Crystalyn Kae Blog

In New York City, the heart of American fashion manufacturing, I have access to a plentiful supply of exceptionally rare swatches, mill-end rolls, and even production leftovers from major designers and manufacturers. I have had the pleasure to collaborate with a local non-profit, FabScrap, to obtain my leather (and textiles) for my accessories collections.  

 I was recently invited to participate in first-person full-sensory experience to the cultural context of vegetable-tanned leather in its birthplace in a tiny village in Tuscany called San Miniato. 

As an artisan, this invitation is obviously a bucket-list opportunity and a welcome catalyst to experiment - to stretch myself in ways I don’t usually have opportunity or resources to try.

All of the products we consume make an impact on the environment. We cannot fight the nature of consumption and our exponentially growing population. How, where, and with what materials things are made determine just how much of an impact a product's lifecycle can create.

Apparently, the Center for Environmental Health found that many faux-leather handbags contain unsafe levels of lead—even from big-name designers. At Crystalyn Kae, you never have to worry: our bags are lead-free, vegan, and made in the USA.

 

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.

Using the lovely English morning light to pair zipper tape with swatches of new colors in the works for fall. #sneakpeek #airbnb #design #veganhandbags (at England, Manchester)

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.

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 →

 

My pleated clutch is included in “The Best Recycled Leather Handbags” on GreenGrechen.com! What a treat! “Crystalyn Kae is most well-known for her vegan handbags, but recently she’s started creating some clutches with recycled leather for $95. How amazing is … Continue reading →

 

  Thank you to everyone who posted their responses to the question: “What makes Crystalyn Kae different from major designer brands?”  58 (and counting) of you submitted your comments (and even a poem!) expressing why you choose to support independent … Continue reading →

 

Rooftop Trunk ShowOriginally uploaded by Crystalyn Kae Thank you to everyone who came to my Rooftop Trunk Show last week. The cloudy skies and infrequent showers helped me show off the waterproof-ness of my bags. I was so thrilled at … Continue reading →

 

Our patchwork leather pillows and stripe designs celebrate sustainability and storytelling — transforming rescued fabrics and heirloom materials into modern heirlooms