Coffee has undoubtedly become an inseparable element of some people’s lives in Jakarta, what with many specialty cafés opening up in various parts of the city. It is with this observation that Viél, a local leather goods brand for women, started the design process for its fourth collection.
“We are usually inspired by everyday things that surround us, and this time, we are particularly looking at coffee,” said Emerentiana Yuan, the brand’s marketing associate during the collection launch at Common House in Panglima Polim, South Jakarta, last Thursday.
In one corner inside the mixed-use space, Viél’s new pieces are showcased inside glass boxes, while visitors can enjoy freshly brewed coffee at the bar. “Coffee has existed for a very long time in our history, but now it becomes an essential part of our lifestyle, something that we must drink every day,” Emerentiana said.
Aptly named “Kaffe,”the collection comprises three designs, all available in colors inspired by the drink: black, mocha brown, and natural beige.
The first piece is called Emma, a zip Continental wallet whose compact and minimalist rectangular design means it can fit seamlessly inside one’s handbag. Featuring various compartments in its interior, Emma is intended to become a staple accessory for active urban women – its understated design and toned-down shade easily complements any outfit.
For those opting for a larger design, there is the Deva clutch. Similar to the wallet, it also features a zip-around design, but with an additional short strap to carry around.
However, Viél’s offerings are not limited to wallets and clutches. The last style in this new collection is a slim leather belt called Petta, which, when used to cinch an ensemble, will add an elegant accent to one’s look.
The prices for these leather goods range from Rp 429,000 ($31.75) for the belt to Rp 1.249 million for the clutch, while the wallet retails for Rp 1.129 million. All the pieces are available at STOW, a boutique inside Common House.
Viél was originally established in 2013 as a spinoff of Voyej, a men’s label that offers everything leather from wallets and keychains to bags and stationery.
Both brands incorporate high-quality leather in their products, which partially explains their prices. But as Emerentiana explained, there are also some differences in the types of leather each label uses.
“If Voyej uses leather imported from the United States, Viél utilizes local leather. Also, we mainly use calfskin leather, which tends to be softer,” she said. The aforementioned pieces, for instance, are made with locally sourced genuine leather that has gone through a vegetable tanning process.
Each design is mostly handcrafted to ensure quality. “Our production place in Yogyakarta employs 90 percent handmade techniques in making our products. But when it comes to the design process as well as brand managing, everything is done here in Jakarta,” Emerentiana said.
Through this Kaffe collection, Viél wants its accessories to be used for a long time by the wearers, and ultimately become an integral part of their daily lives.
“It’s just like how we interact with coffee now,” Emerentiana said. “So there is this coffee-inspired value that we hope to include in each of our products.”
—
Viél’s new collection is available at STOW at Common House, Jalan Panglima Polim IX No. 16, South Jakarta.
For more information, check out voyejstore.com/viel.
The post Viél Brews Up a New Leather Goods Collection for Women appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.