Found! A luscious new handbag line at LA Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Smashbox Studios, Culver City, CA.
La Chica Chic Brazilian Bags & Belts
Text by Vivian G. Kelly
Photographs courtesy of Cristiane Valdez, La Chica Chic
“La Chica Chic’s concept, explains founder and designer, Cristiane Valdez, is that it is a quintessentially Brazilian line of handbags, belts, and accessories.”
I met with the vivacious designer while touring the Designer Suites at LA Fashion Week. I was on my way to the Rene Furterer [Parisian essential hair care line] table but resolved to return later, drawn by the metallic gold “Fru Fru” bag on display and the designer’s effervescent personality. The rest of the bags in the booth were boldly flirtatious and very Brazilian in spirit.
Hours later, Ms. Valdez was still energetic after two straight days on her feet. She filled us in about the line she has dedicated her life to for the past five years.A native Brazilian, originally from Sao Paulo Brazil,she has with her family’s help been manufacturing her bags and belts in her native land. Similar to the Red Engine Jean Co., Ms. Valdez has kept her operation all in the family. Running her business in this manner has enabled her to keep a very close eye on maintaining the high quality of her products. Ms. Valdez currently lives and works out of San Diego, but travels constantly to Brazil to supervise the work at the factory.
Ms. Valdez is proud of her heritage, and accordingly, incorporates elements of her native culture into her designs, drawing inspiration from the indigenous weavings of the Indians in Brazil. As she is, in her own words, “very spiritual”, it is not that surprising that she uses elements from BADUALAK - Brazilian voodoo to keep evil away. The “badualak “ amulet is present in many of her bags, and refers back to the Brazilian superstition, which associates certain colors with specific emotions and conditions. Green stones connote health, tiger’s eye signifies money, and pepper is used to kill jealousy. “The bags, she explains, convey a protective aura around the wearer which is very special, very authentic, very cool.” The stone chain ornaments on the bags in her Bossa Nova Collection are actually detachable bracelets and necklaces. At $200-400 per bag, that’s good value.
Another critical part of La Chica Chic’s DNA is the mixture of exotic skins and tricot/crochet technique, which is very Brazilian, as is the use of the softest goat skin I’ve touched, with the exception of Parisian designer, Jerome Dreyfuss’s baby soft goatskin bags. When it comes to the softness and suppleness of their bags, these two young designers draw a tie.
While I love the new white Vuitton in the latest Scarlett Johanssen ad, I’m even more enticed by Ms. Valdez’s bags. They have an edge in that they possess the allure of exclusivity. They’re new on the scene, and you won’t find every other fashionista you rub elbows with toting your bag [yet], which is reason enough to get one. Judging from the reaction to her bags at the Design Suites, her moment is coming very soon.
On my wish list for the coming season: La Chica Chic’s “Fru Fru” chain handle bag in metallic gold.
La Chica Chic designs are sold in the UK, Puerto Rico, Dubai, and Hawaii. For further information or to order, visit www.lachicachic.com