As another Christmas is upon us and the mad rush to meet the deadline to prepare for the holiday for family and friends is approaching fast and furious, Beau Satchelle wanted to take this opportunity to stop for just a moment and post a message of reflection. For us, this has been a year of transitions which involved some surprises, plenty of accomplishments and a few disappointments. We are grateful for our blessings in our first year of growth and continuing to do introspective work for our business and as individuals. Being an entrepreneur takes more commitment than one can believe possible. Possessing the ability to ignore all the distractions that can hinder your focus and surrounding yourself with positive, like-minded people are betting on your success is priceless. As we reflect on where we are as a business, the realization that our knowledge has come from many directions, I would like to touch on three areas that have impacted Beau Satchelle’s growth. Continuing Education Without a doubt, after the 2008 Recession, we saw the growth of many aspiring American entrepreneurs. And, as we all compete for consumer dollars, the ability to offer quality in products and services is important. Although we study our direct competitors in the luxury leather industry, we gain even more from other industries. We are inspired by tech companies with their visionary abilities; we admire five star hotels and resorts that leave no stone unturned to please their guests and pay homage to the selflessness organizers of the charities that we’ve partnered with who work so hard to help those less fortunate. We appreciate artists, designers and engineers of all fields who value producing quality, strive for sustainability and embrace beauty and creativity. The Internet’s Influence The emergence of the internet has allowed entrepreneurs to […]
This has been an exciting first year for Beau Satchelle. Creating a brand is a big challenge; designing, building, accounting, marketing, networking and most of all, selling. However, it couldn’t have ended any better than finding someone who can give you their side in an honest and well executed way. Therefore, we are proud and honored to feature our first Brand Ambassador in this exclusive interview. We initially saw Grace on social media and started to follow her, getting to know her style and fashion sense because we were and are looking for individuals who have a certain charisma about themselves who exudes class and sophistication; in which in this case, Grace definitely has. During that time, we were convinced we would approach her with an offer to evaluate one of our bespoke handbags just added to our luxury collection. With her stating she was an admirer of our products and brand, we realized it was a win/win for the both of us. For those of you who have been following us on social media, Grace has already interviewed our luxury designer and leather artisan, T. Michael with a two part interview and handbag evaluation on our ‘Michelle’ Bespoke Handbag. Here are the links if you haven’t read the posts and would like to catch up: http://colorandgrace.com/2016/08/24/michigan-bespoke-luxury-leather-goods-beau-satchelle-interview-1/ http://colorandgrace.com/2016/08/31/michigan-bespoke-luxury-leather-goods-beau-satchelle-interview-2/ http://colorandgrace.com/2016/09/23/michelle-bespoke-handbag-beau-satchelle/ You will see photos of her showcasing this luxury beauty in many coordinated looks; featuring other brands fashion attire. A casual photo of Grace with our Grace Bespoke Clutch Purse was designed for and named after her. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to not only showcase another one of our bespoke luxuries but have one designed, built and delivered to her home. The joy of creating beauty is something we love and cherish and to see Grace filled with delight is […]
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 […]
September 2016 we salute you! Your predictability over seasonal changes with your cohort, the Artist, aka Mother Nature spreading her love of color particularly in the Midwest. The days grow shorter while the temperature begins to cool as Mother Earth prepares for its winter hibernation. Charities are gearing up for their fall and winter fundraisers. And those of us in the retail industry, preparations are intensifying for the upcoming holiday season. September also ushers in a month of pure delight as Fashion Weeks gets underway, first in New York then London, Milan and Paris. While following the unveiling of designers’ collections, Beau Satchelle keeps a close eye on designer’s choices for handbags collaborations. Needless to say, because of our bespoke background, many styles are too trendy and will not be embraced for our design consideration. However, we understand that attentiveness to certain trends can be incorporated into classic leather styles without compromising our design integrity. So these are the 7 Fall Trends that Beau Satchelle is keeping an eye on: ‘Hair on’ Skin or Genuine Exotic Handbags – No question that we embrace the sexiness and luxuriousness of what this style does for a handbag. Such as the above accompanying picture (red python) we selected for this blog, the more premium and exotic the skin, the better. The trends we noted integrate deep, rich dyed colors that make a handbag pop! We have seen cow leathers incorporated with alligator, python and ostrich for the side gussets or handles as contrasts to have just a touch of exotic. Beau Satchelle is currently in the design stage of an alligator leather satchel handbag that is so versatile that it can be worn both day and night. We will be introducing more modern colors but the cut, design and production will stay true […]
