Now bear with me before you start thinking about us sending our bags off travelling around to visit far away places… We’re not sending our samples on holiday, but we do recognize that it is very difficult for new customers to get a good idea about the quality and workmanship of our bags just by looking at a picture on the internet. We also know from feedback from our regular customers that it is equally hard for regular customers to judge the size and proportions of our newer styles online. So we came up with the idea of having one bag of each style available each season, for customers to request to try out before buying.

The bag would travel with swatches of the leather colours it is available in and details of how to place your order online. But right now, this is still just an idea. We would love to hear your feedback and any other ideas you have.

Wishing you a wonderful 2012.

The BE Team. XXX

The weight of this bag is just 950 grams, which is similar to or lighter than a lot of our bags. This bag has very little hardware and what it does have is lightweight, making it a very comfortable bag to wear.  Here is a close-up shot of the Vermillion leather and the details on the Paris.

Here is an inside shot. *Please note* this is the first sample we produced, before we decided to add a top zipper. All Paris Totes produced after this one have a top zipper as well as the magnets, for added security. The buckles on the sides are merely decorative and not used to close the bag in any way.

We’ve called this bag a tote for want of a better word, but it is not really a tote in the “jute tote” sense, rather it’s a sturdy shoulder bag which has slightly more structure than other BE bags, whilst remaining soft against the body.

The clasp on the Copenhagen backpack is designed to make it more secure on your back than other backpacks, as it is impossible to undo it without you noticing. At the same time it is very easy and convenient to open with a quick squeeze once the bag is off your back.

Here are a few pictures of the original version in plain canvas with tan accents. As soon as we have photographs of the new version we will upload them:

1. Python wallet;
2. Small 7″ (18cm) tablet computer;
3. Business card holder full of cards; and
4. Phone.

There was still a little space to fit a few more things in the inside zip and/or front pocket, and as you can see from the picture below, it doesn’t look at all packed out from the side, either. The Florence was another fashion editor’s favourite at our press day.

Here are a couple of our professional pictures to show you how it looks inside and close-up. There is also a spin shot on our website and we’re hoping to snap a quick picture of one of us wearing it shortly so you can get an idea how it looks ahead of our campaign shots.

I snapped this picture recently whilst in Beijing, thinking that you would all like to see how it looks when worn across the body. We’ll be adding a slider to the strap for production, so you will be able to make it even longer. There was no time for a costume change, so I’m wearing the exact same outfit as in the previous picture.  Sorbet looks just as great with a neutral/off-white top and a pair of blue jeans as with a light pair of pants for summer and a leather biker jacket in the winter.

Here’s a view of the interior. This gives a better idea of the colour:

The front pocket is easy to open and close and is a generous size – the perfect size to keep a medium-sized wallet and/or phone.

This bag was designed (in black) for one of the fashion editors of Grazia, one of Belen Echandia’s “Inspirational Women”. We met her in London and chatted about the features she finds useful in a bag for her job as fashion editor/general stylish girlie at large.

Pre-order yours on the Belen Echandia website, here.

Today’s model for that matter isn’t me!

In case you didn’t see it yesterday, here is the link to the full line sheet of available styles and colours for the spring summer 2012 season: http://www.youblisher.com/p/209746-BELEN-ECHANDIA-SS2012/

Today I was going to show you the mini Cannes bag, but I had so many requests about the Barcelona Satchel that I’ve decided to do an in-depth review of the Barcelona instead.  This bag was a favourite of both buyers and press at our press day in November.

So here is the Barcelona Satchel, in a variety of colour ways.   Here is one of Marco’s assistants modelling the Barcelona in mint.

It is very comfortable to hold in your hand.

Here’s the Barcelona in whiskey chevre – we hung it on a door handle to show a profile view so you get a better idea of the depth. It’s a lovely depth – deep enough to fit all your items, but shallow enough to mould beautifully to your body.

