“Why just carry a handbag when you can carry a work of art?” That’s the Statement that Ghigiarelli fashions wants to get across. Over the past 15 months I have strived to create my own identity and bring something different to handbag fashions. Each bag is handmade by me using 3 sewing machines. I use select leathers and many are hand painted using oil.

Our handbags are made out of a combination of Leather, Lambskin, and various fabrics. Some designs have hand painted linings to represent the original artwork on the bag, while others have a rich deep fabric lining. I look for interesting leather patterns, and sometimes design the bag around it.

We started our line because of Lin’s love of leather and art. At the time we thought it would be a unique concept to combine art and fashion. While Lin has always painted on canvas and always sewed, the idea of combining the two came about by complete accident. We had in production a handbag “the Musician” that was based on one of Lin’s paintings. We had a local manufacturer produce the bag from Lin’s design. Then one night we were sitting in our living room, having a glass of wine after dinner when John looked up at the paining of “the Musician”. He said to Lin, pointing at the painting “That would look great painted on the back of a leather jacket.” At the time we did not even have a name for our company, and that night Ghigiarelli Fashions was born.

Ghigiarelli handbags are truly one of a kind. No two bags are alike and are handmade by Lin. Lin will get inspiration and create a painting on the leather. Once the painting is complete and dry, she will design the handbag around her art. This is why each painted Ghigiarelli handbag is its own distinctive piece. While I do have some design nightmare stories, I choose to look at them as learning experiences, not get discouraged, but to move forward. Besides, there are too many to mention. Wait for the book.

I would have to say that the greatest achievement is to be able to do what I truly love. That is to paint, create and to actually make a living at it. You can say my inspiration was to get out of the daily grind of working in the Las Vegas casinos.