Crystalyn Kae Blog

Every Crystalyn Kae bag is constructed in small batches using industrial equipment and materials engineered for durability. From seam placement to reinforcement stitching, construction decisions are made for long-term use — not just first impressions.

The story of how a 1951 Singer Featherweight brought me back to my roots — and how restoring vintage Featherweights became part of my creative practice.

Every Crystalyn Kae bag is designed and sewn in Seattle using reclaimed textiles chosen for durability and character. Made in small batches since 2001, these bags are built for real life — including the washing machine.

  Why do we need to invent new fabrics, if we have so much waste? Having more than 20 years of experience in the bag-making industry, I've found myself thinking the following: Why do we need to invent new fabrics,...

Crystalyn Kae meets Dave Clark, CEO Worldwide Consumer. It was a normal, average day in the office… (or should I say workshop) until I get an email regarding a visit with Dave Clark of amazon to MY workshop. Mind blown....

Most likely if you've made the transition from commuting to the office, to working at your kitchen table. . .your favorite everyday work bag has been a little neglected.  But take it easy on yourself: we have gathered a few ideas of how to take your bag out for a spin, or at least make strategic use of it to still be the envy of your colleagues. And maybe it will inspire them to treat themselves to a sustainable and ethically-made handbag from us as well!

Interact with us on on social media: Write a comment on my Facebook posts, and share my Instagram stories.  Not only is it fun to engage with you there, but your comments and views help my business get seen by a larger audience. (Here's how to make sure you'll...

Here's a roundup of our favorite handmade gifts under $50 and supporting small business. Bonus? All of these gifts are handmade in the USA.

Whether you're moving for a new job across the country, or escaping the city during a global pandemic, or clearing the estate of a loved one, it's easy to go into panic mode and spend WAY too much, because of time-constraints. So here is how we moved cross country on a budget (under $10k), using a pod system and independent movers. 

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.

 

 

As we all face the reality of WFH and stay-in-place measures, I started a list for myself that I'd like to share with you, to help keep our nerves at bay and make the most of this uncertain time. 

Other than pounding the pavement going door-to-door to boutiques, in-person events like this trade show are the most effective tactic for getting a company's name out there. 

And since the San Francisco Gift Show closed, there hasn't been a wholesale market that would showcase the unique work of designers of hand-crafted gifts and home accessories, and attract Bay Area independent boutiques and retailers.  This is why a small rep group stepped up to do just that.  They know what it's like to be a vendor - and they they make you feel like a partner and a teammate, not another body filling a booth to cover their rent. 

Volunteering at FabScrap has been on my NYC bucket list ever since Crystalyn mentioned that that is where she gets a lot of her upcycled leather and unique fabrics.  Crystalyn, being the super cool boss she is, allowed me to take an afternoon off and volunteer at FabScrap! This amazing *woman founded* business is dedicated to recycling fabrics and repurposing them to keep them out of the waste stream. They have thousands of pounds of fabric that they have collected from apparel design companies in New York City, about 40 bags a day weighing 50 pounds each, which volunteers then sort to be recycled or sold at very reasonable prices to designers or students! 

Ever take a walk around the section of Midtown between 34th-42nd street between 7th avenue and 9th avenue? (Just mere blocks from Times Square. . .yikes!)  Without even knowing it, all those tall skyscrapers are full of small workshops and manufactures contributing to the fashion industry and made in America products.

Today, Franny is helping me today in the studio, for a Spring photoshoot with one of my dream stores: Meg shops! I couldn't be more pumped to work with this indie label . . .and I recently found out that we share a common start-up story: we BOTH started our businesses at the tender age 👶 of 22 and lived in the back of our shops. 🏪 

I recently spotted a cute shop on etsy that creates custom hanger dividers for children’s clothes. . . .and I got to thinking: could they customize a set for me with each of my bag’s names on it?  

 

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Such a treat to meet loyal fan for 10+ years Marisa @vegucated stop by our #craftsoncolumbus booth today with her Charleston large hobo! #veganhandbags #madeinusa #craftshow

We source over 30% of our recycled leather for our bags at McPherson wholesale leather supply in Seattle. They collect leather scraps from suppliers all over the country and allow designers to purchase at a discount.  This provides us guilt-free access to gorgeous leather scraps, which we rescue to create our recycled leather handbags.

 

 

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.