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, […]
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 […]
In Michigan, the signs of the summer season coming to an end is the sudden cooler temperatures, the leaves are starting to turn, back to school ads run non-stop and Labor Day weekend has arrived. In the United States, Labor Day is observed every first Monday in September to recognize the contributions of American workers. When it comes to celebrating the worker in Detroit, our city’s landscape is rich in manufacturing history that dates back to the auto lines created by Henry Ford’s factories in the early 1900s during the industrial age. The auto companies (Ford, GM and Chrysler) created many ancillary businesses who became suppliers to what we, back in the day, affectionately called the Big Three. What outsiders not familiar with Southeastern Michigan may not realize is that other industries have grown significantly in this region out of the auto industry including design and engineering. The last several years we have witnessed tech companies large and small make Detroit their new home. With Detroit’s growth, we have seen other industries steadily showing interest in being a part of Detroit’s revitalization. What is exciting for Beau Satchelle is the emerging garment industry that is receiving major buzz in the last couple of years. Fashion is finding a home in Detroit! The East and West Coast have been the dominant force in the cut and sew garment industry for many decades in the U.S. and unfortunately once manufacturers took those jobs overseas for cheap labor, materials and other financial reasons, this country lost valuable skill tradespeople. So in the last few years, the industry is observing a pivot with designers who are purposely deciding to manufacture in the USA or are returning to the states and looking for manufacturers who can handle smaller orders. This is where Detroit can make […]
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 […]
So on a personal note, as a child, one of my many answers to “what do I want to be when I grow up” asked by grownups that influenced my life as a child (besides a veterinarian, a circus ringmaster and the manager of the next Jackson Five singing group), I was going to be the next Gloria Vanderbilt. I grew up when paper dolls were in vogue and I absolutely loved drawing clothes and was taught to sew by my Mom. As a teenager, I collected every magazine (way before the internet) that featured the latest and greatest in fashion for young women. However, my career as a fashion designer didn’t pan out, but my love for beautiful things has grown immensely. Since the pre-launch of Beau Satchelle to the world and thanks to my world traveled partner and artist extraordinaire T. Michael who has broadened my experiences to another level in the world of luxury. Subsequently, my tastes have grown more sophisticated, I genuinely appreciate quality and excellence whether it be a wearing a handcrafted leather handbag, dining in a Michelin Star restaurant, or displaying treasured heirloom jewelry. The artist, chef or craftsman has put love and perfection into his or her work, which is what affluent customers deem priceless. As we build our business, we keep an eye on our luxury leather competitors, but it’s just as important to understanding our market’s buying habits in other industries and how they engage in their chosen lifestyles. Our true love is leather, but we embrace the high standard of living our clients seek when it comes to discernment, uniqueness and beauty. The growth of our business has a lot to do with our connections to our local, national and international network of business associates, however, we also have a […]
Last week, we were extremely honored to be invited to participate in an exclusive affair, The Wine and Accessories Social Tasting Open House with one of the hottest up and coming businesses in Detroit. House of Pure Vin, the signature wine retailer located in the heart of downtown Detroit, opened its doors last year and is the talk of the town! Curating their extensive wine and champagne selection is Master Sommelier, Claudia Tyagi, only 1 of 3 in the State of Michigan and 1 of 147 in North America. House of Pure Vin offers the most amazing wine tastings events which take place weekly offering bottles from vineyards throughout Michigan, across the United States and internationally. As we mentioned in a previous blog, we partnered with House of Pure Vin to create bespoke wine leather accessories that included wine journals for wine connoisseurs, hobbyist and wine lovers who desire to document their tastings and wine carriers of varying sizes and preferences. This was our first advertised public showing of our products and we were anxious to collect feedback from wine lovers on their interest in adding to their wine accessories. We were fortunate in that House of Vin not only allowed us to showcase our wine accessories, but we also displayed our collection of luxury goods ranging from some early vintage Bedrock Beauty pieces to the latest Beau Satchelle creation “the Michelle Bag” inspired by the First Lady, Michelle Obama. So our takeaways from our first formal showing. A lot of hard work to make sure everything was perfect. The final touches on completing the accessories to be shown, creating the signage, being prepared for onsite sales, creating line sheets, and even creating the exterior packaging for each product. Believe the hype….Metro Detroiters turn out to support Detroit local businesses. […]
