Love Your Bag the Lockheart Way

A passion for fashion led Lockheart Bag Designers Trang Huynh, Jennifer Tash and Genette Smith to co-create one of the industry's best-kept handbag secrets.

You can be wearing the hottest outfit known to man, the most gorgeous jewelry, shoes that every Trish, Diana and Henrietta covet and none of it will mean a thing if you're not carrying a bad-ass bag. There's something about the right handbag that really completes an outfit, and makes a statement about the person carrying it. So if you're looking to make a statement with your wardrobe, you're in the market for one of the exquisite leather purses from Lockheart.

Created by three women who are as passionate about their customers as they are about the bags they carry, Lockheart bags aren't your typical mass-produced label line. Sure, you can find them at the Nordstrom and Saks of the world, but it's unlikely you'll find 700 of the same style. That's because Lockheart takes time to create a wide range of styles that, while not one of a kinds, are different enough that the wearer feels they have a unique representation of their style. And that's no accident.

"You can buy your mass-marketed bag, where everyone knows you bought it and you can belong to that sorority, but we want to give you taste and style and get you a genuine compliment on the bag -- a, 'Gee, you look great!' says Jennifer Tash, co-founder of Lockheart. "What we all love is texture. We love when there's a dimensional quality. So it's not just about adding a pocket, it's about how do we edge it with quality and taste, and make it something that's unique. And when you carry that bag, then call us and say you get a compliment, we're giddy -- that's why we do it."

If you're tempted to think this Tash's enthusiasm is just a lot of veiled marketing speak, it's understandable -- after all, we live in a society that confuses passion and enthusiasm with a dedication to a bottom line. But one visit to the Lockheart warehouse in Los Angeles would change your mind. It's a purse-lover's paradise, with wall-to-wall prototypes of the latest lines, each more artistic and unique than the next, making it incredibly hard to choose a favorite. Tash and her co-designers, Trang Huynh and Genette Smith, all work within close quarters of one another, poring over minute details like hardware, stitching and colors to create incredibly stunning leather goods.

"When we first started making our bags it was purely accidental. We just made some because we watched our mentor, Kate Spade, and we had this idea in our heads. We fell in by accident and found true love."

Which is why they chose the name Lockheart to represent their brand -- their hearts are locked in a shared passion of creation, and a love for the work that they do. But that's not to say the company has been without its challenges. They've learned lessons in construction, dealing with issues with their leathers, manufacturing malfunctions overseas, you name it; but Tash points out that without those lessons, they'd never have learned how to create their coveted line. If anything, their biggest problem these days is having too many ideas, which often forces them to leave some on the cutting room floor.

Because Tash and her cohorts are so dedicated to helping others find the right bag for them, Tash believes that not enough people look for bags the same way we shop for shoes or other accessories as they're updating their Spring wardrobe. "I think people should look for artisan details," she explains. "They should look for ease of wear -- does it fit their lifestyle? A bag needs to cross over and work in all aspects of someone's day. It needs to have functionality. We believe in being beautiful and functional, which is why each of our bags has a chain for keys and inner pockets. What goes on inside is just as important on what's the outside. We're women who make handbags for women -- working women, moms, athletic types ... a bag has to work for all of us in the same way."

So what kinds of women buy Lockheart bags? Sure, there are the requisite Hollywood heavyweights like Lindsay Lohan and Keira Knightley, but it's also women who appreciate something different with both functionality and artistic flair.

Says Tash, "We're the best kept secret, but we're also quite a find if you appreciate artisan details. In this world of mass-production, everything we offer lines up -- you have to take a look and put us under a fine glass."

And like a fine wine, there's no doubt Lockheart will just keep getting better with age.

For more information on Lockheart bags, check out their website at www.lockheart.com, or see them up close and personal at Saks, Nordstrom, Henri Bendel, Kitson and Corsa Collections.