"I have always been drawn to anything handcrafted. It requires deep skill and concentration, and the result is always a soulful and curated look as opposed to machine made products. I love watching the artisans execute the designs in complete silence and profound contemplation, which I find adds a peaceful element to our usually stressful business."
Carrie Forbes, Known as one of the most innovative designers in the Italian luxury handbag industry, has taken her artistry to shoes. Having first launched her brand in 1989 in Los Angeles, Forbes created a much coveted, modern version of hand crocheted handbags. Her collection sold to top luxury retailers around the world including Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, and Neiman Marcus. She gained the attention of several high fashion magazines including Vogue, WWD, Harper's Bazaar and Elle.
Following the success of her handbag collection, Forbes moved to Europe to hone her skills in the capital of luxury leather goods: Florence, Italy. She has spent the last decade freelancing with some of the most prestigious Italian luxury fashion houses including Armani, Fendi, Vionnet, Etro and Ferragamo, enhancing her hand-woven talents and expertise.
Eventually, Forbes was inspired to cultivate her artistry while exploring Turkey and Morocco, countries known for their prolific handcrafted traditions. In 2014, Forbes launched a collection of hand-woven raffia shoes from Morocco, comprised of a weave indigenous to their culture. It takes up to a full day to weave just one pair.
Our aim is to offer a curated collection of hand-woven mediums that stand apart from the machine made products in the industry. We find that our luxury clients appreciate and easily differentiate our hand made collectibles from the fast fashion machine made approach. Our inspiration is drawn from all hand skills in Morocco, a gold mine of artisanal skills, which we will continue to incorporate in our collections. Our core belief system and process will continue in our offerings of hand made and hand woven items; the soulful art of hand craftsmanship.
Each design is produced by female artisans of Morocco. Our production process provides an environment of social responsibility, which enables them to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families.
