By Hilary RowlandSince the establishment of Lambertson Truex in 1998, this New York based company has gathered buzz as the biggest up-and-coming designer bags and accessories company - sure to be a household name before you know it.
Their gorgeous bags, which are getting constant exposure in all the top fashion magazines, range in price from about $950 U.S. for a slouchy bag to upwards of $4,250 for a small gold crocodile handbag -- and they're selling like hotcakes!
We tried out a number of their bags and accessories, including the gold handbag, and it's clear from the level of craftsmanship why the company has been growing by leaps and bounds. The quality of the leather is incredible - soft, warm, luxurious. All the bags are easy to open and close - most using embedded magnets or a simple flip catch with an embossed logo. Inside, the bags have built-in wallets and key holders that can be removed if so desired. The interior of the bags is either leather or, more often, a supple and soft periwinkle blue suede that makes it a pleasure to fumble around in.
Graduates of top design houses such as Gucci, Calvin Klein, Carlos Falchi and Geoffrey Beene, Richard Lambertson and John Truex know what they're doing. It is obvious that meticulous attention was paid to every detail no matter how seemingly minor. It is, after all, the attention to all those tiny details that has gotten Lambertson Truex recognized as one of the highest quality bag and accessories manufacturers. With a style that is both classic and current, and clientele like Julianne Moore, Jennifer Lopez, Debra Messing and Renee Zellweger, you can be sure that you'll be seeing a lot more of that soon-to-be very famous LT logo.
"I want each bag to be carried for a long time. They soften; get more personality as they age. Each one becomes a little jewel to be rediscovered over and over again." - John Truex
HILARY Magazine: What kind of women do you envision wearing your bags and purses? Do you have a particular person or celebrity in mind when you design certain items?
Richard Lambertson & John Truex: Independent women with an individual approach to her style. She is a leader of her own trends. She is secure and strong. Julianne Moore is an amazing inspiration. She is so secure as a woman. Confident. Her personality is so pure. All of our women have a strong direction in their lives.
HILARY Magazine: How did you get started making bags and accessories? What inspired you?
Lambertson & Truex: Craftsmanship and quality inspires us. We started because we felt that the accessory world deserved an American design.
HILARY Magazine: To what (besides the obvious quality) do you attribute your steady and
fast success and constant press coverage?
Lambertson & Truex: Being true and honest to ourselves and the women we design for.
HILARY Magazine: What is the difference between a high quality bag and a lower quality
bag?
Lambertson & Truex: Many higher priced bags are due to the function inside, the quality of leather, etc... Lower quality strips away the fun in order to set a good price.
HILARY Magazine: What kinds of leather do you primarily use for your products and why?
Lambertson & Truex: We have focused as designers on purity of leather. We like "natural" leathers without any top finishes. Top finish cheapens leathers. Natural/vegetable tanned leathers get more fabulous as you use them.
HILARY Magazine: How can an inexperienced person tell the quality of leather?
Lambertson & Truex: There's a sort of seamlessness to a quality leather. It is warm.
HILARY Magazine: What is the best way to care for a Lambertson Truex bag? What is your
advice if it starts to rain?
Lambertson & Truex: If it rains--run!! Just kidding. A bag is to be worn and enjoyed. It should tell a story. If it is wet, let it dry naturally. Sometimes,
people spray their bags with protective. Fine - you can do that... but I
like when it ages naturally. Try to keep your bag away from oils and
such - that gets into the leather and will never come out.
HILARY Magazine: Lambertson Truex was nominated for the 1999 Perry Ellis Award for
Accessories and later presented with the 2000 Accessory Designer of the
Year Award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America - both big honors
for a new company. What did you feel when you found out? What was that
experience like? Were you surprised or did you know you had a great chance at
winning?
Lambertson & Truex: We were just overwhelmed... in such a positive way! To be recognized by your peers is such an honor. We were so surprised in receiving both nomination and the award! You just never know if you are going to be presented with the final award. However, to be there... nominated by others in the fashion world... it was one of our proudest moments ever!
HILARY Magazine: How can a person tell a real Lambertson Truex (or other designer) bag from a fake?
Lambertson & Truex: That's easy... a fake just looks and feels fake. It's cold. Fakes look more like cut from a cookie cutter... they have no personality!
Their gorgeous bags, which are getting constant exposure in all the top fashion magazines, range in price from about $950 U.S. for a slouchy bag to upwards of $4,250 for a small gold crocodile handbag -- and they're selling like hotcakes!
HILARY Magazine: How did you get started making bags and accessories? What inspired you?
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