handbound books are very beautiful and quite rare, there are Master Bookbinders still binding these type of heirloom luxuries for a hefty fee!) Fashion is no exception. The original adaptation of clothing was used as coverings to shelter the body from the elements. Sewing needle artifacts date back to 19,000 BC to sew skins together for body coverings. Throughout time and travel to other climates, clothing was still used first as protection, but other purposes came into play including the use for decoration. Clothing became more practical as history progressed and began to take on more status and wealth meanings. As technological advances came into play (with the emergence of weaving textiles, spinning techniques for yarn and silk production, and advances with cotton production) fashion became more stylish and decorative depending on the locale and culture. Segueing into Beau Sathchelle’s arena…. accessories. The early accessories made from vegetation, animal hides or textiles were made out of pure necessity. […]

So What Is Luxury Anyway?

This past week, I read a great online article by James Roumeliotis; a lifestyle marketer titled “Luxury versus Premium versus Fashion: Clarifying the Disparity” in which he discusses how the terms Luxury, Premium and Fashion, can be convoluted and confusing depending on who is defining for what consumer group. And, that brands targeting the affluent must have clarity as to their “lane” with these specific segments. As we continue to clarify our brand, we realize that we offer a Premium product. As Roumeliotis states in his article ” Premium, stands for performance, value added, state-of-the-art, craftsmanship, and timeless design.” What a beautiful and appropriate way to describe Beau Satchelle. Yet, it’s important to add that our long term strategy is to grow our current ‘new brand’ into a luxury lifestyle brand. The terms mentioned above have been adopted in so many ways that you do wonder if mass marketers have weakened the exclusivity of those words. For instance, take the word “bespoke”. Is it losing its power because of it’s overuse in a variety of industries? Webster dictionary defines the term bespoke as dealing in or producing custom-made articles. According to wiseGeek an online blogger, it is a British word that originated among tailors of London’s Seville Row where cloth for custom-made suits was said to be spoken for, or reserved for an exclusive client. Interestingly, Haute Couture is the female version fashion term of the word bespoke which is most connected with men’s tailoring. When marketing to a demographic that appreciates purchasing unattainable products or services, we must strive for offering perfection within our wheelhouse. Being introduced into the affluent market has been an revealing journey for Beau Satchelle as we gain more knowledge, create memorable experiences and build long term relationships with our clients. Our leather creations will […]

The Handbag’s Evolution…

“When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will every see it. You’ll know its there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.” – Steve Jobs As Beau Satchelle launch nears, we wanted to pay homage to the leather creators and innovators of our past. The evolution of luxury handbags have a rich and storied history in Europe; many trends and designs grew out of the fashion styles of the French and English, although America designers have put their unique influence on this beautiful accessory. So let’s take a look at the evolution of the handbag….. In Ancient Times, (evidenced in both Nubian and European civilizations), pouches were used by both men and women as a fundamental part of our development as humans to collect food and to transport items. The earliest were made from animal skin, cotton or woven plant fibers. During the Middle Ages, the purse, was made more so with round pieces of leather and a drawstring, had another utilitarian purpose (storing coinage) for men long before women adopted them as a fashion accessory and the need to carry personal items. Many of the early designs for women had to do with the style of the dress (including wide skirts, material in the back of the skirt, slimmer skirts) as to whether these early bags were worn underneath or outside the skirt. In the New World, European pilgrims discovered Native Americans used leather pouches for medicine bags and other pouches of all sizes to preserve and transport items from food […]

Easter, 2016… Beau Satchelle is Hopeful

This blog post originated and was first published on our former company Bedrock Beauty, LLC website during the Paris, France incident in 2015. Given the events of yesterday, we pray for those who encountered such horrific acts of violence and join hands across the globe for a more peaceful and harmonious future. Christians all over the world are preparing for Easter; which is one of their biggest religious holiday of the year. Easter or Resurrection Sunday which commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven, is a festive, celebratory day for Christian believers. Easter represents hope. The reverse of hope was sadly brought to our attention again with the horrific acts of violence that occurred yesterday in Brussels, Belgium, the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Another stark reminder of the type of world we live in today… the unfortunate “new normal”. During our re-branding, Beau Satchelle has continued to build friendships and has developed working partnerships with a number of European fashion designers, makers, bloggers and vendors. We are heartbroken that our international neighbors are experiencing such tragedy and fear. Its unimaginable to go about business as usual and live with some semblance of normalcy when uncertainty surrounds your community. Time, once again, appeared to stand still for world citizens as video and pictures were communicated through traditional media and social media. What is encouraging is through all of this tragedy, to witness stories of human beings pulling together to help the injured. The words “my brother’s keeper” plays out repeatedly and that during this Holy Week, I am hopeful that all peoples of various religions and non religions will once again stand up in the face of fear. These events once again shows our solidarity as humans and how we ultimately have to share this one […]

Beau Satchelle, Vision Board Of Our Future

2019 will be here before you know it. Perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves, since we’re in the middle of preparing for our Spring 2016 launch. But what better way to build upon our current excitement than to not only focus on the present yet look toward the future and share our short term goals. For Beau Satchelle, when creating our business plan we embraced the author, Dr. Steven Covey’s Habit #2 “Begin With The End in Mind”. By clarifying in our minds as to how our company will look in a few years. This accomplished several things for Beau Satchelle: 1. Created a platform to think bigger as to our place in the global world of luxury lifestyle 2. It provides us the whole map to the road, the guidelines and the milestones to fulfill our three year vision 3. We can determine what our social impact will be on this planet Three years was a long enough period to measure our progress by breaking goals into smaller chunks of time. This process started by defining who we are today. Beau Satchelle’s vision is Bespoke Luxury for the Discerning individual. Beau Satchelle’s mission statement: We provides fine bespoke leather handbags, cases, luggage, accessories and connoisseur specialties to those who crave individuality and one of a kind pieces. Our Head Luxury Designer and Leather Artisan T. Michael carefully crafts these works of art and is committed to reviving the time honored tradition of hand-stitched luxury leather goods. Made exclusively from luxurious and exotic skins, premium hides and hardware, he meticulously builds his distinctive products to meet his discerning and sophisticated client’s needs. Beau Satchelle…. “Beautiful Handbags”, makes a statement and stands the test of time… This vision and mission statements allowed us to do the planning necessary to track our […]