It’s impossible to say that the Eittem bags on display at the brand’s Chelsea office are bags, and that’s part of their appeal. Placed on shelves next to plants, books and candles in the sunny, minimalist Manhattan space, the pieces, made from reclaimed wood, look more like sculptures than something to hold your ID and lip gloss. But then founder and CEO Erin Saluti picks one up, presses a thin stainless steel button, and voila: the piece is revealed to be a handbag. “We have this product that is a hybrid of art and sculpture and a fashion accessory that was really difficult to classify,” says Saluti. Hence the name Eittem, pronounced “article,” “which in a way means everything and nothing at the same time.”
Made, like the rest of Eittem’s offerings, from walnut, the bag garnered praise and inquiries every time Saluti wore it. Shortly before COVID, he designed the Owl silhouette, taking inspiration from the bird’s round face and prominent eyes. “Then we were stuck at home with this machinery and I moved on.” Eittem officially launched last week with three styles: Owl, Moon and Bird, all archetypes of nature, each available in wood grain and two bright colors. The convertible bags come with a rhodium plated sterling silver chain with pendants on each end that fit inside.
The process from wooden block to bag takes two weeks and the collection is produced in small batches and will be released in editions. Each bag is engraved on the inside with a unique identification code and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the manufacturers.
Since one can only get a limited quantity from Eittem’s website, and more than $5,000 is a significant investment, Saluti wants both bag lovers and art enthusiasts to visit his production studio. “We chose Chelsea to be close to the galleries,” he says. “We hope our customer is someone who likes art and design and walks through the galleries on Thursday nights, and who wants to walk around here, eat and look at the bags.”
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