Crystalyn Kae Blog

The Winged Scroll Jacquard reflects a transitional moment in airline interior design, where abstract, flowing forms replaced rigid geometrics. The mirrored, wing-like shapes echo aviation themes without literal symbolism, creating a sense of movement, warmth, and modernity suited to long-haul travel in the early jet age.

This textile is part of an ongoing material archive documenting commercial interior fabrics developed during the jet age. The fern-pattern upholstery shown here was woven as a Boeing aircraft interior development sample for Delta Air Lines’ 727 fleet and preserved through the estate of a former Boeing employee.

Below is the archival record for this fabric, including its origin, intended use, and material context.

 

Mary contacted us to ask if we could possibily repurpose her mother-in-laws wedding dress from the 1920's which had been languishing in storage for nearly 100 years. It was too fragile to turn into a purse, so I opted to...

Embrace the natural and the mystical this winter with bags made with sumptuous textured velvets, fern-embellished florals, and sophisticated, weather-proof tweeds - all in our signature silhouettes!

All too often, we forget the stories behind the things we use everyday. But when we take a moment to learn about where something comes from, it can add a whole new layer of meaning to our experience. 

Have you ever had one of those moments where you see something and it just clicks? That's how I felt when I saw Lee Krasner's Icarus painting. The bold colors, the punctuated bursts of reds and pinks ...it was like nothing I had ever seen before. And it inspired me to create a collection of vintage fabric bags and sustainable recycled leather purses.

When I lived in the East Village, one of my favorite routines would be to wander over to the Lower East side to drop off packages, grab a snack at Baby Cakes, pet the rescue cats at Moo Shoes.  But hands-down the hilight of my day was to peruse the many upholstery shops that littered Ludlow and Orchard street. 

Vintage fabrics give every Crystalyn Kae bag its own personality. Here are seven of the places those materials are discovered—from estate sales and textile recycling programs to flea markets abroad.

At a Seattle estate sale, I discovered the home and materials of mid-century designer Howard Blair—known for dressing Seafair princesses and creating bridal gowns for Frederick & Nelson. Among the treasures were remarkable upholstery fabrics and sketches that offer a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of Seattle fashion history.

From grandma’s couch to a timeless handbag — see how we transformed stacks of midcentury vintage upholstery swatches into one-of-a-kind floral bags. A behind-the-scenes look at our process, from washing the fabrics to cutting them into new life

Once relegated as an upholstery fabric until made fashionable by Coco Chanel in the 1950's this textural fabric called Boucle has become a classic staple of French style. Popularized further in the 1960's by Jackie Kennedy, boucle has become a mainstay of today's fashion.

 

While thrift shopping in Seattle, Crystalyn discovered an entire roll of unused boucle fabric that just begged to be made into bags.

 

 

Although she passed away a few years ago, not a week goes by that I spot a good print and think of her.  Recently, Audrey's daughter so kindly gave me some of her stash, and up until now, some of the vintage feedsack and calico prints have been lingering in my cupboard waiting for the *right project*. (Fabric hoarders, you know what I mean!)

Selecting fabrics for a new handbag collection is like a treasure hunt. Crystalyn regularly shops flea markets, antique shops and her favorite local source for sample fabrics: Fabscrap to select pieces of fabrics. Either she finds textiles that get on well with what she already has in mind for the next collection, or what she discovers gives her even more ideas for a future collection.

When FABSCRAP was just an idea, I was handed a box of discarded leather and asked to prove that waste could be beautiful. Two days and ten products later, we had our answer—and the beginning of a circular fashion revolution.

At Crystalyn Kae, we've been creating bags from vintage textiles since 2001. We love the unique character and history that vintage textiles bring to our bags, and we know our customers do too.

When I ran out of fabric while finishing a batch of handbags in my tiny NYC studio, the solution was hiding in plain sight. This is the story of how a beloved pair of curtains became purse linings—and a reminder that reclaimed materials often lead to the most meaningful designs.

 

 

I was recently asked to participate in an upcoming fundraiser for a local non-profit, which will be hosting a fashion show and auction featuring reworked fashions created by Seattle designers, using vintage prom dresses

 

I have just returned from a 4 day getaway with Mom and Grandma in San Francisco.  A mix of business & pleasure: I managed to share my most beloved facets of San Francisco with my two favorite gals, and found … Continue reading →

 

It has been a busy week in my studio – I’ve begun sewing a batch of brightly colored bags for spring!  I strive to incorporate reclaimed  or recycled materials into my designs, and these clutches are no exception.  In this … Continue reading →