a handmade-handbag-inspired color palette
Welcome to the sixth week of my color palette series featuring ARTISTS + MAKERS!
Meet the leather beauties HAND made by one of my favorite makers ever :: The Umbrella Collective! Founded by Erin Sim in 2014, this small Portland-based studio is known for their stylish, high quality bags made of buttery, rich leather in a variety of gorgeous shades. I love the combinations Erin puts together in her Instagram posts, especially the fall-inspired trio above.
BLUSH #F3E7E7 / NUDE #E4D1CB / VINTAGE PINK #D1AFA6
DISTRESSED LEATHER #A75442 / RUST #953D29
WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.
I purchased my first Umbrella Collective bag on Etsy in 2015. It was a custom request :: a canvas + leather tote tall enough to fit business folders (for meetings) but with the added functionality of folding in half to become a crossbody bag. It was stylish, functional, and SO well made. This quickly became my everyday tote; it was the perfect size and weight to take with me on errands, and since I didn’t have to switch bags for meetings, I was less likely to forget to transfer my essentials.
When it came time for traveling, though, I wanted something with more room that could be zipped up. I looked EVERYWHERE for the “perfect travel bag” but always came up empty. So I reached out to Erin and asked if she could add a zipper (and extra pocket) to a distressed leather tote I had been eyeing for months. As always, she delivered.
And, oh wait…I have one more. Andrew surprised me with another Umbrella Collective tote, specially designed to function as my diaper bag. (It fits a ToteSavvy insert so I can use it as a regular bag once baby is out of diapers.) It’s amazing. And I love it even more knowing that Andrew and Erin conspired to make it for me. (Plus, it coordinates with our stroller. If you know me, I’m sure it isn’t shocking that I’d want them to match. But come on…it looks SO good!)
LEATHER + CANVAS TOTES BY THE UMBRELLA COLLECTIVE
As someone who is 100% obsessed with tote bags, let me tell you that everything The Umbrella Collective makes is amazing. The craftsmanship is unbelievable and the designs are so classic and beautiful that they’ll never go out of style. If you’re thinking of adding a bag to your Christmas list, I couldn’t recommend this maker more.
Erin, thank you for making me products with your own two hands that I am proud (and lucky) to use every single day!
Happy Friday!
