Launched by Patricia Raskin in 2012, a Seattle-based corporate lawyer and keen businesswoman, Anne Sylvain is a handbag and leather accessories label intended for women who look beyond trends and it-bags. Using genuine quality leathers – see alligator, ostrich and python – all ethically sourced from suppliers guaranteeing safe and enjoyable workplaces, Patricia has already established her own definition of luxury through Anne Sylvain. The juxtaposition of colors, textures and different materials meticulously combined have become a signature of the brand. We sat down with her to discuss switching careers, how using exotic skins is ethical and putting together her new collection.
What was the turning point for you that made you decide to quit Law and start your own company?
I’ve always been creative and, throughout my career as a lawyer, I longed to devote more time to my creativity. But the turning point you ask about – the moment I decided to quit law – was actually not until a few years after I started Anne Sylvain. I worked two jobs – law and Anne Sylvain – until I knew Anne Sylvain would be a viable business.
Did you notice a void in the market you would like to fill with your brand?
Absolutely. One of my strongest motivations for creating Anne Sylvain was the lack of elegantly refined, limited edition luxury handbags in the high-end market.
Logos and heavily stylized accessories are everywhere, and in the current market you see the same “luxury” boutiques and “luxury” handbags in every large city across the world. In addition, many of these brands are not exclusively associated with high-quality luxury because they are produced in vast quantities and at a lower quality.
The Anne Sylvain woman wants a different kind of luxury product. Over the years she may have collected many well-known designer names, but she is now at a stage beyond having the latest “IT” bag. She looks for limited edition, exquisitely crafted pieces that reflect her own personal style and sophisticated taste. This is the void Anne Sylvain is filling for its clients.
What made you interested in exotic leather?
The texture of genuine exotic leathers makes them uniquely suited to our brand because they offer one-of-a-kind, fine gradations in tone, color and pattern. In addition, when the genuine exotic leather is tanned by artisans with longstanding experience in the highest quality production, these leathers become a sumptuous, soft and durable material ideally suited to the quality and sophistication of our product.
Tell us about the leather you work with. Are there certain exotic skins you would like to use but cannot incorporate for any reason in your collections?
At Anne Sylvain, we use only the most beautiful, highest-quality leathers available, with a focus on especially unusual finishes. In addition, we only work with leather suppliers who have longstanding reputations for respectful treatment of the environment and their employees.
Do you have a signature you always use in your bags?
The primary Anne Sylvain signature is its sleek and highly functional shapes complimented by luxurious, unusually textured leathers and deeply hued lamb or calf leather linings. Our line is created with the finest attention to quality craftsmanship in every detail. Adding to this, we include an element of the unusual to every bag’s design. For example, we might take a pattern from special leather and highlight it on a handle or strap in an unusual manner.
How did you come to include customization services? Why does customization seem to be so closely associated with luxury?
Anne Sylvain started its bespoke program because our customers requested it. I think customization is closely associated with luxury because true luxury, whether found in a handbag, a sports car, or an experience, is personal. What is luxury to one person may not be luxury to another. When you order a custom handbag like ours, you own a truly personal, “made just for you” piece. It’s like owning a luxurious piece of art.
Are there any materials/skins that are becoming popular these days? Which are they, and what do you think makes them popular?
Because Anne Sylvain’s goal is to always deliver a classic piece that never goes out of style, and to a large extent, can be worn season-to-season, leather trends are secondary at Anne Sylvain. When choosing leathers for a new Anne Sylvain collection, we focus on the inspiration behind the collection. An excellent example is our Spring/Summer 2016 Collection. For this, I was inspired in part by the black and white ink paintings of Isamu Noguchi – a world renowned sculptor and designer. Because of his inspiration, our clients will see a lot of black/white mixes in this collection.
You have an entire section on your website explaining how your brand is ethical. Why do you think designers who use controversial materials, like fur and exotic leathers, still feel the need to share the origins of their products, when the last seasons those materials have become very popular again?
At Anne Sylvain ethics in product design and manufacturing mandates sharing information about materials used and how our products are made. In my opinion, all designers and manufacturers should share this information, not just those in the fashion industry. Consumers who care about ethical issues such as sustainability and human rights want to know this information.
People often make assumptions about “exotic” leathers. Contrary to popular belief, however, ethical issues are very similar for leather created from animals like cows as they are for leather created from most animals that fall under the category of “exotic.” Many people assume that the latter (i.e. exotic) are from endangered animals or animals that are killed only for the leather. While I have heard that to be true with some leather suppliers, the highest quality and most reputable leather suppliers go to great lengths to ensure this is not the case.
You only mentioned leather in your question. However, to me, an ethics discussion should never stop at the materials used. It is very important to also consider the people who finish the leathers and create the final products and the impact of production on the environment. Are workers paid a living wage? How are they treated in their workplace? What kinds of chemicals are used and what is the impact of this product’s creation on the environment? Etc.
Not only do we care about these issues at Anne Sylvain, I am very proud to work exclusively with suppliers who care about these issues as well. That’s why we call it out on the Anne Sylvain website.
Nowadays, designers have access to vegan leathers which give, to my opinion, the exact same luxurious feel. Would you include such materials to your collections?
Most vegan leather production is harmful to the environment and to workers who make these materials. Vegan leather is made from plastics, and derives of non-renewable petroleum products. Production also typically involves hazardous chemicals.
Recently, there have been efforts to create environmentally friendly faux leathers, however there are none of these materials that I am aware of that come even close to producing the supple feel, unusual beauty and durability of Anne Sylvain’s leathers.
What are you currently working on and what are your future plans?
My Spring/Summer collection, not yet released, was inspired by the black and white ink paintings of Isamu Noguchi and Uttagawa Hiroshige’s 100 views of Edo. I am also currently working on a collection of sandals and leather jewelry that I hope to release in Spring 2017. In addition, I will continue to focus on personally meeting new and existing customers at my private events in major U.S. markets and launch the brand with select luxury retailers.
www.annesylvain.com
Images © Anne Sylvain
