Eddie Borgo's new handbags

When New York-based jewelry designer Eddie Borgo decided to expand into the world of handbags he promised himself one thing above all else: he would not be incorporating his iconic cone studs into any of his designs. One would expect Borgo to create a line of handbags to help his customers match their iconic bracelets, but, he had a different MO.

Borgo sought to avoid the obvious, and, instead, he found inspiration in street culture, the postpunk movement, and modern sculpture. More specifically, he turned his focus to his grandmother's pocketbook and the aesthetic of midcentury automobiles. His greatest inspiration for this collection would have to be the Phantom Corsair, a coupe prototype that dates back to 1938.

Eddie Borgo expands into the handbag category

His new handbag offerings include the Vic, a chic metal minaudiere that can be carried in a removable leather-crossbody sleeve during the day, and the Colt-crossbody, a bag with multiple strap offerings so it can go from being a handbag or a clutch in just a matter of moments. Borgo was seeking to create a bag that might seem like it was from the 1950s upon first glance, but upon closer inspection to the engineering and detail you would realize it was very contemporary.

Borgo's new handbags have been two years in the making. Over the course of those two years, he has attended several industrial design conferences, which got him into 3D printing. It was through 3D printing that Borgo discovered that using aluminum rather than the traditional brass in his handbags made them more lightweight and suitable for the woman who was used to carrying heavy items in her handbag.

The collection begins at price point of 990 dollars, which is pricier than Borgo's costume jewelery, but, his idea behind this collection was that it's for his customer that has long been with Borgo. "My girl is the same," Borgo said in an interview with Elle magazine. "She's just grown up a bit."

Photo: Elle.com