Tag Leatherwork

A Christmas Message from Beau Satchelle

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 […]

Beau Satchelle Holiday Reveals Continued

Our team has been working non-stop to build an ambitious collection of treasured luxury leather goods ready for this time of the year. This blog post continues to reveal our latest products to be acquired for this holiday season. Two of the designs we are introducing in this post were inspired from receiving beautiful skins with deep colors that just spoke to our designer’s talent to create simple yet exquisite products. The first bag speaks for itself….. the color, the shape, the design. One of a kind! It had its public test drive at a couple of special events and without fail, many women swooned over this jewel. The bag is vintage inspired with a structured box look and matching handle made from a stunning gator embossed Italian lambskin in a dramatic lipstick red. Hand-cut and hand-sewn with fine black waxed thread, it was finished off with black hand dyed and burnished edges. The nickel plated hardware was selected perfectly to give more attention to this bespoke design. The interior is plush with matching red suede and a suede sleeve to hold your smartphone or smaller tablet. Executive Bridle Briefcase – Dressing down seems to be the norm at emerging companies, yet we see an uptick among men from the boardroom to celebrities who desire to embrace the well-dressed lifestyle with an array of stylish suits. Just as important, is the carefully selected accessories that range from bracelets, watches, ties, hats, lapel pins, cufflinks, pocket squares, belts, etc. needing to be in sync, subtle and elegant. To finish off that stylish look, let’s take a peek at a Beau Satchelle bespoke briefcase. Made of bridle leather in black, it was hand-cut and hand-stitched with black waxed Tigre thread and was finished off with black hand painted and burnished edges. The […]

Beau Satchelle Happenings and Updates

The last month has been a whirlwind of activities for Beau Satchelle as we have been participating in several Metro Detroit Auctions to benefit some very worthy organizations and charities. We are also in the midst of getting prepared for a great holiday shopping season by positioning and promoting our bespoke luxury goods for one of kind gifts. Detroit Uncorked With an invitation from the Detroit Wine Association (www.detroitwine.org) we were honored to donate a bespoke leather piece for auction, named the “Emily Handbag” to the 12th Annual Detroit Uncorked Wine Extravaganza. The event’s proceeds benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank (www.GCFB.org ) one of the most significant charities in Metropolitan Detroit. Gleaners’ sole purpose is to solve hunger in Southeast Michigan through an intensive emergency food collection program that delivers millions of pounds of food to 535 community partners who in turn distribute to food pantries, shelters and schools. Over 20 restaurants and food vendors provide tasty hors’deuves while guests were able to sample over 250 Wines from all over the world from over 30 wine distributors and suppliers. The Silent Auction had a myriad of items ranging rare and vintage wines, work by local artists (including Beau Satchelle!), one of a kind wine lover collectibles and sports memorabilia. Spark 2016 Detroit Garment Group (www.detroitgarmentgroup.org), the non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate education and economic development opportunities for Michigan’s fashion community, as well as cut and sew manufacturers in all industries. In conjunction with their FashionSpeak 2016 conference, Beau Satchelle was privileged to donate one of our bespoke designed messenger handbags to their inaugural fundraiser SPARK. As a member of this association, we are fortunate to part of a fashion network that brings together professionals from across the State of Michigan and have the opportunity to rub elbows with […]

Leather and Tech: The Perfect Pairing!

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 […]

The Nuances of Stitching Leather

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 […]

A Client’s Concern: Caring For Your Bespoke Leather Product.

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 […]

Beau Satchelle’s, Growing Love Affair with Luxury Leather Perfection.

I love Beau Satchelle and perhaps there will soon be a blog for the owners of our bespoke leather products. Our heart and soul goes into the building of our beautiful bespoke Luxury leather products. We realize, currently, we are a minnow in a vast ocean of leather manufacturers and artisans. However, we aren’t fearful of the challenge (actually, energized) to keep growing and perfected our offerings until we can be heralded as a top contender in the world of bespoke luxury. So when a piece is written about a master in the business, it is to only bestow much respect to one of the finest of the leather and luxury fraternity. Hermés… just saying the name conjures up the word “indulgence”. Truth be told, I am a fan, not just because of the bag itself…but the amazing brand that has been carefully built around both the Kelly and the Birkin bags. In the month of April, the auction house, Privé Porter, who curates unused, coveted Hermés Birkin handbags, broke the record for the most expensive handbag ever sold for $298,000. The 2008 Birkin made in Rouge Braise Crocodile featured 10.08 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds and 171 grams of 18-carat white gold hardware. It is elegant and the craftsmanship is unparalleled. According to the Wall Street Journal, a few days later, the Birkin was delivered by Brinks armored air transport to a Los Angeles buyer’s representative, who describes his client as an American billionaire. As we say in Detroit… “That’s ballin”! So as we grow our bespoke leather start-up, we will constantly drive ourselves to never lose the focus and respect of the art of leather crafting. We are dedicated to our values and the culture that solely embrace our clients who invest in our bespoke luxury bags […]