Fledgling handbag brand comes to the UK

From compact clutches to oversized totes, the phenomenon of the It bag is no fly-by-night trend. And if you can’t quite stretch to some arm candy from one of the top-end designers, the quest is on to find something new and original. Step forward Desti Saint, whose handbag brand dee is poised to become the next big thing.

Many styles feature luxuriant tassels, hand-carved jade and brass Chinese motifs which give the bags a distinctive edge.

Dee (which is Saint’s nickname), is a range of desirable handbags, aimed at fashion-conscious women who value quality but don’t wish to pay stratospheric prices for the privilege. The debut collection of this up-and-coming brand was so popular that all the bags had been sold within two weeks of launching in Hong Kong in December 2007. A waiting list had to be created to satisfy demand and three shops instantly ordered the range.

“The bags sold so fast I ended up having to sell my samples too so I think I’m doing something right,” says New-Zealand-born Saint, who has lived in Asia for 15 years and left a successful career in finance to follow her dream of setting up her own company.

Saint’s focus is on the use of rich-looking fabrics to create unique handbags that are comfortable to wear, practical to use and beautiful to look at. The eclectic collection includes leather-on-linen messenger bags, metallic-leather hobos in silver, gold, bronze and black, and faux snakeskin clutches – all in various sizes and lined in sumptuous faux suede. Many styles feature luxuriant tassels and hand-carved jade and brass Chinese motifs, which give the bags a subtle Asian flavour and a distinctive edge. They are versatile yet eye catching and can easily make the transition from being a day bag to one taken on a night out.

“I love working with gorgeous fabrics and creating something affordable but special. Our real winners have been the leather hobos and the clutches and I have been amazed that they have appealed to a broad spectrum of women - aged from 18 to 60,” says Saint.

Saint is currently designing a range of accessories to complement the handbags such as jewellery rolls, toiletry and makeup bags and passport holders so if ever there was a space to watch, this is it.

Dee will be showing on stand S71 at London’s Pulse from the 1st to the 3rd of June at Earl’s Court.