Since 1970, Art Basel has been the place for artists, gallery owners and art enthusiasts with deep pockets to see and be seen.
One of the artists who has everyone talking this year is Haitian-born artist and diamond mine developer Evens Saint Clair, who has a collection of beautifully handcrafted handbags that will cost buyers a small fortune – including one he calls “La Reine,” that is going for 1.2 million dollars, according to The New York Post.
Saint Clair met with artisans in Japan for two years to create the million-dollar bag that is loaded with luxurious features, including a handcrafted Japanese wood frame, Italian leather and pieces of rare silk kimono fabric dusted with gold leaf. And we haven’t even talked about the bling, which includes over 18 carats of diamonds, gold chains, emeralds and pearls.
His collection also includes a Wicked-inspired green alligator bag with a jade badge surrounded diamonds. That one has a price tag of $670,000, according to The Post.
For Saint Clair, his sophisticated pieces are meant to pay tribute to the art of craftsmanship over fast fashion.
“Nowadays everything is just sent to China to be made as cheaply as possible, but true luxury isn’t mass-produced. I have invested years of travel, research and innovation into these pieces and the accompanying luxury cases because I believe in beauty, happiness and giving back,” he told the New York Post.
He calls the pieces in his collection “savvy investments,” which is why each comes with a custom James Bond-like storage case that uses fingerprint recognition.
Besides making beautiful bags, Saint Clair is also giving back. Ten percent of the profits from the sales of his bags and artwork will be donated to charities, including Best Buddies, Make-A-Wish, Saint Jude, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, according to his Instagram account.
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