Gigi Clutch from Mad Imports, $68
Mad Imports offers handmade accessories inspired by and made in Madagascar and Kenya. Conceived by Laurel Brandstetter and Jamila Hubbard, their eclectic products blend the traditional and contemporary design ideas and craftsmanship of their partner artists, who use unique textiles and renewable natural fibers such as sisal, penjy reed and banana tree bark.
Mad Imports launched in 2003 as an outgrowth of a Madagascar-based development project started by Laurel Brandstetter’s relative. With Laurel’s background in community development, urban planning and volunteer public health work, she realized an opportunity to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in local communities through the sale of Malagasy textiles.
In 2004, New York based designer, Jamila Hubbard, joined Mad Imports as a fashion designer and marketing associate. She studied fashion design at FIDM in San Francisco and FIT in New York. Previously, Jamila worked in Diane Von Furstenberg’s design house and as a designer and rep for Milford Design Studio. Jamila has since worked as Mad Imports' lead designer, collaborating with Malagasy artisans to create innovative collections.
Mad Imports’ products have been featured in several fashion publications including Lucky Magazine and the NY Times Sunday Styles. Mad Imports currently retails products through its online store and wholesales products to boutiques and specialty stores around the U.S.
As a socially responsible company, Mad Imports is sweatshop-free, fair-trade company whose sales benefit Malagasy communities. Currently, they fund the education of the children of their weaver partners and work closely with the Akany Avoko orphanage to provide educational materials, operational funding and support for special projects. They also developed a partnership with a community of women in Kenya, supporting their micro-enterprise and funding community development projects.
We received the Gigi clutch from The Girls Collection. It is made of woven raffia with cotton lining and a 4” carved wood button. It measures 5.5"h x 9.5", it has a snap closure, and it retails for $68. It’s available in natural and in six candy colors. Ours is the candy color called ocean.
Before I even received this clutch purse, I was already in love with it. First, it’s environmentally friendly because it’s made of renewable fibers. Second, sales of the purse benefit families in need of help (of course, we didn’t buy ours but you get the point). Third, it’s so darn cute! How can you not love it?
On a purely fashion perspective, there are 3 things that make this purse a standout in my ever increasing collection of purses – color, texture, and the wood button.
On the color, it is stunning. Even though its name is ocean, it’s really more of a hunter green. It’s a deep, rich color that makes for a dramatic complement to the light colors of summer clothing. It’s gorgeous with a lacy white dress like this cotton voile babydoll dress by BCBG Max Azria.
On the texture, it is simply exotic. During the warm months, I have a penchant for anything that reminds me of the tropics. With the natural fiber and the wood, it’s no wonder I have such fondness for this purse. It reminds me of palm trees, sandy beaches, and luaus.
The wood button, well, it just pulls the whole look together. The enormity of it gives it the distinguishing touch that flavors its unique personality. I love to take it with me when I go out to lunch or dinner. It holds my blackberry, keys, cards, money, and my kiehl’s, and most importantly, it holds its shape!
So, what else can you ask for? I’m thinking one in every color.
Reviewer: Chic Techie
