Tag Archives: new york city

Why NYC is the Best Place for Inspiration

Why NYC is the Best Place for Inspiration 

Clutch Bags NY is a collection designed by creative director, Laura Dotolo. Clutch Bags have a classic, utilitarian style that reflect the heart of NYC. New York City is our #1 source for inspiration! It’s the city where EVERYTHING happens and no one ever sleeps. It’s lively vibe captures the essence of our brand and our customers. Inspiration can be found almost anywhere in NYC; from the food to the architecture. Do you have a collection or brand and need a new muse? 

Here are our top 6 reasons why NYC is the best place for inspiration: 

Street Stylin’

ALL STYLE

Hello Upper East Siders, Lower West Siders,  and Brooklynites! No matter where a fashionista resides, she is on the streets looking fabulous as ever. Street style is fascinating in the city where fashion strives. The fashion capital oozes of innovation, trends, and impeccable taste. The typical on the go fashionista never forgets her heels, shades, or handbag wherever she goes. She is also always ready for the next event and photo op. Street style is NYC’s specialty and every outfit on the scene never disappoints. 

Foodies Unite

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If the talk is not about fashion in New York, it’s about food. NYC has over a thousand restaurants, cafes, and diners. You can also escape a crowd with street vendor food. The possibilities are endless and the food is spectacular. In NYC, Wednesdays are for Brooklyn’s rainbow bagel, while Sundays are strictly for brunch. You can eat an authentic ramen soup or be more daring and try a ramen burger. The creativity is unimaginable in this city and the passion lies in the pure ingredients used to make a food lovers dreams come true. 

Architectural Digest

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Architecture surrounds New York City. It’s as innovating as the fashion and the food. The Flat Iron building is known for its unique shape, while apartment buildings are known for their incredible classic stairs. There are also NYC “statement” buildings like the iconic Empire State that stands tall in the day and lights up in the night. Buildings are white, black, gold, and sometimes even made out of glass. NYC’s futuristic appeal makes it hard to not get inspired. It inspires structure and color for any product that you may want to include in your next collection. 

Street Art Love

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Art in itself is a natural inspiration. Art on the streets creates fascination. Every corner of the city lies a picture that screams a thousand words. Artists rely heavily on the city for inspiration and create beautiful works that can make your jaw drop. There is the love wall full of color and there is a wall of a dancer almost leaping out of the art. The talent is shown to inspire everyday people and motivate creation. Everyone has a gift to create, so take the time to think of how you will achieve that goal. Clutch NY takes prides in handbag craftsmanship and art helps our team constantly innovate our products. 

Interior Genius’

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Interior design is important for any setting. NYC exceeds all expectations and expands creativity. Interior decor in cafes, restaurants, and markets are executed beautifully. Whether it is lights or cool free standing structures, NYC knows how to brighten up a room. Just like architecture, interior decor can inspire structure and aesthetics. If you want a muse for your visual merchandising, interior decor and design is your answer. Let the decor speak to your brand and capture the voice that you create through your products. 

Nature’s Parks

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Last but not least, the most powerful influence in NYC and the world is nature herself. New York City has America’s most beautiful parks. Central park is iconic with its beautiful garden and fountain. The High Line park is beautiful and one of the most innovating places to visit. We can’t forget Washington Square Park that welcomes you with arches and a big, open fountain. You can also walk past Bryant Park which has a beautiful view in the city at night and an event space big enough to enjoy a yoga class. Nature will always be inspiring! It’s calm nature let’s us escape from the chaos the city can bring. It is a concert jungle after all. 

No matter what product or brand you are, inspiration is needed for motivation. Inspiration in NYC is the source of Clutch NY’s passion as well the women who live there. Never forget who your brand is and who you are making your products for. Now follow Frank Sinatra’s lead and “start spreading the news…I am leaving today. I want to be a part of it. New York, New York”

 

 

Clutch Bags Accessories take over Apparel.

A firm believer of making a shift from the east to west in terms of craftsmanship, Laura Dotolo talks about the past, present and future of Clutch Bags accessories and making accessories with Clutch Made.

Clutch BagsClutch Bags NY commenced for a budding niche market that doesn’t get appealed by the boom of loud and gaudy designer bags. How has the journey of the brand been so far?
The journey so far has been very eye opening. Every day I discover a new   perspective about our brand and product through our overwhelming diverse clientele. Our varied consumers pay a lot of attention to quality, which helps us improve every day as a brand. This journey has been a complete experience so far.

The brand image of Clutch Bags NY  harps on the fact that it is a pure New York inspired outcome. How are you incorporating that in the designs or the aesthetics of the brand?
The brand revolves around the lifestyle of a fashion conscious individual living and breathing the city life of Manhattan. We have bags, which easily mold into every outfit that you plan to wear in the city, from a utilitarian mailbag that can be carried for work to a fancy little wedding bag that you can adorn to enjoy the evergreen nightlife of New York.

