Let's Not Go Back to How We Were

Big brands want us to forget that we lived without them these past few months. Don't let them pull you back into that old reality.

Just a couple of months ago, we were consumers. We bought what we needed and lots of stuff we didn't. 

Material consumption is like sugar, highly addictive. It gives us a false, and temporary, sense of well-being. We always need more. 

Big-brand marketers are already brainstorming ways to get us back on that sugary consumer diet, once life returns to normal. They’ll try to make us forget the months we spent sugar-free, and how refreshing it was. They’ll use billboards, social media ads, emails, product placements, and other proven methods to convince us that we were unfulfilled without them, that we can be complete again if we wear their logos and buy their brand of sugar. 

But, what if we don’t take the bait this time? What if we support small businesses that share our values and add diversity to our communities, instead of giving our money to big-name brands that flood the world with sameness? What if we buy from mom-and-pop stores as well as from Amazon and Target? What if we eat at locally-owned restaurants instead of corporate chains? What if we buy lifestyle products from independent designers whose work we admire, regardless of brand name? 

The pandemic has revealed who, and what, are the real sweeteners of civic life and identity. It’s not Starbucks, BMW or Gucci. It’s the family restaurants we couldn't frequent; the parks and beaches we couldn’t visit; the gyms, schools, and museums we took for granted; and the friends we couldn't hang out with. 

Animals have been returning to urban waterways and exploring desolate city streets. When this is all over, let’s explore new territory, too. Let's make responsible choices as consumers. Let's not reward companies with vast production lines and few values. Let's support passionate entrepreneurs who pour their energy and life savings into making things they believe in. Let's fund the authenticity, personalization, and creativity they offer. 

Let's cut out the sugar.

Here Are 5 Reasons to Support Smaller Brands: 

• Design: Great design was once reserved for the elite. If you wanted beautiful or unique things, you either needed to make them yourself or spend lots of money. Today, small brands are creating everything imaginable in a variety of styles at affordable prices. Fashion, in particular, is experiencing a renaissance in design as independent designers and small brands innovate in ways that large brands won't. 

• A.P.C.: Big brands try to appeal to the largest possible number of consumers to maximize profits for their shareholders. Small brands, on the other hand, prioritize A.P.C. - authenticity, personalisation, and creativity. They don't produce a variety of collections every year to reach ever more buyers. They focus intensely on a single, high-quality collection. Each purchase from a small brand rewards those values and supports an ecosystem of independent designers. 

• Resourcefulness: Small brands do more with fewer resources. That, in truth, is what the world must relearn to do, too. Abundance turned our consumption habits into a force that has harmed both the environment and our sense of well-being. Buying handcrafted bags from an independent handbag brand's online bag store, for example, is a great way to support a small fashion business and change our buying habits on a small scale. 

• Experimentation: Smaller brands are more directional in implementing operational changes and more free to experiment with new business models. That adaptability often offers a blueprint to larger companies, showing them the changes necessary for environmental sustainability and economic health. 

• Jobs: Small brands create work for other small businesses and independents. That creates a healthy, diverse economy made up of human-scale enterprises, instead of an economy dominated by large consolidated corporations. Those small business owners are not getting rich. They're doing what they love and are surviving to offer all the benefits listed above. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

These Are Three Essential Things a Luxury Handbag Should Offer

Price doesn’t always reflect value. In this post, we look at three things that do—and discuss how, and where, to find them.

Sometimes, we buy clothes and accessories because we need a particular essential. Other times, we buy simply to update our look. Either way, we choose pieces that convey who we are. How we're perceived by our fashion choices is as much a consideration as how good we look. 

For some women, wearing expensive, designer brands is part of the image they wish to project. And that's perfectly fine. If a gorgeous Louis Vuitton or Fendi handbag matches your persona, and you can afford it, carry it with pride. 

Understand, however, that price doesn't always reflect actual value. Sometimes, prices are artificially inflated to create the illusion of value. Other times, you're simply paying extra for a well-known logo.

If you're shopping for a luxury leather handbag, here are three things to look for that will tell you if your money is being spent wisely: 

Exclusivity 

Front Row at the theater and First Class on an airplane are desirable not just because they offer a better view or more comfort, but because they offer those things to a small, select group. If everyone had those seats, they’d lose their exclusivity and, therefore, some of their value. 

Likewise, if the handbag you're considering is expensive, yet you see women everywhere carrying it, then that bag has lost some exclusivity. Luxury handbags for women are optional purchases. Unlike necessities, uniqueness is what determines the value of an optional purchase. 

Use price as a guideline, therefore, but search for handbags that are part of a limited production run, that are not sold on the common market, and that are not advertised to the masses with the sole goal of maximizing sales. Look for bags promoted via select channels that target a demographic with specific lifestyles and values. Consider smaller labels and independent designers. 

Your bag shouldn't be a show-off piece because of its price. It should show off who you are and show that you took the time to find a unique item that reflects your personality. 

