ITA  x  LAFAYETTE 148 NEW YORK

LIMITED EDITION handbag collaboration: FROM ARCHITECTURE TO INSPIRATION

Invited by ready-to-wear brand Lafayette 148 New York for a special collaboration, ITA was asked to collaborate on a limited addition handbag collection to celebrate their 20 year anniversary.  In a nod to the local tradition of concrete construction, the Lafayette 148 factory building in Shantou, China - designed by Mehrdad Hadighi and Tsz Yan Ng of Studio for Architecture - is blanketed in concrete sheaths that appear to bend and twist like fabric.  Bita and Rouzita took inspiration from these twisting concrete panels of Lafayette's beautiful manufacturing facility's facade to create the signature detail of the limited edition bag collection, which was featured in an exclusive run of just 98 large tote bags and 48 smaller pouchettes.  Handcrafted in New York, each bag was created using twisted Italian leather and suede creating defining textures, depth and shadows.  The bags transform as they are viewed from different angles just as the factory reveals its many shapes from various angles.  The perforated Braille pattern that filters light into the factory and spells Lafayette 148 was transformed into a graphic element and texture on the bags.