Friday, January 16, 2009

bag bug!

My wife's obsession for Louis Vuitton is unparalleled, and as a loving, obedient husband, I have no choice but to fulfill her lust for the monogram every once and a while. But since the financial crunch has cast an uncertain twilight on the consumer-trodden world (I just love using that excuse these days!), it simply means I can't afford to give her a new bag every time Marc Jacobs releases a new line every season.

So it is with this bleak financial incapacity that has pushed my creative juices and my shrinking wallet into crisscrossing boundaries...

If you can't buy your wife a Louis Vuitton bag... then make one!



Or better yet, make a couple. Then sell it as an exclusive line of bags and make money out of it!

So the idea of making my own bags for my wife and for women (and men) like her came into being. I thought of designing the bag in itself in the shape of a pocket, so it conjures accessibility, practicality and well, just for the fact that I like that shape. And since eco bags are all the rage these days, it couldn't have fit more perfectly! Don's seamstress does the basic stitching while my Khmer staff does the silkscreen printing and detailing.


The first bag I made was the "can't afford Louis Vuitton" and it was all sold out in the shop in a matter of days. I had to make a 2nd series, this time on black stretch denim. "The devil also wears Vuitton" is a new batch.


This bag was inspired by my designer friend Elizabeth Kiester who moved from New York as a fashion icon to Siem Reap and opened her own shop. The NY side is on the other side of the SR side- so you can actually have two bag designs!


This is inspired by my friend Don who has been bugging me to give him a Balenciaga motorcycle bag for Christmas, but with a retail price of $1,730 (78,000pesos), I think it'll still be a while before I could afford to give it to him... so this is perhaps the next best thing!


Inspired by car bumper stickers...


This book-inspired statement has also been getting good mileage from buyers...


The Obama bag has also been a big riot in the shop the moment I placed it on the rack! One freaky buyer exclaimed: "Oh my God, I've got to have that in my life!"


Although I have never bought my wife a pair of Louboutins (or Blahniks), I thought that this would be cool... some bags like this have different treatments like beadworks, embroidery, tassels and what-nots.


My wife told me that when I get rich enough as an artist (as rich as Damien Hirst or Murakami), she'd like to quit her job and become a trophy wife!


So I told her also that if she gets rich enough as a marketing consultant for a global firm, I told her that I also would love to stop working, close my shop and be a trophy husband!

Each bag which comes in a limited edition of 3 or 6 pieces per design retails exclusively at The One Gallery by the Alley for $25 (1,250 pesos) each.

42 comments:

Jake said...

Doc M shouldn't see these bags! He's been searching for an alternative to quench my thirst for an LV! Haha. :)

This is a fun read, what a way to start my weekend!

Sharon said...

You've been doing a great job with these!! soon, you'll be quenching LV thirsts and may be balenciaga's too hehe

lucas said...

that's genius! :) and very creative... my mom would love that..hehe!

Devil Also Wears Vuitton! PANALO TO! hahaha!

the spool artist said...

@jake: well, tell Doc M that these bags only work with an accompanying LV bag! Thanks for dropping by Jake!

@sharon: hahaha. i relly wish my bags are enough to quench those thirsts!

the spool artist said...

@lucas: i'd be more than happy to give your mom one, ron!

RedLan said...

wow original ang shape ng bag mo. wala pa akong nakikita na ganyan, the pocket shape bag. creative!

chezza said...

I LV these! Can I have the trophy wife for free? he,he,he...it's the ultimate statement for a woman kc...I'll be visiting your gallery for sure---this is one list to tick!

rainboy said...

i like the 2 nd and 5th
....anyways how are u buddy!

me missing u at my blog.


tc

Anonymous said...

Forget about being a DOSM... all I want is to be a trophy wife ( that bag is so ME! ) who wears Carolina H. and Oscar D. with LV handbags and MB shoes...So matronic of me... buy me na rin Lolane and Fanbo and complete na ang outfit ko bwahahah Luvs u bong!

the spool artist said...

@redlan: thanks. i really wanted them to be different... even from its shape.

@chezza: sure... just take care of the shipping fee! or if you guys plan to spend a holiday here in cambodia, the better!

@007: i'm fine, dude. been checking your new blog - dewdrop and leaves and i'm really digging it... cool!

@anonymous: wabs u too!

Anonymous said...

Ay abaw karabaw! Love these bags.hehehehehe.

Hmmmmm..... paano ka order kag paano ini ma ship sa singapore? Gusto ko ini for my Friday bag. hehehehehe.

the spool artist said...

hehehe. thanks tin. which one do you want? we have a couple of friends from singapore who regularly fly from here to SG. If you want, pwede ko ipadala sa ila!

Sreisaat said...

Wow - astig!
Anyone planning to come to PP soon?I'd love to have the black "can't afford LV" bag, or the NY bag. I'm sure they'll also be a hit here in PP.

