Tag Handstitched

Beau Satchelle Holiday Reveals Continued

Our team has been working non-stop to build an ambitious collection of treasured luxury leather goods ready for this time of the year. This blog post continues to reveal our latest products to be acquired for this holiday season. Two of the designs we are introducing in this post were inspired from receiving beautiful skins with deep colors that just spoke to our designer’s talent to create simple yet exquisite products. The first bag speaks for itself….. the color, the shape, the design. One of a kind! It had its public test drive at a couple of special events and without fail, many women swooned over this jewel. The bag is vintage inspired with a structured box look and matching handle made from a stunning gator embossed Italian lambskin in a dramatic lipstick red. Hand-cut and hand-sewn with fine black waxed thread, it was finished off with black hand dyed and burnished edges. The nickel plated hardware was selected perfectly to give more attention to this bespoke design. The interior is plush with matching red suede and a suede sleeve to hold your smartphone or smaller tablet. Executive Bridle Briefcase – Dressing down seems to be the norm at emerging companies, yet we see an uptick among men from the boardroom to celebrities who desire to embrace the well-dressed lifestyle with an array of stylish suits. Just as important, is the carefully selected accessories that range from bracelets, watches, ties, hats, lapel pins, cufflinks, pocket squares, belts, etc. needing to be in sync, subtle and elegant. To finish off that stylish look, let’s take a peek at a Beau Satchelle bespoke briefcase. Made of bridle leather in black, it was hand-cut and hand-stitched with black waxed Tigre thread and was finished off with black hand painted and burnished edges. The […]

Holiday Buying and the Bespoke Luxury Leather Goods Client

The leaves are changing color here in Detroit, which means that fall is here and winter is fast approaching. Winter, to many of us, means the holiday season, and with the holidays come along an entrenched gift-giving tradition. After years of buying gifts for the many people on your list, some of us are out of ideas for that perfect gift. After all, there are only so many ties and bathrobes and slippers that people can use, and some people are turning to digital programming for movies, so Blu-Rays are fazing out, as are books: since many people favor the electronic version. Still, we want to buy something nice for our loved ones, friends and business associates in our lives, to convey either love or appreciation for another holiday season. So what do we get? Have you considered a bespoke luxury handcrafted item? Located in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, Beau Satchelle is a local, small, luxury company designing and crafting luxury leather handbags, clutches, cases and connoisseur luxury goods like journals and wine holders. Never outsourced to other countries, our beautiful handcrafted leather goods are made by master craftsmen right here in Michigan, so they are works of art. What better gift than a beautiful luxury item made to last a lifetime? Luxury handbags are a great gift because they are used every day, and are a practical accessory that everyone notices as soon as you walk in the door. All of our bespoke leather goods are functional, yet luxurious handcrafted works of art. Hand-stitched with love and care, they convey confidence, professionalism, glamour, sophistication, style, elegance, and the good life. For that reason, they are a great investment. With proper care, our luxury leather handbags will last and last and be great go-to accessories that will compliment everything in your wardrobe. […]

Beau Satchelle Evening Handbags Are Ready For The Holidays!

The art of leather accessory design has layers of processes that only the artisan’s hands involved or a leather aficionado can appreciate. A well-made luxury bespoke bag takes 20-40 hours to make and entails hundreds, perhaps over a thousand, hand-sewn saddle stitches; all done with hand tools, two needles and thread. The choice of leather is a vital decision as to the ultimate look and feel of the product to ensure the owner’s delight of the product each time it is used. With those values and work ethic driving us, we are especially proud of the latest creations of our Master Leather artisan, T. Michael. This year, the number of requests to expand our luxury clutch offerings has amplified. Particularly with the upcoming holidays and celebrations looming on the horizon. As promised, it is our pleasure to introduce the first two bags that involve our eveningwear collection: The Grace Bespoke Clutch Bag (pictured above) is making its debut this November as a true one of a kind for Beau Satchelle. As with all of our products, it was necessary that we, first and foremost, provided good design and superior craftsmanship. The clutch’s design has a concave shape and is petite enough for a woman to comfortably carry in her hand. The leather is made from Italian lambskin in silver metallic and feels amazingly soft. The interior is made of black goatskin to contrast the silver exterior. This luxury jewel is sewn with fine waxed black thread and the edges are hand painted and hand burnished in black. An interior sleeve was created to provide accessibility for a Smartphone and keep it separated from other items like keys and makeup. The remaining interior has just enough room to carry a few personal items for that special evening out. A nickel chain […]

