Things have been a little quiet on the blog recently, but they’ve been bustling in the storefront studio! Spring felt like it come fast and suddenly the “spring collection” became the “summer collection”. It was well worth the wait though! TRIAD has some beautiful new shapes and vibes, not to mention pops of colour!

Sketches for the TRIAD collection have been in my book for a year or so. What initially started with sketches of the FAITH and HOPE bags, eventually became a trio when the smaller LOVE design was added. I was inspired by bags some friends had shared with me and included unique elements such as the accordion sides of the FAITH bag and the rounded top of the LOVE bag. The HOPE bag however, came out of nowhere.

Right from the beginning the triangle symbol found its way onto each design. It reminded me of elements of religious symbolism such as the trinity, or the three stranded chord. Since I was working with a group of three, FAITH, HOPE and LOVE felt like the right naming for the collection pieces. Ironically, the bags themselves seemed designed to serve the names given them and the TRIAD collection was born.

FAITH | the statement bag

FAITH can mean a lot of different things. Some people use it to refer only to a religious practice, while here, I will attribute a broad meaning. The act of living in faith can benefit everyone. I would go so far as to say, we all live by faith whether we know it or not. But really believing in it, that makes all the difference and brings peace.

If you’re like me, my natural state is to look for certainty and safety. To mitigate risk and only walk where I can be fairly sure of the outcome. But the reality is, life doesn’t work like that. There’s never any certainty you will get that job, find success, find a life partner, or be a parent someday. And while many of these things are likely, sudden bumps and turns in life give us an opportunity learn what faith is.

Faith provides an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness and
assuring trust that all will come out well. – B.C Forbes

It’s hard to acknowledge that we can’t control things. For myself, the last several years have brought a lot of challenge and uncertainty and have tested my resolve. I have needed to have faith on a daily basis that things will turn out ok. That pursuing my goals while not seeing results will eventually lead to the desired outcome. Instead of striving and stressing every day, to let go and have faith. Faith that what is meant to happen, will happen. Everything we need to succeed will be brought to us or we will be directed elsewhere. This brings inner peace, this is healthy living.

The FAITH bag has a bit of a vintage vibe to it, some old style accordion movement. And that’s how it should be, a mix of old and new. It’s my prayer that it will remind you to have faith in your own life, that things will turn out ok. That what is meant to happen, will happen. And when you see the bag, it will serve as a reminder to rest in peace while pursuing your dreams.

HOPE | Hidden surprises

Hope came out of nowhere! Isn’t that how hope is sometimes? We’re going along in life and suddenly something sparks hope in us and we are revived and energized to pursue with new fervour. While that hope lives in us, it sustains us each day with promise of the future.

There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow. – Orison Swett Marden

The thing I like most about HOPE is all the unexpected pockets and places to put things. It’s also incredibly sturdy, and feels compact in your hand. This baby stands on her own just fine, thank you very much. ☺️ Hope doesn’t require others to do it for us or offer help. Hope sustains us from within. Hope makes us resourceful, gives us confidence in problem solving. Hope will get us through!

LOVE | Prepare yourself

The raw, blind and unfiltered nature of Love. I really wanted to create a petit bag, showcasing the vibrant summer colours while still exuding the nature of the TRIAD collection. The wrap bottom was a little tricky to navigate but when I pulled it off the machine, I fell in love. (pun intended!) And, it made me want to use a tie strap rather than brass hardware and rivets. To keep it simple and natural.

Love somehow has a way to reaching deep in to our most vulnerable parts, soothing and transforming us in ways we didn’t know were possible. It also strips away our defences and leaves us a little raw and simple. “Lovestruck” as they say.

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive
at its destination full of hope. – Maya Angelou

The LOVE handbag is more than an accessory, it’s a symbol of those captivating moments when love found you. Embrace this little beauty and let it remind you of the transformative power of love. Don’t underestimate how powerful these symbols can be. FAITH, HOPE and LOVE are a trio that feed into one another and sustain each other. Many of the quotes I use mention more than one because they mutually support and uphold one another. These are the three pillars of strength we all rely on for healthy whole living.

I don’t know if all this matters so much to you, but for some reason I want to say it. For some reason I want to attach meaning to these physical objects. I want to see the brand bring confidence to the consumer not because the brand itself is special, but because the brand encourages them to build confidence in the only true place – from within. I want to see consumers wear these bags because they remind them who they are, inspire them to keep pursing their passions and live wildly from their hearts.

With much love,

Suzanne