YANAHANDBAGS

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A collaboration of Yana Handbags X Office Tramp Jewelry: This collection is based on the book The Quest for the Silver Fleece by WEB DuBois, which is the only romance novel published by DuBois. Yana was fascinated by the book's strong female lead who is a mythical young woman. The richness of his recount of this post-slavery American romance conjures images of rich colors in the swamps of the southern portions of America. The images and textures of the book were re-interpreted to create this collection. All at once this collection explores romance and American identity. The other purpose of this collection is to give buyers more than one item with each purchase. It was very important that versatility and cost value were maximized for this collection. Thus, most of the bags feature jewelry that can be worn alone and everything is convertible... The chain straps can become belts or necklaces and the front chains can flip up to be top handles, while the shoulder strap can be removed altogether so that the bag is worn as a clutch. Ultimately, you have three- four pieces in one with each bag.

About the Designer

AYANA EVANS is based in NY, United States. She studied at Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T) and graduated in 2007. Her collections are produced in United States.

Ayana Evans is both a installation artist and accessories designer. Evans’ educational background includes a BA in Visual Arts from Brown University, an MFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, and an AS in Accessory Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Initially, she kept her fashion pursuits and visual art projects separate. But slowly she merged the two schools of thought to build YANA Handbags as it is now, a line of handbags rooted in artistic expression ans altruistic endeavors.
YANA = Art X Fashion; inspired by romance, nostalgia, status, sex, power, and humor. Love and heartbreak are often explored in my collections through soft skins, saturated vegetable dyes, sensual suede, and organic cotton linings. All YANA bags are constructed with attention to how a bag ergonomically fits a woman's body and lifestyle. Special concern is given to creating light weight handbags, with comfortable straps, and easily accessible pockets. Each YANA bag is detailed with custom hardware dipped in 18k gold. A favorite earring from Evans's childhood is the company symbol.
"My hope is that you see my work as more than just a bag, but a well crafted piece of art."
---Ayana (Yana) Evans, Creative Director