• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
Monday, December 11, 2023
Quick Read Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • lifestyle
    • Soapie Teasers
    • Interviews
    • Unseen Talents
  • Sport
    • Rugby
    • Soccer
    • Cricket
  • Technology
  • Job Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • lifestyle
    • Soapie Teasers
    • Interviews
    • Unseen Talents
  • Sport
    • Rugby
    • Soccer
    • Cricket
  • Technology
  • Job Vacancies
No Result
View All Result
Quick Read
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Job Vacancies

Home » Award-winning SA handbag designer Adrian Furstenburg on his triumphant return

Award-winning SA handbag designer Adrian Furstenburg on his triumphant return

by Eddy
July 25, 2017 - Updated on July 26, 2017
in lifestyle
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Adrian Furstenburg

South African designer Adrian Furstenburg triumphed at last year’s Independent Handbag Designer Awards™ in the US, walking away with one of the show’s coveted awards.

He was invited back recently to tell audiences how this prestigious international award had literally changed his life – he gave up his job and is now designing handbags fulltime – and, with interest shown from the US – the Adrian Furstenburg brand looks as if it may go global!

You won one of the top awards at the 10th annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™ in the US. You were one of only two of last year’s winners who were invited back. Tell us about it and the video you showed the audience.
Being invited back to this prestigious event was another massive highlight for my career. Knowing that the curators kept a close eye on my development after winning the award really proved how much it changed my life. I had the opportunity to take the audience through the 365 days from winning the award, leaving my job, starting my own business and launching the first collection with my amazing team. It was an absolute honour and privilege to tell my story to key players in the American industry!

What did it feel like sitting in the audience this time around?
It was a mix of excitement and emotion. Over the last year I got carried away with the every-day tasks of running a business, so I forgot how far I’ve come. Sitting in the audience and re-living the highlights on a massive screen in a theatre with hundreds of people was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. (I felt like Meryl Streep!)

How has your life changed since you won the award?
I left my job and started my own business. I launched my first collection in March. It was incredibly well received and I was one of the best sellers at the SA Fashion Week Luxury pop-up. I am delighted to have created employment in this county. My team and I are creating beautiful bags for our clients but we are also creating an amazing environment for ourselves.

You have have been approached by retailers and agents in the US. Tell us about it?
I have met with agents, marketers and key players in the industry and there is a big interest in taking my proudly South African goods over to the US. It’s an unbelievable experience to see how people loved my collection!

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I travel quite extensively and that is most certainly the biggest source of inspiration for me. Because it should strike a balance between beauty, quality and practicality, I test my products myself and know exactly what and how to create fabulous designs.

What can people who purchase an Adrian Furstenburg bag expect?
From packaging, touching the leather and using the bag – everything is about a great experience. The premium leathers, quality hardware and fabulous signature lining comes standard; personal details such as bespoke design or initial monogramming creates a feeling of luxury without spending a small fortune. Clean lines on the outer design, colours inspired by the city of Johannesburg and the lining are quite the eureka moments, if I say so myself.

How do you combine your designs with your SA heritage?
I am of Austrian descent so there is a strong European influence in the design – quality and craftsmanship is of absolute key. The African materials are what makes it an astonishing product. Riveting colours, amazing textures and premium leathers makes these pieces a beautiful blend of quality and aesthetic.

You took your two full-time employees Hezman Muzopa and Fanwell Masekoto Cape Town, why?
I remember my first time on an aeroplane and the excitement and feeling of adventure is still with me today. Because my first collection was inspired by travel, different journeys and different destinations – I decided to give them something that they would never forget! Both guys have never flown before and I surprised them both with a fabulous trip to Cape Town. We have shared such special moments together and that made an amazing impact on how we manage our business today!

What are handbag trends?
Currently there is a trend that moved from the seventies retro vibe into a classic styling with structured/square shapes, top handle with flap designs and amazing autumn colours. There are also a lot of embellishment or hand painted details on the leather which is just too beautiful for words.

Who are your style icons?
I love Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford and Gucci.
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs or those wanting to start their own business?
Follow your heart, but please take your brain with you! Passion alone isn’t sustainable for success.

Where can you get your bags?
Everything is available to pre-order online but we are looking to supplying travel destinations and deluxe hotels around South Africa. Certain boutique stores in Johannesburg and Cape Town will soon be carrying the collections.

How do you see your business growing?
I am growing at a steady pace but I don’t want to grow at a rapid speed because if you are an overnight success, you can be no news in no time (Anna Wintour quote). I am laying the foundations to build a sustainable business in South Africa. We will do all the production locally and supply both the South African markets and international markets from 2018.

What else do you want to design and produce?
My dream is to introduce a proper luggage collection into the portfolio. Beautiful hard cases with wheels and other amenities such as detachable pieces and mobile phone chargers.