Design 

Innovation in design is paramount. Classic designs will always be a reliable fallback, but design, eventually, has to evolve. 

The success of the major fashion, perfume, and cosmetic houses has been built on innovation. Great handbag designers also create functional items that rise to the level of art. They experiment with color, pattern, and texture. They consider movement. 

Traditionally, Italian leather handbags are what come to mind when people think of beautiful, innovative design. That's because luxury, handcrafted bags from Italy are often manufactured by people whose families have been in the craft for centuries. They have the skills to innovate without compromising traditional values. And, of course, they work with only top quality materials from tanneries that produce the softest leather. 

A great way to find such handbags is to search for, and follow, the craftspeople who make them. Many have websites and social media accounts. Explore their work to get a better idea of what's out there so you can recognize what's new, what's old, what's truly original, and what's worth splurging on. 

Quality 

Even well-known design houses sometimes use low-quality materials that don’t stand the test of time. 

To recognize quality craftsmanship, look for clean lines, straight stitches, softness, and color. Don’t forget to smell a brand new leather handbag. Quality leather speaks to more than one sense. It should impress your hands and nose, as well as your eyes. Above all, remember that handcrafted bags are synonymous with quality. Never settle for something mass-produced.

At Nantív, we strive to create bags that surpass traditional brands in quality and innovation. Read ‘Our Story’ to learn about our origin, process, and purpose — and why our bags flow with your movements and lifestyle. 

Our VITA, EVE, VINT, and TIV handbags are handcrafted by the best Italian artisans, using the softest leather and highest quality hardware. We always aim to offer the perfect balance of exclusivity, design and quality. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

• Text taken from Nantív

5 Reasons to Own a Minimalist Handbag

Minimalism isn't just visuals. It's a feeling, an experience, and a particular point-of-view. It's also a perfect handbag design principle.

Art, music, architecture, and literature have all had minimalist phases. Today, minimalism is shaping design, fashion, and lifestyles, too. 

What exactly is this movement? Put simply, it's doing more with less: fewer belongings, smaller homes, and less extravagance. 

Handbags, by their very nature and function, have always leaned toward minimalism. The need to limit a handbag's weight may have something to do with that. Yet, we're now seeing the principle very consciously designed into handbags. An extreme example is the recent trend in micro bags. 

Teeny bags aside, minimalism is an ideal approach to handbag design. 

Here are five reasons why: 

Timelessness 

Since minimalism has always been a factor in handbag design, it never looks dated. Clean lines, simple geometric shapes, and little or no embellishments never go out of fashion. From feng shui to art deco, less has always been more. 

Quality 

Minimalist designers can't hide behind elaborate shapes, stitching, prints, hardware, or embellishments. They're forced, instead, to offer original designs, expert craftsmanship, exquisite finishes, and top quality materials. They're also more likely to experiment with new materials like satin, fiber, or ethnic weaves.

Expression 

Minimalist design doesn't minimize expression. It opens the door to new possibilities, evokes emotion, and sparks the imagination. Just like concision and understatement are often more powerful than elaborate speeches, minimalist design conveys greater meaning by whispering, rather than shouting. 

Function 

Simple designs are the easiest to use. Apple, one of the world's most successful companies, was built on this principle. Handbags are no different. Modern women, living busy lives in a frenetic contemporary society, don't need unnecessary complexity. 

Whether you're carrying a mini purse or a large tote, your handbag should compliment your lifestyle and, as we like to say at Nantív, "flow" with your movements.

Lifestyle

Minimalism isn't just about visuals. It's a feeling, an experience, and a particular point-of-view. A minimalist bag can help promote that state-of-mind by forcing you to consider your real daily needs. Are you carrying around things you think you need, but don't? Beyond your cell phone, makeup, and keys, how much of what's in your bag is essential? 

At Nantív, our handbags for women are made in Italy and designed with the finest details in mind. Our collection currently includes four handcrafted handbags inspired by minimalist principles. 

TIV is a structured leather satchel with simple geometry that can hold an iPad or small laptop, with space left over. It's our idea of the perfect feminine briefcase. It’s rectangular, slim, and compact. It can be worn over the shoulder or as a crossbody. It strikes the perfect professional tone at a presentation or on a business trip, yet works as a casual handbag outside the office, too. 

EVE is a perfect choice if you're expecting a busy day but, like a true minimalist, plan to only carry your essentials. It's a smaller satchel that transitions well from daytime to the evening, even if you're heading for a night out or a special dinner. 

VITA is a tote for busier days when you're carrying additional gadgets or documents and need to bring along a pair of sneakers to do some walking. It's a beautiful sidekick that manages to be minimalist chic, while still offering plenty of space. 

Minimalism has gone by many names throughout the centuries - asceticism, spartanism, feng shui - and is the foundation of almost every religion. No matter the name or creed, we at Nantív always live by the principle and design bags that double as minimalist works of art. We also study movement, gestures, and nuance to ensure our bags are functional and move the way you do. 

Simply and beautifully. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

Text taken from Nantív