Bags And Purses For Spring Down Under: With Guest Curator Kirrily

(Curator’s Note: We have readers from all over the world…83 countries, at last check. So, when I published our fall purse guide, I knew the job was only half done. To remedy this, I called upon Kirrily of Plus 1 Design and she did not disappoint!)

If it wasn’t obvious by what I do, I am in the midst of a love affair with bags and purses. But not for me, for others, so when the Etsy Stalker ladies asked me to be guest curator for a Spring Bags and Purses exhibition I got pretty excited. It is Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere and it is my favourite season despite the fact that I spend most of it sneezing!

Choosing a small number of bags from Etsy has been more difficult than I’d imagined. There’s a lot of amazing work there, but we all knew that already! I made a long list, then a shorter one, then painstakingly whittled it down to the final list – a mix of local (Australian) designers, combined with a couple of pieces by designers I idolise and some delightful new finds.

Bags And Purses For Spring Down Under

I was going to say something here about how the grey in this could represent Winter and the cranberry could represent the emergence of Spring, but I thought you’d all stop reading right there, so I won’t do that! Michelle of MS Handbags makes such beautiful bags – stunning fabrics, attention to detail and an understated but elegant style.
I fell in love with the SWANclothing bags when I first saw them a couple of years ago. The Louche XL Totes are just amazing. This particular one really caught my eye for this exhibit with its soft floral print. I love the mix of delicate colours and images, combined with the edgier braided black leather handle and chunky metal hardware.

Every time I look at this bag by decora I smile. It is so fresh and cute, but grown up all at the same time. I love the texture of the upholstery fabric and the simple, but oh so effective detail of the bugs on the front. I think everyone needs a messenger bag at some point and this would be a great choice!

This is fun! To me it screams Spring, but is reasonably subtle at the same time. It’s a great shape and size and like I already said – fun! From: Iragrant

I have to admit it – this is my kind of bag. Small, compact, simple, practical, but with a really punchy print that makes it amazing. I especially love this particular Missy Mao Mao bag for the retro style print and colours, but all of Marilyn’s pieces are fantastic.

Does anything say Spring more than green and pink together? This My Studio Yoke Bag is so sweet! It has beautiful texture via the fabric and the pleating and is just a fantastic every day bag for those who like colour with a little bit of romance mixed in.
This bag is similar in style to the Yoke Bag above, but I just couldn’t do this exhibit without including at least one bag made with fabric by one of my favourite designers – Etsuko Furuya. I love this print and especially love it in this mustard colourway. But the bag itself is equally amazing! Double rows of top stitching will do it for me every time! From: Retrofied

I am absolutely in love with, and in awe of the work of Robyn from Shibang Designs. Every time I see a piece of it I swoon. And I also feel very inadequate! It is just stunning. The colour, the texture, the forms… I don’t have enough words!

To wrap it all up, I couldn’t go past this one by ModDiva! The print is just amazing and it is used so well here. I love that the bag design has been kept sleek and simple to take advantage of the fabric. It’s really the perfect combination!

So that is my take on Spring! I hope it inspires you and that I’ve unearthed some new treasures for you to covet, or better yet, take home for yourself!