The Dork One said...

san yung the one gallery?????

meron na ba dito sa manila niyan? wanna buy!

the spool artist said...

@sreisaat: i'm going to phnom penh on the 31st of jan! i'll bring one for you if you want!

@alex: the one gallery is in siem reap, cambodia. haven't found any retailers yet in manila for these but if you want one, i can bring one when i go home next month!

Freethinker said...

Loven!

This post really got me laughing out loud! I'm no fan of either brands (must be the practical me + of course, simply cant afford it wehehehe), but yes, I'm sure it would be such a hit here. :-) I can sell that via my e-bookstore: www.bookoto.com :-) Email me lang if it's feasible :-)

Freethinker said...

uy, just read your msg to Alex- that would be perfect! :-) Let's talk about it okay? email me at : owners@bookoto.com

fuchsiaboy said...

until the balenciaga arrives from you i wouldn't mind this bag.

and after the balenciaga there's still the lv street, then the lv sc, then...

hahaha! ;)

Anonymous said...

haha! Interesting! I can't afford an LV bag now, can I have those bags here? LOL!! Can buy online?

Megan said...

Great tongue in cheek designs! I'd love to have one, they're fantastic! Good job!

Eds said...

great job! they are fantastic and this one made me laugh "Devil Also Wears Vuitton".

the spool artist said...

@freethinker: Sheryl! Yes, I'll be more than happy to sell them on your online shop! I'll send you an email shortly!

@fuschiaboy: aba, nag nosebleed ako dun ah! so feeling mo trophy friend ka? hahaha. well, i can just make mock bags out of those for now... remember... recession...

@eunice: oh yes, you can let me know which one you want and i can have a friend bring it to you in SG!

@megan: thanks! i'll surely carry one with me for you when we make a road trip with you! cheers!

@blue rose: that's also a popular bag in the shop. thanks!

KRIS JASPER said...

WOW! Youre a hardcore creative artist. You're such a pro!

with economic crisis or not, you'll surely survive kasi andami mong talents.

the spool artist said...

ey kris. thanks dude. well, i hope this financial crisis rests its case on the history books already so people can start shopping again!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sheryl! Freedom likes your 2 lovely daughters =) He pointed to me the picture and said "Mom, they are cute!" heheheh - Faith

Anonymous said...

Hi Sheryl! Freedom likes your 2 lovely daughters =) He pointed to me the picture and said "Mom, they are cute!" heheheh - Faith

Dennis Villegas said...

Beautiful bags, you have a nice collection, can compete with the world's best!
My favorite is the Obama bag, I wish some shop here in Manila has a version of it! Talk of Obamania!

escape said...

limited editions are usually the most expensive.

kegler747 said...

How about "I am not a plastic bag"

nakakakita ako ng ganun pero panget ang design, you can make it artistic. Ok kse yung tagline na yun :)

lucas said...

wow...talaga? walang bayad? hahaha! i don't get it. a lot of women seem to sort of worship the LV...hmmm...

---
i love sweeney todd. i thought i was gonna get bored but i guess no gory movie is boring. hehe!

okay, thanks! i'll checkem out!

Unknown said...

@dennis villegas: thanks... i just watched obama's inauguration and am just happy i did a bag for him! i am actually working out on selling it online through a store there in manila, so i am keeping my fingers crossed!

@the dong: limited editions are done in a short run, so it is expensive because of the mark-up you have to chase for materials and labor... and not to mention the exclusivity!

@kegler: "I am not a plastic bag" is a very very popular bag designed by anya hindmarch... actually, it has set a precedent on the rage that is ongoing for eco bags...

@lucas: of course it's a freebie! unless you don't want it... hehehe... well, i guess women's obsession to LV is as mysterious as us men inkling on speed, booze, and well, women. and more women. hehehe.

the spool artist said...

darn rats... i forgot to log-out Olive's email... so her name appeared on the tab i was commenting! hahaha. sorry guys!

Looking For The Source said...

cute nung the devil also wears louis vuitton!

the spool artist said...

thanks!

LEon said...

spool all this design of bag you selling oversea too?

Anonymous said...

uy you're gonna be here in feb! sure i'd love to buy

the spool artist said...

@leon: hi there. i am going to singapore next month so if there's anything you like, i can bring it!

@alex: which one do you like alex? it'll be gteat to meet you when i go home!

The Dork One said...

i like the LV (the first one)

and the Balenciaga (4th)

Alice in Wonderland said...

OMG! I love these. Elizabeth told me about them...I would love to sell them at my store...how would we be able to make that happen??? So awesome. Thanks for sharing the photos.

the spool artist said...

hi alice! i can ship them! i have more designs (some reversible) that i've just finished... i was on a roll after the very positive response and the unbelievable sales that i got! if you want, i can send you photos of the new ones then we'll take it from there!

Anonymous said...

Hi Love!
Tintin here!
Makadto ka diri sa Singapore? When???
If you are, ma order ako sang fabulous bags mo. hehehehehhe

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