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Handbag designer Natalie DiBello uses an unlikely sustainable material for her collection: cork.
This isn’t your wine bottle stopper variety. It’s actually thinly shaved cork adhered to cotton fabric. Natalie buys bolts in bulk from vendors in Portugal, the world’s top supplier. Once it arrives, she gets to work sewing each item in her Massachusetts home studio. It’s the ultimate handmade product; Natalie is on target to personally cut, sew, tag and pack 10,000 items by the end of the year.
Some are calling cork the new leather. That suits Natalie just fine.
“People love it; it’s eye-catching because it’s unusual,” Natalie says. “It’s been important for me from the beginning to stay small yet sustainable and focus on something that is eco friendly.”
Natalie started designing purses when she left her corporate job eight years ago. After much trial and error, and a recommendation from her architect sister who was familiar with the durability and versatility of cork, Natalie made the switch from “funky cotton prints.” Her first year—2009—she sold 100 handbags. Today her bags are available at more than 150 retail and online stores nationwide.
Through her company Natalie Therése, Natalie has created more than a dozen handbag styles, from totes to cross body bags. Accessories include wallets and pencil cases. Last year, Natalie added the Be Lively digitally printed line featuring a global-inspired mosaic tile design.
Prices are competitive with wallets starting at $14 and handbags at $142, making it fashionable and affordable. The lightweight material is also soft, easy to clean, stain-resistant and waterproof.
This summer Natalie Therése will unveil a backpack with the line’s signature faux leather accent in lime green, red, navy or black at the base.
“My work is very gratifying, I love what I do,” Natalie says. “I’m not going to pretend it’s not really hard at times, trying to break through the next level of creating something new. But everything I’m doing is coming from me and that feels really cool.”
Want to see Natalie’s handbags and accessories for yourself? Visit natalietherese.com.
*GIVEAWAY* Comment below with your favorite color wristlet (visit NatalieTherese.com) and be entered to win one small wristlet and also receive a LooHoo 5-Pack. A winner will be announced July 31, 2017.
Black. :)
Very nice! It’s hard to pick one colour. I love the red zipper!
What a lovely giveaway! Thank you! I really love the way the black zipper contrasts with the cork!
All of Natalie’s bags are beautiful and unique! On the wristlet, I think I like the apple green the most.
I love this! The red really pops!
The orange is PERFECT for me. Thank you so much for making these!!
Love the navy!
Love the purple.
My favorite is orange
APPLE GREEN
The purple is beautiful!! Would make one feel like a royal!
love the green
Aqua! It pops!
Definitely the brown; the contrast is appealing and looks all natural.
This is a wonderful gift, I’d choose butterscotch for the wristlet but when I purchase directly I’ll go with “Mammoth” – thanks for introducing us to Natalie, her designs are gorgeous and what an adventure she has ahead of her
I like the purple one.
Apple green
The fuschia!
What a tough pick! It is a hard call between the navy and the apple green. I also love the tote in the article.
Orange.
navy
Butterscotch is my favorite!
Butterscotch!!
Love the butterscotch, it will go with anything! Beautiful handbags!
My favorite is the Apple Green!
I like the purple one.
I love Butterscotch and Apple Green!
I personally love the apple Green one. :-) KUDOS for Hosting this GROOVY Giveaway. :-) GOOD-LUCK Everyone!!!
I love the aqua and the red!
Love the aqua blue. What a cool little product. Kudos to you!
My favorite is lime green ?
I love the green one!
These are beautiful, with the pop of color from the zippers. Red would be my first choice followed by Aqua
aqua!!
brown
I love the fuschia!
Melinda
July 31, 2017
Aqua is my favourite.