Emil Congdon, a designer behind the luxury leather brand Emil Erwin, ventures out of his unisex comfort zone with a new female-oriented, five-piece bag collection. The project is a collaboration between Congdon and his wife and business partner, Leslie; the results are classic, minimalist styles that are still distinctly feminine.
'I mean, who was I to make a handbag?” asks the self-proclaimed perfectionist. He turned to his wife because he 'needed someone who knew the ins and outs,” he explains. 'It really helped me expand my own capabilities, and I think we came up with some really strong pieces.”
To craft the line of bags, the couple endured countless brainstorming sessions and made piles of prototypes. With his wife serving as the muse, Congdon tapped into an architect's mindset: He abandoned any frills for pure functionality. He also named the collection's pieces predominantly after their children and their imaginary pals. Holly is a topstitched suede-lined tote; Anna is an elegant doctor bag; and Jane functions as both a clutch and wallet.
Sitting in his studio, clad in a utilitarian jacket against a backdrop of American-made leather, Congdon looks the part of pure craftsman. He says he couldn't care less about fashion or what's trending at the moment, yet his bags easily work in any season or social engagement. Quality leather, a lifetime guarantee, and a labor-intensive manufacturing process make for timeless goods. And these new structured styles, much like his design career, follow no rules.
'I think I started making bags because it was easier than a jacket. You don't have to fit the human body and can do whatever you want with it,” he says.
1300 Clinton St., #129; 615-750-2735; emilerwin.com
As the fashion community continues to grow, local designers and artisans share their inspiration and love for Nashville. - See more at: http://nashvillelifestyles.com/entertainment/fashion-designers-in-nashville#sthash.ivrAizyg.dpuf
