Khaore’s collection of luxury leather handbags has us re-evaluating how we look at trash

Roadside uses calfskin and split leather to translate silhouettes inspired by scenes of piled garbage bags, traffic cones and boxes stacked by a street corner
Khaore_(5)
Khaore_(5)

NEW YORK-based brand Khaore’s debut collection Roadside places an emphasis on art with utility, as evolution of the ‘trash as luxury’ trend, and designer Raiheth Rawla’s need to refashion everyday objects into sculptural forms.  As visual representations and interpretations of commonplace objects, the collection uses calfskin and split leather to translate silhouettes inspired by scenes of piled garbage bags, traffic cones and boxes stacked by a street corner. “The way in which an object can be used informs our design direction, it isn’t always the silhouette. The Cone (inspired by bent, out of shape traffic cones) sits in different ways, while The Stacking (bag) can be worn with a strap, a handle or a belt. This gives the user the option to style the bag in different ways, much like how there is no one right way to stack boxes,” shares the 25-year-old designer, on the collection that is now available for shipping to the country.

Better together 
Founded in 2017 by friends Zhi Wei and Raiheth, who were classmates at the Parsons School of Design, New York, the Kolkata-born designer tells us that she first collaborated with Wei to document everyday scenes in her hometown for visual reference. “During school we would always work together, bouncing ideas off one another. When combined, our opposing views and individual aesthetics created a distinctive perspective that was channelled into the brand.” 

Art of the matter 
Drawing from art movements like Dadaism, surrealism, abstraction and impressionism, the brand prefers the use of minimal surface techniques; placing greater attention on the silhouette and detail. “Design always comes first, and space and accessibility are secondary to aesthetics,” shares Raiheth. However, having grown up with jute in her hometown, the designer places a more utilitarian view of the products crafted with this material. “This includes large tote bags and baskets that can hold a large number of items.” 

With a conceptual Leaf Bag in the works, we learn that the designer is working with a biochemical engineer to create a usable bag made from leaves. “We are exploring the new material possibilities of creating a biodegradable bag out of a leaf, extending its lifespan to last 10 years.” Set to unveil the bag in December, one can expect to find the release of a concept bag that is related to the main collection with every season. 

Rs 17,200 upwards. 

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