Cerre
Former models Flavie and Clayton Webster are the husband-and-wife team behind the indie handbag line Cerre. The luxe collection of bags debuted in 2006 at Scout in Los Angeles and has become a cult favorite. Cerre remains a hard-to-find label, as the Costa Mesa, Calif.–based designers are being very selective about reaching out to potential retailers.
The label’s moniker is a family name on Flavie’s side. Clean shapes, classic good looks, quality craftsmanship and understated style are hallmarks of the line. The premiere series of bags was offered only in black calf and lambskin. They followed up three months later with red, “just for fun.” The simplicity of the designs is quite beautiful and refreshing. According to the couple, the concept of the line centers around an intense focus on handpicked Italian leather. Clayton likens the hides to canvases. “We even decide where the pieces will be cut on each hide,” he said.
Low quantities promise exclusivity. “We want to keep it small,” said Clayton. “We’re always going to produce the original bags in one form or another. But when we reproduce something it’s going to be slightly different than the original. I don’t like the idea of a bunch of people carrying around the same thing.”
Handbags will be a staple in the line, but they will keep the line fresh by introducing other items, such as the mini collection of gold, silver and bronze jewelry and the leather jacket debuting in the latest collection. The designers are also bucking the system by not necessarily operating on a seasonal schedule. They are constantly dreaming up new designs, and when new production comes in, they make it available to their retailers. So they seek out stores that are open to their unconventional take on the business. “What we’re doing is not for everybody, not for every store,” Clayton asserted.
Style names are based on astrological mythology. The large “Jupiter” bag, which was part of the first series, is crafted from naturally textured Italian calfskin with a canvas lining. The latest version of this style is in untreated natural tan leather. Among the other new styles is the “Taurus” bag, crafted from elk hide with Japanese suede lining. It’s a roomy, unisex tote featuring a solid, hand-cast bronze ring based on an old Celtic design and a bull-nose ring. The “Argo” is another newcomer and is crafted from “extremely naturally textured buffalo,” as Clayton described it, and features a hand-polished Super Lampo zipper. Wholesale prices range from $350 to $600.
In addition to Scout, Cerre can be found at Anastasia in Laguna Beach, Calif., 06+ in Los Angeles and Axsum in Bordeaux, France (Flavie’s hometown). What the future holds for Cerre remains a bit of a mystery, but the designers hinted it could include shoes, knitwear, and men’s bags and jackets. For more information, visit www.cerre.com. —Dena Smolek
