Sophia Webster to launch complete bag collection ahead of debut store opening

London – London fashion week accessories designer Sophia Webster is set to launch her first full handbag collection this month, just a few weeks ahead of the opening of the designer’s debut store opening in London.

The designer, who recently presented her Autumn/Winter 2016-2017 collection with at London fashion week, has been busy expanding her range of handbags as well as building her brand’s presence. Webster will first introduce her handbag collection exclusively on March 14 on SophiaWebster.com, before launching it selected shop-in-shops, including Net-a-Porter.com, Selfridges and Saks Fifth Avenue later this month.

Sophia Webster reveals first full handbag range for Spring 2016

Then she is slated to open the doors of her first standalone store on Mount Street in April, joining the likes of Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha and Nicholas Kirkwood. The debut store will offer Sophia Webster’s full Spring 2016 footwear and handbag collection and its interior is set to reflect the designer quirky and fun sense of style – for example she has been working with specialized glassblower Rocco Borghese to create a flamingo-formed chandelier. The launch of her first complete line of handbags comes as the designer continues to invest in her company by making a number of key hires in e-commerce, production and wholesale.

Our ‘Lilico Underwater’ booties are a perfect shoe for the warmer weather! Bring on summer #SophiaWebster

A photo posted by SOPHIA WEBSTER (@sophiawebster) on Mar 8, 2016 at 1:59pm PST

“I always knew that I wanted to be known for my bags as much as I’m known for my shoes,” said Webster on her handbag collection to WWD. “At the beginning it was basically just me, so I decided to focus on the shoes. Now that I have a team in place, I can make sure that the line is produced properly.” The handbags are produced in Spain, China and Brazil, although Webster admits that it was a challenge to find the right partners in every country who could screen-print her hand-made drawings onto the handbags source the right leather for the collection’s colour palette of light pastel shares.

“When you do things that are very colorful and spirited, they have to be really well-executed and precise,” she said. The handbags are in line with Webster’s under-the-sea theme, based on the designers mermaid launderette created for her spring 2016 presentation, and include box clutched with crystal coral reefs and cross-body bags decorated with leather seashells and fish. “I wanted to launch bags in the same way I launched shoes. The first collection was all about making a statement with prints and color in order to produce something really special,” she added.

Although this means that the under-the-sea theme designs will be seasonal and will not be translated into later seasons, Webster plans on taking the season’s main styles and reinventing them in a more neutral colour palette. The handbag collection is made up of five key styles, such as Claudie, a small cross-body bag, Romy, the leather bucket bag and Izzy, a printed tote.

A photo posted by SOPHIA WEBSTER (@sophiawebster) on Mar 9, 2016 at 6:49am PST

“I understand that not everybody wants to wear the really elaborate, creative pieces, so I try and design things which still have character and a special trait, yet are wearable and not tricky or complicated.” The handbag collection also echoes the footwear line, with the kissing flamingo motif taken from the Coco pump and applied on a tote. “A shoe collection is quite extensive, whereas in the case of the bags, I put a lot of thought into the key styles and I am 100 percent happy and confident to push them forward,” Webster said. “Bags have to be functional, they have to serve a purpose, so there was a lot of trialing to make sure the bags were light and easy to use.”

Prices for the handbags are aligned to sit alongside Webster’s footwear range, to ensure they are accessible to her loyal followers as well a new customers and are set to range between 300 pounds and 700 pounds. “I don’t want to put myself in a box really. The way I see it is that you are getting a designer product at a competitive price point and you get a lot more for what you pay compared to other designers.”

A video posted by SOPHIA WEBSTER (@sophiawebster) on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:00am PST