On the inside of this bag there is a central zipped compartment, where you can store valuables. It also has an easy access slip pocket on the back, as you can see from the spin shot on our website. Here is the mint bag with fuchsia lining (the central compartment got a bit pushed to one side in this picture):

The real beauty of this bag is that it is designed to fold over in the middle, so that you can wear it crossbody.  Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of it worn that way, but it is extremely comfortable.  Here is a picture of it in grey chevre, folded over so you can see how great it looks.

Pre-order the Barcelona in Whiskey new matte or Black velvet matte calfskin, here.

Pre-order the Barcelona in Mint or Whiskey Chevre, here.

Disclaimer: this is not the BE official model shoot, it is just me on my blog showing how the bags hang on a real person.

Here is the link to the full SS12 line sheet: http://www.youblisher.com/p/209746-BELEN-ECHANDIA-SS2012/

Every day for the next 6 days we will upload informal pictures of each new style, discuss each one in detail and show how it hangs and can be worn.   I took some pictures whilst previewing the new collection, so you can see how each one looks on a person of average height (5ft 5″ to be precise).  Today’s first entry is the Cannes Shoulder Bag (full size) in whiskey chevre.

My first thought when I tried on the first prototype of this bag empty was that the rolled handles , which I designed for comfort, might fall off my shoulder.  But as soon as I put in my wallet and cell-phone, they stayed put very comfortably.  My second thought was – This bag is amazing!  The Cannes is a lightweight bag.  We made the handle drop long enough to fit very comfortably on the shoulder.  You can open and close the side pockets whilst the bag is still on your shoulder, which is useful if you need your phone or something else close to hand.  The front pockets are more for decoration, but they are also useful and deep enough to fit a phone or a couple of small items.

You can cinch in the sides of this bag with the drawstring, but this time from the inside of the bag instead of the outside.  The bag also has two magnets, making it a very secure style.   The Cannes is also really comfortable when worn crossbody.  The handles fold down very easily and they don’t look at all awkward.  As you can see, the bag is quite deep but moulds softly against the body.

The Cannes is available for SS12 pre-order in chocolate matte and whiskey matte calfskin as well as sand and whiskey chevre. If you would like to pre-order it in a different colour, please ask about the specific colour you want and we may be able to help.

Pre-order HERE

I am so excited to be working with Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue Online during Vogue’s Online Fashion Week, in aid of the Neuroblastoma Society. Vogue’s Online Fashion Week runs from Monday 5 December to Friday 9 December.  The week will be packed full of interviews, fashion articles, exclusive products, advice from Industry insiders and much, much more.  You can read more about it on the Vogue website, here: http://www.vogue.co.uk/online-fashion-week/2011/monday-5th-december.

Vogue asked Belen Echandia to create some exclusive handbags especially for Vogue’s Online Fashion Week as well as come up with some fun ideas and incentives to give to charity. To get into the festive spirit, we are giving every customer who spends more than £400 a complimentary opportunity to experience our bespoke service, with a Christmas gift of a complimentary bespoke small leather item made with leather, lining and hardware colour of your choice (choose from our business card holder, pouch, phone holder, or metro card holder).

We will also have a competition for all those who visit our BEspoke section, create their favourite bespoke item and click on Buy at the end (without entering credit card details). We can trace these “orders” on our ordering system and one of the creations will be selected and its owner will win a small leather item free.

To enter you must also like the Belen Echandia Facebook page www.facebook.com/belenechandia

Finally, Belen Echandia is very happy to be donating 10% of the proceeds from every handbag sold during Vogue’s Online Fashion Week to the Neuroblastoma Society. Neuroblastoma is a rare form of childhood cancer. The Society raises funds for research, information and support for those affected.

Happy Christmas!

Jackie and the BE Team

This means that Angel Purses, Kiss Me Clutches (our make-up bag), Iphone holders, Ipad holders, Business Card Holders, Coin Purses, “Protect Me” Card Holders, Pen Pouches and Wristlets will all be available to order in your favourite leather – perfect as a Christmas gift for yourself or for someone else.  See below for pictures and the ordering links.