Beau Satchelle Happenings and Updates

The last month has been a whirlwind of activities for Beau Satchelle as we have been participating in several Metro Detroit Auctions to benefit some very worthy organizations and charities. We are also in the midst of getting prepared for a great holiday shopping season by positioning and promoting our bespoke luxury goods for one of kind gifts. Detroit Uncorked With an invitation from the Detroit Wine Association (www.detroitwine.org) we were honored to donate a bespoke leather piece for auction, named the “Emily Handbag” to the 12th Annual Detroit Uncorked Wine Extravaganza. The event’s proceeds benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank (www.GCFB.org ) one of the most significant charities in Metropolitan Detroit. Gleaners’ sole purpose is to solve hunger in Southeast Michigan through an intensive emergency food collection program that delivers millions of pounds of food to 535 community partners who in turn distribute to food pantries, shelters and schools. Over 20 restaurants and food vendors provide tasty hors’deuves while guests were able to sample over 250 Wines from all over the world from over 30 wine distributors and suppliers. The Silent Auction had a myriad of items ranging rare and vintage wines, work by local artists (including Beau Satchelle!), one of a kind wine lover collectibles and sports memorabilia. Spark 2016 Detroit Garment Group (www.detroitgarmentgroup.org), the non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate education and economic development opportunities for Michigan’s fashion community, as well as cut and sew manufacturers in all industries. In conjunction with their FashionSpeak 2016 conference, Beau Satchelle was privileged to donate one of our bespoke designed messenger handbags to their inaugural fundraiser SPARK. As a member of this association, we are fortunate to part of a fashion network that brings together professionals from across the State of Michigan and have the opportunity to rub elbows with […]

Creating A Luxury Brand From Scratch, part 2

A couple of weeks ago, we introduce the first of a series of blog posts about lessons learned in our first year of launching our luxury lifestyle business. As always, there is a never ending wealth of teaching moments and knowledge that we gain through our first year journey. So let’s cover two more this week: Marketing Our Brand – in the beginning, once your vision work is completed, while creating your business plan, a start-up must decide what their marketing strategies will be to attract their specific demographics. When entering the luxury market, every decision and action made has to correspond with the quality of your products. With that in mind, we study meticulously; the details that high luxury brands use in their language and visuals to communicate to the specific buying market. Let’s consider a luxury American automobile, the Lincoln MKC. The commercials alone exude pure elegance. The choice of using an iconic actor, Matt McConaughey, as their spokesperson, the beauty of the home and the infinity pool he dramatically falls in, his clothes and accessories he puts on, even the aristocratic dogs he carries in his Lincoln speaks quality. Lincoln customers are introduced to that same messaging throughout its social media, its showrooms, the VIP black label program and concierge service which all speak to a supreme experience. As we grow, Beau Satchelle is crafting a similar meticulous message to our audience; we will provide a “white glove” buying experience and our clients will gain pleasure and self-elevation when carrying our leather accessory. Our editorial and e-commerce photos must express beauty at the highest standards by displaying the intricate craftsmanship of our products. Our models and location shots we use create images of class and extravagance. We have to scrutinize the social media history of potential models […]

Celebrating National Handbag Day

If you adore handbags, like us, you are thrilled and anticipating the approaching celebration of National Handbag Day on October 10, 2016. A day created by one of our favorite sites purseblog.com where handbag aficionados pay homage to the designers, the history and timeline of styles, and the trends of the past, present and future. So if you need some ideas to prepare for this special day, here’s eight ways to show your love! 1. Downsize your personal collection and donate your gently used bags – Pay it forward. Why not do something altruistic and take some time to find a charity that supports low income women who are returning to the workforce? For example, Dress for Success is a global organization that accepts gently used clothing and accessories for the purpose of giving women a helping hand to build an office wardrobe. In the Metro Detroit area, there are couple of non-profits that also use donated handbags as a springboard to helping survivors of domestic violence. 2. Contribute to your local economy and purchase from an up-and-coming handbag designer in your area – Nothing makes a statement like supporting an emerging handbag artists. 3. Shoes and Boots to compliment the bag – At all of the Fashion Weeks from New York to Paris, we noticed over the knee boots, embroidered boots, chunky heals and over the top embellished shoes. To compliment your latest footwear purchase, finding the perfect matching or contrasting bag will give your outfits a complete and finished look. 4. Plan your holiday gifts for your loved ones – a bespoke bag made exclusively for the women in your life is the ultimate luxury possession. Beau Satchelle has the ability to take any of its designed bags and customized it to your preferences and needs. 5. Buy […]

Creating A Luxury Brand From Scratch, part 1

Lately, a number of our fans and entrepreneurial peers of Beau Satchelle have asked us about lessons learned during our first year of launching our small business. Introducing a new brand and creating that initial momentum to attract attention and buyers takes laser focus and hard work to stay the course. The number of years and amount of grinding it requires to become an overnight sensation in the world of business can be daunting for a start-up. Breaking into the life of niche, affluent buyers demands, different thinking and actions require stepping up your game. Our 2016 journey has become fascinating. The many personal and business lessons gained are invaluable. Sharing with our readers through this blog, our continuous journey of building a brand, we hope, gives insight and confidence to peers who have or are considering taking the leap into creating their own start-up. Believe me, there is a wealth of teaching moments that will take more than one blog post, so let’s cover three in this one: 1. CREATING A VISION – Starts with knowing yourself. While making the moves to market your product, this is the time to dig deep and be introspective. This may mean determining what self-beliefs may hold you back as an entrepreneur, from selling to approaching a potential high end client. Your limiting mindset can totally derail your confidence in pricing and selling your premium products to a buyer with high expectations and discriminating tastes. Even if your luxury product is extraordinary, do the inner work on yourself to build confidence in attracting and working with high end clients. Our vision which we speak about in detail in our March 16th Blog post, titled “Vision Board of our Future” and is our North Star. In conjunction to creating the big picture, producing a […]

Leather and Tech: The Perfect Pairing!

