Christopher Kon

“My goal is simple: to make a smart bag that a woman is going to enjoy & feel good about.,” says Chris about his design philosophy. Mission accomplished. All his handbags have a classic quality that radiates from good leather, with a modern flair as well as something dear to the designer: practicality in details, such as interior slots for lipstick, lip balms, and cell phones. “A lot of people only pay attention to the exterior of the bags, but the inside is just as important, because that’s the part women live in. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve the product.” Like the 26-year-old designer, Christopher Kon’s handbags have soul.

Stowe Provisions: Handmade to Rock 'n Roll

Mark Stowe certainly wasn’t the first man with a passion for leather, but his attraction was on more of fashion than fetish (or so he claims). In any case, he took it upon himself to learn the art of leatherworking--spending many hours in a closet with a $33 CD player blasting alt-country and indie tunes, & keeping his roommates up to the wee hours with his incessant cutting, hammering, & assorted bangings.

Now, master of his trade, hehas movedinto some new digs in the hip Texan oasis of Austin, & his operations have expanded exponentially.. He recently incorporated Stowe Provisions, bringing on longtime & painfully handsome friend, Mark Howard, as a business partner.From the two Marks love of rock and roll and looking pretty emerged a vision for the Stowe Provision’s aesthetic.

Initially focused on armbands, Stowe Provisions has branched out into custome belts & belt-buckles. Which brings us to the most important thing to know about Stowe Provisons--every piece is handmade by Stowe, not some factory sweatshop in Taiwan. He even goes so far as to dye much of the leather himelf. Now this isn’t to say he doesn’t run a sweatshop, he does, but the only sweat in his pieces is his own.

Stowe Provisions currently caters to retailers in LA, San Diego, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Dallas, & Austin. However, not one to get a big head, Stowe still listens to alt-country & indie rock on the same $33 boom box. In fact, some say that if you hold your ear to one of his pieces you can hear Lucero’s Drink Ti We’re Gone.

Leona Edmiston “Frocks”

Leona Edmiston launched her label, “Frocks”, in 2001 and it has quickly become one of Australia’s most notable fashion labels. Inspired by her first love, the dress, “Frocks” has garnered a celebrity clientelle including Elle Macpherson, Helena Christensen, Kylie Minogue, & Nicole Kidman.

A tribute to the dress in all its incarnations. The label celebrates the confident urban woman. It exudes classic femininity, effortless style, ageless chic and versatile, sexy sophistication. The philosophy behind the label is simply to focus on the dress. It is elegant, head-turning, versatile & timeless. This somewhat sensible term however, seems a little mundane when you see the stylish, delectable and dainty shapes. This is Leona’s pretty paradox: a clever combination of whimsical detail, flattering proportions and utterly wearable shapes. Not to mention fabrics that roll up in your suitcase and come out the other end ready for action, & who are more than happy with a hand or delicate machine wash. Leona’s signature detailing and styling revels in the female form. It is a celebration of feminine sensuality, in all shapes and sizes.