Founded by Creative Director Erin Saluti after six years of research and development, Eittem makes sculptural handbags that function as both wearable accessories and art objects. In its Manhattan atelier, a small in-house team individually carves salvaged American walnut and refines each numbered piece by hand over several weeks. The inaugural collection launched in 2024, with limited-run bags designed to be carried, collected, and passed on.
BembienFounded in 2017 by Yi-Mei Truxes, Bembien is a Greenpoint, Brooklyn accessories brand creating timeless handbags and lifestyle pieces by hand in small batches. Its rattan basket bags, handwoven leather designs and silk scarves connect modern silhouettes with artisan techniques passed down through generations; a single handbag can take up to 10 days to complete. Bembien works with local, women-led weaving communities around the world to help sustain craft heritage.
ALLBYB DizaynFounded by Ayfer Zeybekoğlu in memory of her son Burak Salman, Istanbul-based ALLBYB Dizayn creates handcrafted designer bags that bring Turkish weaving traditions into contemporary form. Women artisans across Turkey handweave many of the bags—some requiring up to 10 days of work—while local ateliers shape the leather pieces with equal care. More than 80% of the company’s workforce is women, linking its distinctive accessories to both cultural heritage and women’s economic independence.PHILADELPHIA, PA
Etched Design, IncSince founding Etched Design in 2004, Argentinian-born Monica L. Alcota has built the New York studio around her own hands-on craftsmanship and a small group of supporting artisans. The company creates distinctive custom pieces for acclaimed interior design firms and private homes, with Alcota applying handmade finishes so each work carries a character of its own.New York, NY
MARAKIFounded by Ethiopia Begashaw in Brooklyn in November 2023, MARAKI designs leather bags and accessories in New York and has them handcrafted in Ethiopia by women artisans. Its pieces pair adaptable, everyday forms with Ethiopian cultural identity, including Amharic names and stories. The brand produces in small batches and works with Ethiopian craftspeople whose leather-working practice dates to 1996.BROOKLYN, NY