The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022 - Issue 31

bitebags Giedre Jackyte interviews accessory designer Rusi Hancock, founder of RusiDesigns. Behold The Jaguar Images courtesy of RusiDesigns signature is “vibrant but timeless designs in distinctive shapes”. The boxy bag is Rusi’s most coveted design because “it works for every occasion.” The first accessory she designed was a yellow clutch with her embossed logo, which became a huge success. Once she wore it to an event and received five orders because people loved it! Rusi has a way of making new designs and says it usually starts with a specific person in mind. She considers her clients' daily way of life and what they do and then creates imaginative scenar- ios to generate ideas. She says the ideas can flow to her instanta- neously, and other times it may take longer; however, creating a handbag out of pure ideas and imagination is the best part of designing and being a designer. She often dreams of her designs, then wakes up and sketches by hand and makes a mock-up of the bag. “It is important to see the bag in real life before making production." The designer’s secret to creating quality products is developing “something that others will value” and further added, “Longevity and simplicity are two values that I hold dear. I believe simplicity is the essence of design and that good design is simple!” Her fa- vourite fabrics or materials to work with are leather, suede, crys- tals and cotton, while her favourite choices of colours are pink, yellow, orange, and red - all the jewel colours. “Life is too boring without colour.” Rusi’s accomplishments as an accessory designer include taking pride in turning a first-time customer into a lifetime client. One of her greatest joys was seeing the President of Georgia wearing her Mezzaluna handbag when she met the President of France and his wife, Bridget. Her handbags are made in the same factory as Chanel’s accessories, and despite her success, she looks up to other designers. One of her inspirations is Gabriella Hearst, and she would love to design for celebrities such as Jenifer Lopez as she is a big fan of the Latin-American performer. When asked what advice she would give aspiring accessory designs, she said, “Make sure you follow your instincts.” The designer endeavours to be sustainable by reusing and recy- cling and aims to walk and take public transportation wherev- er possible. She manufactures a few pieces at a time and doesn’t waste any leather using the leftover material. The collaboration with ethical factories that pay their workers a fair wage is an es- sential aspect of Rusi’s business. The brand also uses local models and photographers who don't have to travel far, thus decreasing carbon impact. She added, “In these difficult times, I help the economy by pro- viding work for people.” When creating new campaigns for her collections, the designer seeks a fair representation. She is against size zero models and uses a diverse range of models so that her customers can relate to and identify with her campaigns. www.rusidesigns.com