Totes and backpacks inspired by a minimalist rhomboidal-shaped sculpture may seem like a rather uncanny combination, but designer Rashi Agarwal Favier has done just that for the creation of her A/W 2017. Founder of the luxury leather label, Raff, the city-born designer tells us that The Endless Column by Constantin Brâncusi was the collection’s source of inspiration. “Our professors at the London School of Fashion were hard taskmasters when it came to grading our designs. It pushed us to see how we could convert everyday things into objects of our inspiration. I started with the deconstruction of a single rhomboid shaped module from the sculpture, which was then manipulated to create the shapes that would eventually form the collection.”
Matter of art
Designed for the discerning buyer, the collection offers five products that have been crafted individually by artisans in Puducherry. “Each piece is hand cut, uses the saddle stitch method and waxed linen thread to ensure sturdy support for prolonged usage.” While the brand’s no chemical philosophy is an aesthetically-calculated move towards slow fashion, what catches our attention is that each of the bags is named after and comes with a card about the artisan who created it. “We have been working with Fashion Revolution and have designed our own version of the #whomademyclothes campaign,” shares the 29-year-old. A quick run through of their social media feed and we discover that the year-old brand is quick to put out pictures of their workmen/women ahead of the release of their collection under the #Imadeyourbag.
On the double
Functional shapes and minimalist aesthetics, the collection offers crossbody bags, laptop sleeves, totes, sling bags and backpacks in shades of black and tan and can be used in multiple ways. Consider the collection’s shoulder bag that comes with adjustable straps and can be converted into a backpack. Oozing luxury, the brand only uses vegetable tanned buff leather with each design taking up to 14 days to create. “Slight imperfections and wrinkles are proof that we use naked leather. And with extended usage, the patina acquires a soft shine, making every bag unique.”
As of now, the label that is run by Rashi and her husband Maurits Favier and retails in the Netherlands, UK and India — Chamiers in Chennai, will not be moving into the men’s accessories space but will continue developing a series of designer bags for women.
Rs 1,499 onwards.Details: shopraff.com