Colleen Atwood designs handbag line

Oscar winning costume designer Colleen Atwood is moving into a new design field and has launched her own handbag line.

“I have always loved beautiful leather objects, especially the detail that goes into designing them both inside and out,” revealed Atwood to British Vogue.

“I took part in a philanthropic video series with Citizens of Humanity last year and when they asked me what I would like to do next and I told them about wanting to design a handbag line. They offered to help me bring it to life and I jumped at the opportunity.”

During her twenty year career as a costume designer Atwood has crafted numerous costumes for a series of award winning movies including, Edward Scissorhands, Planet of The Apes, Memoirs of A Geisha and The Silence of the Lambs, which has led to her finding inspiration anywhere she looks.

“I am always looking for ideas, whether it is in art on the street or in my world travels,” she shares. “It comes to me randomly and unexpectedly. The exposure I have had to beautiful materials across the world from Japan to Italy, enables me to pull design ideas together. This, combined with years of historical research has created a great fountain of ideas for me.”

Her design aesthetic is evident in her first line, which is classical sophisticated, mixed with unique accents of vivid colors and finishes, resulting in a collection of handbags suitable for almost any occasion.” I think that this collection will be great for the busy women of today. The bags go from day to evening easily and are elegant in both colour and style.”

The first collection from her new line offers chic clutches, the new it backpack as well as over the shoulder bags in a variety of deep colors and a pony skin version.