The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2021 - Issue 29

bitebags Y oung girls often dream of being someone or some- thing when they grow up but don’t always realise their aspirations once they reach adulthood. In 2019, Dorcay, a young self-taught accessory de- signer passionate about fashion, created her brand Anne Dorcay to realise her dreams and pay tribute to Anne, her grandmother, who chose her first name. It references the young woman's admiration for the famous Quai d'Orsay in Paris, France, where she used to go when she was having a hard time. Born into a modest family, Dorcay did not have the priv- ilege of luxury designer goods and was often teased by classmates at school who did. Her frustrations gave way to a great dream and forged the following philosophy “Fash- ion must in no way reflect the social status of an individual except to sublimate it.” Through this philosophy and her experiences, Dorcay endeavours to give women from all backgrounds the opportunity to buy her luxurious creations at affordable prices. The brand fully respects and supports animals and there- fore does not use animal leather in their products. Instead, the handbags are made from 86% polyurethane, 10% wa- ter and 4% recycled materials with nickel details. Dorcay sees fashion as an art that allows you to emancipate and imagine. “It is subjective; there is no ugly thing; it is simply different.” She describes Paris' fashion as elegant, chic, classy, and a mix of things that make it so inspiring. As an accessory designer, Dorcay creates what she wants without limits and fear of other people’s judgement. “The best advantage is to imagine a thing and then be able to tear this imagination apart; the feeling is immense. There is also the fact of positively impacting the people around us and showing them that everything is possible with courage and determination.” Interestedly, when asked to describe her design signature, Dorcay called it “minimalist offbeat clean”. The first accessory she designed was L’Aristocrate (The Aristocrat) which combines the details of a basic handbag model and stands out for its contemporary spirit. “Its re- fined aesthetic gives it a unique and exceptional line. Worn in casual mode, or with a more chic look, The Aristocrat will harmonise all your styles.” Its structured top handle adds a little extra to your outfit, and it has a shoulder strap that can be worn crossed-body or carried by hand, depending on the wearer’s preference. Dorcay explained her designs have a square shape rather than a rectangular, with clean lines and a timelessly chic look. These are seen in the revamped Aristocrat and new Le Sidje (The Sidje) from the latest collection, inspired by icons such as singer Vanessa Paradis and actresses Jane Birkin and Lupita Nyong'o. The Ticket, in a different shape, is a baguette bag. The accessory designer added she be- lieves the finish on a handbag makes a quality product. Yves Saint Laurent inspires her the most and believes fashion designer Hedi Slimane revived the fashion house when he was creative director from 2012 to 2016. The Mondrian dress is one of her favourite YSL pieces because a painting inspires it. She also likes the Saharan jacket and tuxedo for women because it “emancipates the conditions of women in that era or their freedom was restricted.” Addi- tionally, she would like to dress singer Beyoncé and French actresses Marion Cotillard and Karidja Touré. When preparing for a fashion shoot or showcasing her ac- cessories, Dorcay is very spontaneous in her ideas. “My inspirations often come from films of my youth. For my last campaign, I was inspired by Alice in Wonderland because I found the animated design corresponded with my brand image.” At the time of writing, Anne Dorcay launched its third collection. The first two collections - The Aristocrat and The Mesh - performed successfully, with more than 400 bags sold in eight months. Le Maille (The Mesh) in gorgeous blue and purple leath- er-like and purple and black satin-like finishes combine the details of a basic model that stands out for its contemporary spirit. Described by the brand as ‘both mini and large’, this style was created to have a small bag where you can put many things, thanks to its accordion and length. It also has a unique and exceptional line that can be worn in casual mode or with a chic look. In the latest collection, Anne Dorcay has integrated new handbags, The Sidje and The Ticket, and revisited their flagship model, The Aristocrat. L'Aristocrate in a leath- er-like blue and light tan finish; a smooth blue, pink and cream contrast of colours that look like a beautifully paint- ed landscape by an artist; and a bold lipstick red satin-like tone, are elegantly refined and inspired by current trends that play on the correction of its curves. Le Sidje in black, dark green and orange leather-like and smooth tan finish is a classic cut revisited to the inspiration of L’Aristocrate that the brand wanted to create; a format adapted to everyday life. A classic minimalist cut inspires Le Ticket in white with brown borders and a removable handle. “We drew our inspiration from the life of the Parisi- an girl inspired by a metro ticket.” It can be worn in different ways, either on the shoulder or carried by hand. Besides creating beautifully designed classic and chic handbags, Anne Dorcay has a capsule collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts. The oversized AD T-shirt in black, which will “sublimate you in no time”, so the brand says, is made from organic cotton, has short sleeves and a round neckline with velvet logo detail. In collaboration with artist Malinski, the Veg’Anne x Malinski and Organic Cotton sweatshirts all have long sleeves and a round neckline with printed logo details. Anne Dorcay handbags and capsule collection are availa- ble online on their website and at Wolf & Badger. www.annedorcay.fr/en