CLUTCH SITUATIONS
EVEN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DRESSER CAN MAKE A STATEMENT WITH THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES. ONE DESIGNER IGNORES TRENDS AND CONCENTRATES ON QUALITY
Ahandbag, clutch or purse can bring an outfit together and, now that the weather is heating up, accessorising is the key to staying stylish.
Imby Langenbach, the creator and designer of KARMME bespoke leather clutches, knows a thing or two about the importance of the perfect palm pal for morning, noon and night.
“I am quite a conservative dresser, with mostly black, grey, white, denim and a hint of pink in my wardrobe,” she says.
“That’s why I think I love designing clutches, as I can accessorise with a statement piece from the Shibori range, take out a metallic clutch for a little luxury at night or have any KARMME lady from the classic range to see me through the day. I use the minis to keep bits and pieces safe inside the clutch and pop them into the KARMME tote when travelling or when I’m out all day.
“You really can’t go past denim, white and tan for simple, elegant spring-summer dressing, in my opinion.”
While statement pieces are some people’s cup of tea, minimalist pieces that ooze quality are, as Imby says, transcendent of trends.
“I am inspired by creating things that are useful but making them beautiful,” she says.
“I don’t follow trends and am not overly interested in the latest fashion, as KARMME I hope transcends season, age, even gender. I find worrying about what’s out there is white noise and can be distracting.” There is something comforting about quality products, we even tend to treat them better than cheap items that are usually temporary, so it’s good to know the ins and outs of your favourite pieces.
“I work closely alongside boutique textile agency Shibori to produce leathers using techniques developed by owners Karen Davis and Pepa Martin,” Imby says.
“Collaborating with Shibori is a really exciting way to inject new ideas into the range. We are inspired by classic, elegant, trans-seasonal colours that work across all ages of women.”