This is a very limited-time offer, which means that all orders must be placed before our Christmas ordering deadlines.

Bearing in mind early shipping dates and the fact that your order must be produced especially for you, to ensure that your order is delivered before Christmas the last ordering date if you are outside of the UK is Friday 25 November.  Within the UK the last ordering date is Wednesday 7 December.

This could change at any time depending on how busy our schedule gets, so we will keep this post updated.

For delivery after Christmas, the final deadline to take advantage of this opportunity is Friday 23rd December.

For any queries you may have, please contact Janelle at janelle(@)belenechandia.com

Happy Holidays from the Belen Echandia team.

XXXXX

Angel Purse (with wrist strap)

ORDER NOW IN YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR, HARDWARE AND LINING COMBINATION

Wristlet (with wrist strap)

ORDER NOW IN YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR, HARDWARE AND LINING COMBINATION

Kiss Me clutch (with wrist strap) – We call this our make-up bag as that’s what it was originally designed for and it’s SO useful. I couldn’t live without mine.  But many people use it as a clutch.

ORDER NOW IN YOUR FAVOURITE LEATHER, LINING AND HARDWARE COMBINATION

Business Card Holder – note that picture shows an extra small, square business card. The holder is a standard size.

Will be added to our website shortly! Meanwhile EMAIL US to set your leather aside

IPAD holder

Will be added to our website shortly! Meanwhile EMAIL US to set your leather aside

Iphone holder (with handy leather neck string so you can wear it around your neck)

Will be added to our website shortly! Meanwhile EMAIL US to set your leather aside

Protect Me tube pass holder (with wristlet)

ORDER NOW IN YOUR FAVOURITE LEATHER, LINING AND HARDWARE COMBINATION

 Pouch/Pen Holder – perfect for holding small items like pens, a comb, even wet wipes. Fits at least 4 pens.

Will be added to our website shortly! Meanwhile EMAIL US to set your leather aside

COIN PURSE

Will be added to our website shortly! Meanwhile EMAIL US to set your leather aside

*Please note – almost all leathers showing on our leathers page are part of this Christmas Gift, but we will be monitoring it closely and removing leathers once they are no longer available.  Some leathers like pewter crash are now available only in VERY limited quantities, so we apologize in advance if we don’t catch the order fast enough.  If your chosen  leather proves not to be available, you will have the option of a full refund.  Below is a list of leathers that are definitely not available but are still showing up as we have outstanding orders for them in the system*:

Red sheen
Red Glossy
Navy Glossy

Some chevre leathers are available to make small leather goods, but most are not. Please email us to check chevre availability.

People often ask me what I do every day and there’s so much I never know where to start. I usually start the day by checking and replying to emails since the BE team members are all on different time zones.  Then my son wakes up far earlier than I would like him to and of course when his father is still sound asleep.  He generally wakes up and shrieks until I pick him up and bundle him into our room, where we spend at least half an hour reading books and looking at animals on the iphone until eventually he says “Mamma?, mamma? mamma! mat!” (Swedish for food) and points at his mouth.  This happens like clockwork virtually every day, so we get up and make breakfast together before daddy drops him at daycare.  After that I do some exercise and then start work around 9am if I don’t have a meeting.

Today I’ve been planning our China trip, checking on the delivery of the bags (they are already cleared for delivery and in Hong Kong, yay!), applying for our visas at the Chinese Embassy, checking trend reports for the coming seasons, finalising our SS12 line sheets and swatch books, writing a few SS12 trend blog posts and starting on AW12.  I finished off with a trip to a farm/park and then dinner with the family and finally had to tuck both Theo AND his favourite ball up in bed before getting back to work this evening.  It’s been a really fun day, some of the SS12 trends are really amazing, especially the prints I found at the Milan show.  Here’s one of my favourites:

Now it’s time for bed. Hope you’ve had a great day too!

Jackie XX