The Midlife Fashionista: January 2011

Punch in Pizzaz with Animal Print

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
3 Comments

Fashion Vortex--LOVE These Bags!

I recently met Ana Milevskaja, Founder of Fashion Vortex, exclusive Italian leather handbags.
Being a lover of high quality leather bags, I was curious as to what makes her line of bags unique.

So I asked Ana a few questions about Fashion Vortex and here is what she had to say...

Susan: Why buy an Italian-made bag?

Ana: Because it's the highest quality leather - an Italian artisan will tell you that the main ingredient in the natural tanning of the leather is time. It produces the most beautiful and durable leather that ages with the perfection no other material can match. The second reason is superior craftsmanship - Italian artisans take immense pride in their trade and pass their skills from father to son. All of the handbag designers we work with are family businesses that make unique bags. The last reason is that the styles are one-of-a-kind – Italian handbags are timeless and elegant. While the new styles lead the fashion industry, the old ones never go out of style. This is the beauty of the Italian bag – it’s a great investment that will last for a long time.

Susan: How do you compete with Coach?

Ana: Exclusivity-- you can go into the store and buy Coach all over the U.S., but you can’t walk into the store and buy the bags I carry. I don’t bring more than 2-3, so the chance of a woman carrying the same bags as mine is next to nothing, while every other woman is carrying a Coach bag. The craftsmanship is also a reason. Coach doesn’t have the soft and fragrant leather that Italian bags have. Their bags are mass produced and sold in large department stores, while I work with small artisan businesses that have traditional approach to making bags that has been passed for generations, such as tanning leather for 42 days before using it for a bag

Italian bags are known in the world for their stylish designs, high quality materials and craftsmanship. Coach bags are only know in the U.S.

Having seen and felt these bags in person, I can tell you that I'm sold. From the glove soft feel of the leather to the timeless styles, these bags are fabulous and well worth the investment. Check out some of my favorite styles and visit Fashion Vortex for more information.