Unique Hand - Bagsstone-encrusted, bulb-shaped

KEAN:
"Bella" might be Italian for beautiful -- but for Filipino designer Bea Valdes it's the name of one of her signature stone-encrusted, bulb-shaped bags. 
Let's take a look at her new fashions.
STORY:
Barely three months after she presented her collection in New York in
2005, fashion magazine "Vogue" called her creations the year's must-have evening bags." 

With names like "Siparaj", "Calypso" and
"Jasper", each bag is a character that tells a story. The meticulous design and intricate beading have caught many a fashion lover's eye, including celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Julie Delpy and designer Rachel Roy.
The bags are one hundred percent handmade and are created by a painstaking process. A group of artisans sew in crystals, feathers, sequins and semi-precious stones one at a time.
Some bags have up to 17,000 crystals, while others are filled with tiny beads. It's no wonder it takes an average of 45 days to finish off one of these creations. And no wonder they cost at least 2,000 U.S. dollars.
[Bea Valdes, Bag Designer]:
"The fact that it's done by hand in this day and age. There are a lot of things that are sort of, cut and sew, and we try and do everything from you know, one bead at a time, which is, if you think about it, is the traditional way of how things were made."
Valdes has no formal fashion training. For her it's a process of trial and error. Her operation is small. It takes a new beader eight months to master her bag making process. Every bag has just one artisan work on it from start to finish.
[Berning Mariscotes, Bag Crafter]:
"We are proud of ourselves that our work has made it to other countries. Bags that have passed our hands are now being used by Hollywood stars."
Valdes' bags are available in Europe, the U.S. and Asia at high-end boutique.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Hand
• Bags
• commentary
• analysis
• crystals
• arts
• crafts
• fashion

[jehtendona]

maybe someday i can have one... so galing ng pinay....

[tsummerlee]

OMG, this stuff is like porn. I can't stop looking at it!

[graceisahurricane]

I was able to stuff a cell phone, a small wallet, some gum, and a perfume sample in the purple handle bag at :29 seconds. haha they do the job

[21hanii]

oh cmon guys its a designer's bag... lol its BEA VALDES

[ninjaofthe9seas]

they're pretty cool. but yeah. thats a bit much.

[6Nicad6emus6]

Too true.... It might hold 79 cents in change... LOL

[Princessgurl1088]

and they r really small cant fit anything u need in dere

[6Nicad6emus6]

WOW! Did you see that sweat shop? I am only joking. They are very nicely crafted, but $2000? I don't need anything that bad.

[thisblackgirl]

I LOVE THEM.. i want to sell them .. not buy them though.. :-)

[Ninadek]

q arrecho! como esclavizan a esas mujeres.... cuanto les pagaran a ellas por cada bolso????.......