Can you compete with brand names such as Louis Vuitton, can a SA bag be as good?
I have no need to compare myself to a brand such as Louis Vuitton because they have more than a 100 years of craft experience, thousands of employees and they are a luxury brand. Even though I provide a luxury experience and have excellent quality goods, I am a premium brand and not luxury. Too many brands claim that they are luxury but this is a very over-used term as it can’t be created overnight. It can’t even be created over a decade. It would be the same as to compare a Rolls Royce with a Mercedes Benz. They will both get you from point A to B and have most of the same bells and whistles, but the one is pure luxury and the other is premium. But I will be next Michael Kors or Kate Spade, I can guarantee you that.

You can connect with Adrian at www.adrianfurstenburg.com

ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

December Holidays South Africa

December Holidays South Africa 2023

November 5, 2023
How Many Continents In The World

How Many Continents In The World?

October 27, 2023

What Is A Love Pimple?

October 26, 2023

What Is The Age of Consent in South Africa?

October 23, 2023

What Is The Sandton Postal Code South Africa?

October 22, 2023

What Is Corn Syrup In South Africa?

October 17, 2023

Recent Posts

  • UK49s Teatime Predictions for Today: Monday, 11 December 2023
  • Russia 7/49 Results Monday, 11 December 2023
  • SA Daily Lotto Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023
  • UK49s Win Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023
  • France Lotto Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023
  • UK49s Lunchtime Predictions for Today: Monday, 11 December 2023
  • Does Shein South Africa Johannesburg Exist?
  • Sportstake 13 Results: Monday, 11 December 2023

Most Popular

  • UK 49s Teatime Predictions South Africa

    UK49s Teatime Predictions for Today: Sunday, 10 December 2023

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UK 49s KwikPiks For Today: Sunday, 10 December 2023

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UK49s Lunchtime Predictions for Today: Sunday, 10 December 2023

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UK49s Lunchtime Results For Today: Sunday, 10 December 2023

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SA Daily Lotto Predictions For Today: Sunday, 10 December 2023

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Quick Read Magazine

QuickRead.co.za is a South African online magazine that provides news and information on a variety of topics, including business, finance, job vacancies, technology, entertainment, lifestyle, and sports. The website covers both local and international news and aims to provide readers with accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information. QuickRead.co.za also offers a range of features and articles, including opinion pieces, interviews, and analysis of current events.

Follow Us

Categories

  • AKA – Worldwide
  • Angel Numbers
  • Animals
  • Animation
  • Awards
  • Biography
  • BMW
  • Book Review
  • Brokers
  • Bursaries
  • Business
  • Car Reviews
  • Careers
  • Catalogues
  • Celebrity Net Worth
  • Celebrity News
  • Celebrity Profile
  • Chevrolet
  • Cinema
  • Clothing
  • Company Profile
  • Competition
  • Cricket
  • Daily Lotto
  • Decor
  • DIY
  • Dpsa Vacancies Jobs, Dpsa Vacancies 2023 in South Africa
  • Drama
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Event
  • Fashion
  • Feature
  • Finance
  • Flights
  • Food
  • Ford
  • Forex
  • Gadgets
  • Game Console
  • Gaming
  • Gosloto
  • Health
  • Holiday
  • Honda
  • Horse Racing
  • House
  • How To
  • Humour
  • Insurance
  • Internet
  • Internships
  • Interviews
  • Jeep
  • Job Vacancies
  • Law
  • Learnerships
  • Lexus
  • lifestyle
  • Load Shedding
  • Loan
  • Lotto
  • Lotto Jackpots
  • Lotto Results
  • Mazda
  • Mercedes Benz
  • Money
  • Motoring
  • Movie Reviews
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Net Worth
  • News
  • People
  • Politics
  • Powerball Results
  • Predictions
  • Press Release
  • Property
  • Property24
  • Radio
  • Recipes
  • Rewind Mzansi
  • Rugby
  • Sassa
  • SEO
  • Shopping
  • Smartphones
  • Soapie Teasers
  • Soccer
  • Social Media
  • Software
  • Sport
  • Stores
  • Streaming
  • Subaru
  • Technology
  • Television
  • Toyota
  • Trailer
  • Transport
  • Travel
  • Twitter Trends
  • UK Lunchtime Results
  • UK Teatime Results
  • Uncategorized
  • Unseen Talents
  • vacancies
  • Volvo
  • VW
  • Weather
  • web hosting
  • Wildlife
  • Wrestling

Recent Posts

UK 49s Teatime Predictions South Africa

UK49s Teatime Predictions for Today: Monday, 11 December 2023

December 11, 2023
Russia Gosloto 7/49 Results

Russia 7/49 Results Monday, 11 December 2023

December 11, 2023
SA Daily Lotto Prediction For Today

SA Daily Lotto Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023

December 11, 2023
UK49s Win Predictions Lunchtime South Africa Today

UK49s Win Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023

December 11, 2023
France Lotto Predictions For Today

France Lotto Predictions For Today: Monday, 11 December 2023

December 11, 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions

Quick Read Magazine | All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us

Quick Read Magazine | All Rights Reserved