Truth is Elena Ghisellini counts over a decade in the luxury accessories industry, however, she has only rose to prominence during the last couple of seasons, when her statement bags became a must-have accessory for It girls and editors around the globe. Plus, alongside Riccardo Tisci, she has designed a range of handbags for the house of Givenchy that today are recognized as “iconic.” The Genoa-born designer launched her namesake handbag line in Florence in 2003, while working at Ferragamo. Her impressive resume includes positions at some of Italy’s most prestigious fashion houses – see Trussardi, Roberto Cavalli and Elie Saab.
Today, she balances her time and creative talent between her own up-and-coming company and her position as a Head Accessory Designer she holds at Emilio Pucci. Ghisellini views her handbags as luxury fetishes, designed to become a part of a woman’s life and extension of her elegance and personality, making the wearer feel unique: “It is important to have a product that you immediately recognize. I do not want to be commercial. I want to be unique.” Her aspiration is fully reflected on her products; they are perfectly functional, while maintaining an original character and a classy-yet-updated silhouette: “True modernity is knowing how to make fine products of timeless elegance, that also succeed in facilitating the lives of those who use them.” From functional everyday totes and cross body bags to statement clutches, Elena Ghisellini’s collection has it all; by day, they are practical and resolved; in the evening, they become eccentric and sexy.
Ghisellini cherishes and follows in the “Made in Italy” tradition, which puts premium quality and exquisite craftsmanship first. Reaching out to the finest leather suppliers, she handpicks her luxurious leathers, which then undergo tanning processes and elaborate treatments, and to which manufacturing methods and techniques are applied from the most skilled craftsmen. Designed and produced exclusively by Ghisellini and her small team in Florence, the handbags come in a variety of shapes, types of leather and bold colors, and are inspired by her childhood years: “I will never forget the moment. I was 10 years old and I saw a cape in nappa leather from Trussardi. I knew then leather was my thing.” She does not miss a chance to integrate a cat-face silhouette, that has come to become her signature, in her designs: “My most iconic bag is the ‘Felina’ bag, because it is the face of a cat. It is the kind of design that reminds me of when I was a child.”
It is this original fusion of functionality, individuality and class that makes her handbag range special. We can hereby declare that Elena Ghisellini has mastered the art of creating handbags that balance perfectly between timelessness and modernity.
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Browse the entire collection at www.elenaghisellini.com
Images via http://www.elenaghisellini.com
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