Caroline Issa and Baraboux
Editor, stylist and style icon Caroline Issa has been working as a creative consultant with Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud and her team at Baraboux to help create the new AW14 collection.
The collaboration has grown out of their friendship and a mutual obsession with finding the perfect handbag for women with lives like theirs. Baraboux makes bags for modern nomads (women who are constantly in motion) and Caroline and Princess Reema certainly know what it is to live several lives in a single day. Often on two continents.
“ I love what Baraboux stands for … they’re beautiful but I’m constantly traveling and always appreciate a bag that has enough pockets for me to compartmentalize.” Caroline Issa
“ Working with Caroline has been a great experience. She brought a very modern influence to our colours and fabrics. In the end, this is a collection of bags we thought our friends would love” Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud
Using Baraboux’s signature exotic leathers, Caroline and the in-house team have introduced a vibrant palette of electric blue, brick red and acid yellow. These striking colours are making their mark across the fashion world for AW14 and are dear to Baraboux’s heart in that their boldness mirrors the strength and style of the Baraboux woman.
This collection’s colours, especially when used with exotic skins such as water snake & karung, lend an almost avant-garde edge to the designs, whilst the classic shapes and quality of the craftsmanship anchors them in the land of luxury. In line with Baraboux’s ethos, these are not just beautiful bags, they’re also clever toolkits, hand made in Florence and designed to last the journey.
Baraboux Autumn/Winter 2014 Look Book
The Bags
The collection comprises key handbag styles including totes, shoulder bags, cross body, and clutches. Many come with a removable and interchangeable clutch that is integrated into the larger bag; a clever tool for those whose days roll from business to dinner without drawing a breath. And the ‘Reema’ clutch in new finishes and colourways, remains sleek and yet has enough room to fit in everything you need for an evening out.
Introducing our New Shapes
The Caroline
At the heart of the collection the new ‘Caroline’ will take you from day to night with style you’d expect from Ms Issa. A chic, clean shape, with a metal chain strap and exotic skin detailing. Designed for those who need to be ultra-organized as they move through their ever-changing days, the ‘Caroline’ has separate compartments as well as a pocket on the front. The chain is bronzed and plaited, with a leather top section to make it sit snugly over the shoulder.
“There’s a zip compartment that can carry my ipad and laptop, with enough spare pocket room for books, agendas, wallets, passport holders, phone chargers etc. So you can see how it fits into my life” Caroline Issa
The Sharifa
A relaxed bag that’s all about shape and texture. In beautiful soft hide with a metallic bronzed textured finish. It can be worn across the body and has folded sections at each end so that it expands into a good-sized tote. The ‘Sharifa’ also has our signature removable clutch integrated into the outside pocket.
The Azadeh
This is a new clutch that’s big enough to work with you through the day and sophisticated enough to take to dinner. It is designed to fit your iPad so you can use it for meetings but it looks and feels like a trendy fashion accessory. The classic envelope shape is reworked with added depth so that it is more functional and the beauty of this bag lies in the contrast of the textures. The use of exotic snakeskins against smooth fine leather not only feels good, but also means that it catches the light beautifully.
Ms H
With our signature removable clutch tucked into the front, this bag is pleasingly simple and elegant yet also clever. The compartments inside are designed to give you room but also to let you get organized quickly. This season, the ‘Mrs H’ comes in snakeskin and smooth combinations of fine leathers.
Sara
Editors’ Notes
Baraboux’s founder, Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud grew up the daughter of a diplomat, always poised for travel. Today she is a 21st century adventurer; businesswoman, mother, campaigner and global citizen – one of a new breed of beautiful modern nomads who traverse the world living complex lives.
Baraboux is Princess Reema’s response to a need to be organised, to travel light and move in style. Baraboux bags are: elegant pieces, carefully crafted, designed to take you from the boardroom to your child’s school play and dinner, or to cross oceans with ease and grace.
Our bags are more than simply lovely objects. They are clever too. Each has been designed as a toolbox for your life; with detachable clutches, adjustable straps and multiple sections sewn in so you can find things quickly. These are bags for lives of many different chapters wherein the cast of characters changes by the hour and day rolls seamlessly into night.
Baraboux launched in 2013 and women the world over have been discovering our designs ever since.