The cell phone. Can’t live without it! Since our lives depend more and more on phones, tablets, and laptops, it becomes imperative that luxury leather designers stay ahead and create accessories that can accommodate these devices. Leather accessories have multiple functions that include protecting and holding the device while showing off your individual style. Although the range of textiles that can be converted into a holder for a cell phone are numerous, leather ups the game in conveying an indulgence that can’t be equaled. Offerings with leather products include: Handbags and Wallets – whether a tote, crossbody, clutch or wristlet, a woman will require a pocket that can handle her phone with easy access. From Beau Satchelle’s experience, more female consumers are requesting at least one pocket outside of the handbag or an interior pocket that is extremely handy if she hears one of her notification sounds. Even an unassuming leather wallet needs to have the ability to not only house the essentials (credit cards, money, and identification), but must offer a cell phone pocket to show a women’s style and simplicity when she runs her errands. Duffle Bags and Backpacks – these particular bags are designed and built for multiple uses whether the gym, the classroom, the office, hiking or a weekend outing, multiple pockets and specific locations for tech products are essential. It is imperative that not only books, or a weekend outfit have a perfect home, but sufficient room is set aside to secure a tablet or laptop. Of course, once again an accessible cell phone pocket is necessary for easy access. With the advent of mobile chargers stations that allow phone and tablet users to become independent of “searching for a wall plug”, these technological have raised the bar to insure that a carrier can support […]

The Nuances of Stitching Leather

Last week, we had the privilege of participating in a swell event that featured a number of the newest and hottest retail spots and restaurants in Downtown Detroit. We were honored to represent our display of leather wine carriers and wine journals that were created exclusively for the House of Pure VIN, Detroit’s signature wine retailer. For Beau Satchelle, attending these events gives us the opportunity to gather feedback on the luxury products that T. Michael has created. Most reactions are that of astonishment at the craftsmanship of the products. “No way is this handsewn” is what I consistently hear from those who view our products. It is both humbling and confirming to T. Michael’s creative abilities. So, at this event, one admirer asked about the artist’s learning curve to producing such works of art. As a witness to his growth, I can assure you it began with one stitch, followed by the repetition of a million of stitches. The concentration that an apprentice must possess to perfect a saddle stitch, which is one of the main techniques used to sew leather, is utterly remarkable. If you are ever privileged to watch a Master leather craftsman stitch leather, it looks quite effortless. Almost to the point that it looks easy. But because I seem to get the same question about his personal journey of learning his craft, I wanted to give some insight into the growth of a self-taught leather artisan. T. Michael’s actually started his leather journey in college when he was unable to find quality belts that could fit within his budget. So, his next move was to visit the local leather store, pick up the necessary supplies and design belts, that to this day he still possesses. Fast forward to 2012, when the attraction of leather once […]

10 Success Habits of A Small Growing Luxury Business

After last week’s blog regarding the Olympics and what lessons we derive from the experiences of the absolute top athletes in their respective fields, a curious reader inquired as to our specific habits that keep us focused on “the main things” in building a luxury leather business. As with any creative business, Beau Satchelle has for the most part, two main areas: the creative side (the design and production of our leather goods) and the sales/marketing end (getting our products seen and sold). Our success in these two areas are determined by building consistent, small steps every day that stimulates momentum and progress over time. For Beau Satchelle, keeping our eye on the prize, a successful luxury leather company, requires us to practice the following ten habits: 1. Maintaining a Healthy Body – not suggesting to necessarily be in shape to perform a marathon (unless that is the goal), but at least creating the physical routines for endurance on those long days that support good energy and fitness in the area of exercise and healthy eating. 2. Maintaining Healthy Mind Set – Reading positive and intelligent materials and books, listening to educational podcasts, watching You Tube channels of other entrepreneurs, networking with other business owners keeps us sharp and encouraged. More importantly, having a great sense of humor will keep you sane! 3. Gratitude – the daily grind of a business can be draining and challenging. To keep a perspective on what’s truly important, acknowledging what we are grateful for comes in different forms whether that be through prayer, writing in a journal, using this blog to publicly acknowledge who and what we are thankful for or just recognizing our teammates value to this business is worth its’ weight in gold. Showing gratitude to others is limitless and appreciated. 4. […]