Clutch BagsThe designs reflect the importance of detailing and precision, what are your main sources of craftsmanship?
As I said earlier, our products are very quality oriented. That’s what our clients love about us. To keep our standards always high we import some of our hardware from Italy. The processing of leather is one of the key features for our detailed driven products that also make us unique and a step closer to luxury.

“Manufacturing in the USA made easy”. This statement is not very common amongst fashion brands in the states. Do you see yourself as making a shift from the traditional Europe and Asia craftsmanship
Yes, we definitely see ourselves as a brand making a change/shift in bringing craftsmanship back to USA. With time, renowned fashion brands have experienced the degradation of skilled artistry in the East. We as a brand would rather pay more for the labor and other factors behind the creation of our products than lower the quality. Manufacturing in the USA has become one of our strongest USP’s and we want to make it more concrete as the brand progresses.

Clutch Made USA Accessories

Clutch Made USA Accessories

A service provided under Clutch Bags called as “Clutch Made”. What is this initiative.
Clutch Made provides design and manufacturing services to individuals and brands looking to source and produce in the USA. We branch out to various young and upcoming designers through this service and help them make their brand stronger in terms of design, marketing and business. It also gives us a chance to work and experience what the budding talents have to offer to the fashion industry.

With the whole fashion world taking leaps in different and extreme directions, do you think consumers are going back to being primitive and shifting back to classic pieces?
I definitely see a massive shift in the concentration of accessories in comparison to apparel. Earlier accessories used to be an add on to what the main outfit was, whereas now people dress according to their accessories. They are playing the role of a canvas of style for an individual, on which you can paint or draw something new every day.

New York Street Style

Do you follow the current trends of Womenswear Accessories or do you follow your own principles?
I always follow my own principles. New York is like an undying source of trends and styles. By observing the styles adorned by different age groups, you can make out what is going to be coming in next season and what is not. For example, the age group from 15 to 19 years is always new and experimental. They are the age group that always brings this shift and change in every season.

 What qualities do you see in your Ideal client?
My ideal client is educated, urban, independent, well versed with fashion in terms of design and style and a woman who is always on the go. The most common quality amongst all my clients is that they always know what they want, very firm and decisive.

Commercial vs Contemporary? Your take.
Neither. Timeless, classic.

Clutch Made ServicesWhere do you see the brand in the next 5 years? Do you plan on expanding to other potential markets?
 As mentioned earlier, I want to expand and explore with Clutch Made in the span of 5 years. Clutch Made is a platform for us to work and collaborate with the new talent. As a brand we also see ourselves drawing inspirations and tapping the Asian and European market.

Manufacturer and Me in NYC

 

Manufacturers at work!

Manufacturers at work!

                                                                  USA Manufacturer and Me!

As a working designer I decided that New York City is where I needed to be, so I sub-let my apartment, sold all of my furniture, packed my bags, and moved my life from Chicago to Brooklyn into the apartment of my two best gays.   Paul and Steven are my best buds and they let me spend the next 2 weeks scouring the internet for anything that slightly resembled a career opportunity I was interested in until I saw a post that seemed to fit my idea of “a cool place to work.” Understatement of the year as it turns out.  I applied, got a reply, an interview, and subsequently was offered a job. I accepted the position and began my career with Clutch Made, thus it became the manufacturer and me in NYC.

One of the great things about my new job is that I get to participate in every aspect of the accessory manufacturing process from concept and design to sourcing and production.  While my day starts behind a desk, I’m not there for long as my to-do list is long and everything must get done. A quick ride on the 1 train at Rector street takes me from my office on the Battery to the garment district.  Whether its leather or feathers you’re looking for, you can find it in the garment district and from there, it’s off to our factory. From street level you would never guess what is going on behind the walls of these NYC buildings. Going to our factory is like taking a tour through Willy Wonka’s Candy Factory. We all know and love the finished product but this and here is how it’s made. As I listen to our Creative Director, Laura Dotolo, speak the language of production, it becomes clear to me that there is a science to communication and working efficiently with our factories.

So far I’ve designed and sourced lambskin leather, Swarovski crystals for an evening bag, designed a leather dog collar, a leather cuff bracelet, a cashmere/leather shawl, a mens necktie, and a baby changing bag! I’ve been on a photo shoot where I put my styling skills to work.  I have traveled to three of New York’s five boroughs all in one day to check on our clients’ productions at our factories.

