COLLECTION I

Every collection I design begins with a memory.

This one lived in Bali.

2006. We were staying at a villa near Ubud—the island’s artistic heart.

We met an Italian husband-and-wife team who operated a small ceramic manufacturing facility nearby.

They were preparing a sample collection for Armani/Casa and asked if we wanted to collaborate on an idea.

After seeing our handmade sterling silver jewelry, they envisioned sterling silver inlaid by hand into their ceramics.

After several attempts, our silversmiths perfected the process.

The samples were submitted to Milan.

Months later, Mr. Armani signed off and we went into production.

During the design process, I asked why we were submitting only white, gray and black ceramic samples.

The ceramic designer explained that Mr. Armani might introduce color into a collection, but his base was always white, gray and black.

Our collection was gray. Muted. Smoky. Almost monochromatic.

That foundation stayed with me.

Today, AI helps me reimagine that memory as handbags in white, gray and black. Three colors. One foundation.

Each handbag is numbered, documented and can be personalized. Each foundational color can also be customized to the collector’s specifications.

BY MACHINE. BY HAND. FOR YOU.

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JAMES EDWARD BILLETZ
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR