A Swiss financier, art collector, and couture show regular, Sophie Bonvin turned to luxury bag design after a life-changing Miami experience. Coming from a ski resort town to the celebrity-filled South Beach during the “Gianni Versace days” of the ’90s, the Magic City worked its magic on Bonvin’s career. Visits led to a move, and a beachfront lifestyle turned into an explosion of art and fashion collecting—the founding pillars of her brand—just a few years later.
WRITTEN BY: DENISA PALSHA
Tell us about your creative process. I started the brand in 2015 but have been collecting art for 35 years, since my Miami days. Art has always been my inspiration, although, growing up in the Swiss mountains, nature remains an important point of reference. We design in Switzerland, and I source high-end materials such as leather, threads, chains, and embellishments in France and Italy. In fact, my first purse style–the “bucket bag,” which looks like a flower pot-was created when I discovered unique flower and beet crystal jewels at the Parisian fair, where I’ve returned every year since. The production and craftsmanship come from Italy and Portugal, where we work closely with excellent artisans.
What is unique about your bags? Craftsmanship and high-quality materials are imperative! I love precious skins like alligator, python, and ostrich. They are timeless and have so much personality. We have a line of classic designs that emphasize the natural beauty of these skins. Two years ago, I also started using recycled nylon material with custom-embroidered textures that are sustainable.
Take us behind the scenes of bag prototype development. Most people do not realize how complex it is. Each bag has a 3D element, like architecture. You need to figure out how you want to open it, carry it, and consider the weight and space–so many aspects are important. The drawing comes first, as we conceptualize the shape. But equally important is the buckle, the chain, or the handle. Even with a chain, we need to decide the width of each part and how it feels. After the drawing is complete, we develop the first prototype. I select the skins for the exterior, the interior lambskin, and the threads, and then the craftsmanship begins.
What’s your latest style? I have been working on a new design that we call the Egg Bag, as the egg symbolizes the birth of the butterfly, which is our logo.
Artistic collaborations seem important to you. Why? I have always loved designing bags that are more of an object–a piece of conversation. Bags you can use but also display at home as art pieces. Every few years, we do a special charity project during Art Basel called BagArt BigHeart. We collaborate with contemporary artists to create an art piece using one of our prototypes. Our first event was at Miami Art Basel in 2016, and the second took place at Art Basel in Basel four years ago. During these charity projects, Sotheby’s auctioned the bags, and we selected an artist to create a full capsule collection. We have now completed three artistic collaborations with Laura Chaplin, Bill Claps, and Joana Vasconcelos. The latest collection, Blossom Garden, is truly spectacular.
Where can we get your pieces? Each bag has a story; therefore, we prefer an experience-driven interaction with clients. We sell through private events in Geneva, Paris, London, New York, Miami, Gstaad, and Monaco. Our latest cruise collection is also available at luxury resorts and hotels, but you can purchase several of our items online. I thecollector.ch