I’ve met people I would have never had the chance to be exposed to; like Russell, a stylish Englishman who designs and manufactures men’s neckties and accessories in LIC and who’s brother happens to be the owner of the popular street wear brand Supreme!  I’ve learned tips and tricks of the industry that only Laura Dotolo could show me.  I’ve realized the importance of over communicating, time management, and meeting deadlines. I’ve also been getting a killer workout with all the running around we do.  I’ve been given an amazing opportunity with Clutch Made. I look forward to what’s to come with my new opportunity and I’ll be sure to keep you all posted along the way!

Stay tuned and write soon!

Ali Cherney

clutchmade.com

Ali is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Art- Chicago with a degree in Fashion Design. Ali likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.  She is into yoga and likes the taste of champagne.

MANUFACTURING IN USA

 

 

manufacturing in usa

manufacturing in usa

 

                                                 MANUFACTURING IN USA

 

As a kid I remember sitting at the dinner table as my dad spieled off about why he will only ever in his life buy an American car.  And why did you think that was?  Possibly because all he believed in while he was growing up and well now into his adulthood, was that if you bought American, you were ultimately supporting your own economy; it was simply known that there is only manufacturing in USA and that is all.   You were believing in your neighbor, your client, your patient, your friend and supporting the only livelihood you had: your country. And if you did this, it would all come back to you, back to you in dollars for your own livelihood, in your own business, in your own community, in your own successes.  Manufacturing in the USA is now more about resuscitating life into a country that is hungry again for innovation than about anything else.

I realized as I sat listening to my dad, that this made some sense.  That if I believed in America and wanted myself as well as my neighbor to be a success as well as my community to flourish, I would need to support that community and do my business within it.  I would need to spend my dollars where they mattered most, in the USA.

I never realized how much of an impact those dinner table conversations played upon the morals of who I have become today  as a manufacturer until I began the journey of manufacturing handbags.  I new when I started making Clutch Bags  in 2001 that there was no choice in the matter but to manufacture in the USA.  And to this day, as I manufacture handbags, dog collars,  home accessories, all here in the USA, I think back to the importance of being raised with values that keep me true to my community, my economy and to my country.

As Clutch Made grows and is discovered by more entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-ups as a manufacturing entry point into the American Made market, then, more than ever, do I realize that we at Clutch NY are truly on the path resuscitating American innovation and manufacturing in the USA.

Please contact us if you are interested in bringing your idea to life.  We will work with you on product development and will manufacture your product here in the USA.

 

Keep it Clutch!

 

Laura Dotolo

Clutch Bags New York

 

 

Spring Styles

Spring Styles

                                                                                           SPRING STYLES

Spring Styles are starting to become apparent now that the weather has changed and warmed up.  Women are finally able to take off those heavy coats and leather knee high boots and reveal a bit of their feminine side.  And let me tell you ladies, this is a very feminine spring! Continue reading

How To Wear A Clutch Bag

how to wear a clutch

          HOW TO WEAR A CLUTCH BAG

How to wear a clutch bag.  Did you ever think there would be a blog written about this?  A clutch bag is a very simple handbag, and it is constantly in the fashion pages of magazines and web stores.  Clutch bags are great; they are purposeful and they are always suggested for weddings and for dinners out.  So, is this the only time you can carry a clutch bag?  The Clutch NY team thought that this topic would make a great blog; to talk about how to actually wear a clutch bag. Continue reading

Statue of Liberty Inspiration

Statue of Liberty Inspiration

          Statue of Liberty Inspiration

 

The Statue of Liberty serves as inspiration to Clutch NY’s Laura Dotolo everyday of her New York City life.  Why you ask? She sits in the harbor  right outside Laura’s window.  Yes, you heard right. The Statue of Liberty inspiration lives right outside the window’s view at the Clutch NY headquarters on  the Battery in Manhattan. Continue reading

New York City Style: #2

New York City Style: #2

 

                NEW YORK CITY STYLE

New York City Style has to be one of the most sought after styles of  fashion  in the world.  And yet, no one even thinks of NYC in these “branding” terms.  As a New York City Stylist for 20 years and a handbag designer for 15 years, I can conclusively say that the fashion street inspiration you see in NYC  is definitely a sought after style of fashion around the globe. Continue reading

Happy New Year 2014!

Happy New Year 2014

         HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

 

Happy New Year 2014 from Clutch NY.  From the heart of New York City we want to wish everyone a prosperous, goal oriented new year filled with great community energy.  The Clutch NY team has written out our New Year’s resolutions and we wanted to share them with you. Continue reading

Made in New York City

Made in New York City

Made in New York City Rebirth

Made in New York City is being talked about more in the press and on the streets of the USA then ever before.  Have you noticed?  There have been countless articles, news reports, websites, blogs and banter about how the USA is bringing manufacturing back to this country. And isn’t this exciting for us as Americans?  What does all of this mean?

Clutch NY knows, because we have been manufacturing our leather handbags and purses in New York City for 15 years now. Continue reading