There are four basic food groups: plain chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate -Jill Shavis Godvia, Ghirardelli, Lindt….these names alone, are powerful enough to have a foodie opening their wallet for a sweet treat. Chocolate is divine no…
If you consider yourself to be a student of the fashion industry, then giants such as Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren or Tori Burch would be recognizable names as being game changers in the world of retail. As a start-up luxury business, we have to stay on top of our game by gaining knowledge from individuals such as those mentioned who have successfully forge their own paths. Auto Biographies are an important teaching tool for visualizing someones success and wanting the same for yourself. One of those giants that we recognize as a game changer in the world of fashion is Daymond John, the founder and CEO of FUBU, a television personality and investor on the hugely popular realty television series Shark Tank. He has written a book named “The Power of Broke” and it resonates well with any entrepreneur who is beginning their own journey of a thousand steps to building a business brand. In the book, he takes 15 entrepreneurs from different backgrounds who offer insight on what it took to build their successful careers and brands from nothing. In a nutshell, Daymond John bootstrapped his way to success and he feels in many ways that “the struggle”….not having money forced him to be creative which kept him focused on his goals. So in the course of reading his book, he shared in his first chapter 3 philosophical takeaways that resonated with Beau Satchelle’s growth which inspired this blog. Be Innovative – Daymond John refers to the power of broke as a mindset of providing substance over flash. It takes inspiration to stand out when you are a minnow in a sea of whales in the luxury industry. Our story is a good old fashion tale of basically learning an “old school” sewing art form from YouTube. Hand sewn, […]
Weekly and often daily, without fail, we have a discussion with a potential client who is sometime novice to the world of bespoke on the subject of price. Instead of the snarky response of “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it”, in which we’ve heard some artisans say, we decided to dedicate this blog to a discussion on the value of purchasing bespoke. There are articles where writers question whether the growing popular word “bespoke” is an overused term. Basically the word means “specially made for a particular person”; it’s “customized” as many Americans relate to. In early centuries, throughout Europe, bespoke tailoring dedicated development to the craft of tailoring fabrics, especially men’s suits. Bespoke exudes refinement, class, and luxury. For some, it brings a particular affluent lifestyle and status and for others to participate in an interactive journey with a personalized result. Bespoke has a place in every high end industry including wedding dressings, perfume, shoes, interior design, cars, furniture, jewelry, watches, liquor, even software to name a few! So as you make the leap into the world of bespoke, let’s look at 3 factors that influence the cost of these beautiful investments. Labor – the Master’s talent, his or her craftsmanship and dedication to detail; it is an undertaking of the crafter’s love for creating excellence in his or her particular field. Even in the world of bespoke perfume, which takes personalization to a whole new level, developing a specific fragrance can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In addition, a client pays for the time invested into his or her custom piece. A bespoke suit can take up to 8 weeks and several fittings before it is delivered. A leather bag or set of luggage can take months depending on the clients request which leads […]
One of Beau Satchelle’s lovely clients purchased one of our custom designed, gorgeous ___ arctic blue tote bag that she uses for the office and a matching overnight duffel bag for a weekend getaway. A week ago, she contacted me, describing how an awful ink pen found its wicked way to her Tote, leaving its signature of three blue lines near the bottom of the tote bag and was quite noticeable. Needless to say she was upset and asked for suggestions as to the best method of removing the ink while preserving the bag’s leather and maintaining the color. We were able to suggest a cleaner/conditioner that eliminated the ink and kept the beauty of the bag intact. If you handle your one-of-a-kind Beau Satchelle bag with the upmost care, it will maintain its longevity. So let us share six tips with you on caring for your bespoke leather bags. 1. Leather absorb oils each time it is touched. So, first and foremost keep your hands clean to prevent makeup, hair products, perfumes, spray deodorant or lotions from getting on your handbag. A helpful accessory tip to protect the handbag’s handles is to take one of your favorite, matching silk scarf and wrap around. 2. Avoid placing your handbag on/in places where it may get scratched or stained; shopping cart trolley, file cabinet drawers, hair salon’s floors or countertops or anywhere a splinter, rough edge or chemicals can damage your luxury good. 3. Avoid spillage of beverages and liquids as they may leave a watermark; even mineral water can leave a mark if not attended to promptly. If bag gets wet, blot dry with towels and allow to air dry. If you absolutely must venture out in the rain with your luxury bag, another protective, accessory tip that I would […]
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 […]
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 […]
Brrr! It’s cold in North America this time of year, especially in Detroit, where we’re located. With Christmas and the holidays over, and with many weeks of winter left to come, it can get somewhat depressing this time of year. Most of us just want to turn up the thermostat, light a fire in the fireplace, and bundle up in our favorite woolly sweaters and drink a hot chocolate. But wait! It doesn’t have to be depressing this winter. Depending on where you are located, winter happens from a few months to half the year every year, so you might as well take advantage of it. And winter doesn’t have to mean a death sentence for your sense of style. In fact, many fashionistas have learned to embrace the cold and the snow and make their winter wear and winter activities part of their style. You don’t have to be especially outdoorsy or nature-oriented to enjoy this time of year. There are lots of things you can do to keep active this time of year. Read on for our favorites! Take to the trails or to the slopes Whether you prefer cross-country skiing or taking your adventures to great heights, skiing is a very popular activity in the winter. Head to Colorado, north to the Canadian Rockies or to Switzerland for some world-class skiing. Believe us, nothing screams luxury lifestyle like heading out for a day on the slopes and then sipping champagne or hot cocoa by the fire in your private ski lodge afterwards. Go somewhere warm Whether you head to Hawaii, the Caribbean or Los Angeles, a trip somewhere toasty warm is luxurious in the wintertime. Be sure to accessorize with warm-weather accessories, like a killer bathing suit, a bespoke luxury leather handbag from our current collection, and […]
