Rebecca Ciccio Handbags
San Francisco designer Rebecca Ciccio creates luxe handbags that appeal to a wide range of customers, from young trendsetters to stylish soccer moms and discerning urban professionals. Handmade in San Francisco, the bags are constructed of buttery soft leather that is high quality, comfortable and not too heavy. The styles have a slouchy, worn-in look, thanks to the supple leather and relaxed silhouettes.
Trained as a fine artist, Ciccio brings a unique perspective to the design process. The result is a collection that exudes timelessness and effortless style. “My bags have a clean aesthetic and are made of the most luxurious leathers on the market,” Ciccio said. “They are trend conscious without being over-styled, and have a vintage yet modern appeal.”
Ciccio studied painting in the United States and Italy before starting her fashion career as a designer for Nine West in New York. Following a brief stint there, she designed accessories for Tommy Hilfiger and Old Navy. She relocated to San Francisco in 2001 “in pursuit of a California lifestyle” and designed for a private-label belt manufacturer, whose clients included Gap, Old Navy and J. Crew.
Handbags were always her favorite, and in September 2005, she launched her eponymous line. “I wanted to combine my experience designing women’s accessories with my love of soft, luxurious leathers, beautiful fabrics and distinctive hardware,” she said.
Her design aesthetic is minimalist, with interesting details and an emphasis on craft and quality. Nailheads, grommets, rings and other distinctive hardware give the bags personality, but without being too flashy. Ciccio uses shiny satin linings with cellphone, PDA and zippered pockets for optimal organization. Form and function are top priority, and some of the styles, including Octavia, are large enough to fit a laptop, books or files.
Style names such as Octavia, Mercer, Potrero and Presidio reflect the inspiration of Ciccio’s urban lifestyle in New York and San Francisco. Among the new styles for Fall 2006 are the Octavia, Presidio and Potrero bags. For Holiday ’06, Ciccio is adding a clutch and a cross-body messenger style. “Designing the bags was the easy part,” said- Ciccio. “The biggest challenge I face is managing all of the different aspects of owning and operating my own business.
In the past, my focus was on designing the product, and now I am responsible for everything from design to sourcing, production, sales, customer service and more. It has been a really great learning experience.”
Retailers in San Francisco include the Azalea and Dress boutiques. Azalea also sells the bags via its Web site (www.azaleaonline.com). Ciccio will be sold this fall at Searle in New York and Sassi in Las Vegas, as well as at the soon-to-be-opened Wicati boutique at 2318 Westwood Blvd. in Los Angeles.
The entire collection also is available for purchase on Ciccio’s Web site (www.rebeccaciccio.com). For sales, contact Krystyna Schexnayder at Saints + Sirens Showroom at krystyna@saintsandsirens.com.
—Dena Smolek
