Happy New Year!

As the New Year dawns...

May it bring for you the beginning of brighter tomorrows! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

Adriana Castro Ostrich Meissa Hobo Featured in Bag Snob

Kelly Cook, from Bag Snob, the go - to source for fabulous designer bags, featured our Ostrich Meissa Hobo. Our ostrich hobo fits Kelly's criteria:

1. "fabulously stylish"

2.  "functional"

3. "collection worthy"

To read the whole post, go to Bag Snob. Don't forget to subscribe to receive their newsletter, the best way to stay up to date!

Get this bag at Adriana Castro Online. Bag Snob readers get 30% off any order with code ACBAGSNOB.

Image from bagsnob.com.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a joyous Holiday Season and a New Year full of happiness! Don't forget Holidays are supposed to be fun. Take a break from the tediousness of your everyday life and let your accessories reflect your Holiday spirit! Feel the cheer :)

Kisses.

Adriana Castro Pre Fall 2009

I am the kind of person that can't keep a secret when it relates to our upcoming styles! That is why you are looking at these pictures now LOL. Check out our new Annie Clutch in Python! These clutches are not in our showroom yet, to be honest, they are still in our factory! I took some pictures with my iPhone while they were sitting in the "Quality Control" room. These and other fabulous pieces will arrive to our NYC showroom early January! I will post more pictures soon. Stay tuned.

Lesson on Tanning Crocodile Skins

After spending several hours in the tannery, I convinced myself (once again) that I am obsessed with exotic skins. I enjoyed each minute, to be precise, each second. Just wanted to share with you some information and pictures that will definitely help you understand the process of tanning (and if not, please ask). Treating crocodile skins is complicated. Before the skin is ready to be used for sewing bags, there are lots of stages involved (I decided to number the stages to make it easier).

1. Clean away the remnants of meat, salt, dust and sand.

2. Whiten the skin to peel away scales. In this stage, the skin gets a neutral - white color look.

3. Add chrome to give softness.

4. Scrape it to achieve desired thickness.

5. Harden with synthetics or vegetal substances (depending on colors).

6. Soften the skin with oils.

7. Dry during 15 days.

8. Dye.

9. Glaze.

10. Dry once more.

11. Finally, if it's a glazed finish, the skin undergoes what is known as gloss processing; (glaze the skin to give it luster). And if it's a matte finish, the skin undergoes matte processing. 

Racks of Exotic Skins

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am testing mobile blogging. Here a picture of racks of exotics skins; python, caiman fuscus crocodile etc...some of these used in our Fall 2009 collection.

Mobile Blogging

Choosing the perfect lizard skin

I am so excited about this new feature! Now I can send text or photos from my iPhone and they will automatically post to our blog. I am in Colombia working on our upcoming collections. I will be trying this new feature and will be posting pictures of new styles, skin colors and anything I find in the factory that I believe will be of your interest. Here I am choosing the perfect lizard skin...

Adriana Castro Bold and Bright Fall 2009!

Rack of python skins in bold and bright colors used for fall 2009 

Traditionally, the fall/winter season leans towards somber tones, givings us grays, blacks and browns. And indeed many of the pre-fall handbags I have seen out there have darker inclinations but definitely not ours. For fall 2009, I have opted for bold and bright colors; magentas, effervescent oranges, citric greens, golden yellow hues, royal blues, rich purples...We stand on the precipice of what could be the worst economic crisis in decades and I believe that in increasingly difficult times we need COLOR to cheer up! 

Reflect the Holiday Spirit Through Color

Adriana Satchel available at Henri Bendel NYC, Cosmetic Case available at Lux Couture, Starlet Belt and Squared Cuff availablet at Adriana Castro. For more info, e-mail us at info@adrianacastroonline.com

Holidays are about fun, family and taking a break from the tediousness of your everyday life. Let your accessories reflect that and you'll carry yourself through the holidays filled with cheer! Red and green; classy way to add some holiday sparkle to your outfit ;)

Recent Press

Adriana Castro Crocodile Cosmetic Case Featured in Purse Blog

Last week, our Crocodile Cosmetic Case was included in "Adriana's Picks." This week, Megs from Purse Blog recommended our cosmetic case to Purse Blog's readers and followers. "This is something I would love to find in my stocking, along with a few miscellaneous makeup pieces that are always needed in my collection," she says. And by the way, Megs opts for the purple version. Buy through Lux Couture. 

Go to Purse Blog to read the full post with comments.

Adriana Castro Featured in Purse Blog

Megs and Vlad, thank you for letting Purse Blog Readers know that our collection is now available at Henri Bendel. This means so much to me, so once again thanks for helping me spreading the word out there. To read the whole post, go to Purse Blog.

Image from purseblog.com.

Adriana Castro Now Available in NYC at Henri Bendel and Searle

Adriana Castro Trunk Show at Henri Bendel NYC

Some of the pieces that are available at Henri Bendel NYC

Some of the pieces that are available at Searle NYC

Adriana Castro Trunk Show at Searle NYC

This past week was amazing. We worked a lot, a whole lot, but it was all worth it. On Friday, Henri Bendel hosted a trunk show show where we presented the Spring 2009 collection, which is now available as a permanent addition to the store's mix of luxury accessories. The handbags looked great in the Designer Collection floor, next to Herve Leger sexy dresses. We had a great time meeting shoppers. As I mentioned in my previous posts, this is what I enjoy the most. Then on Saturday, Searle on Madison Avenue hosted another great trunk show. Again, it was so exciting to be there and meet customers while they shopped our handbags. Henri Bendel and Searle, thank you for hosting these spectacular events! I am so honored that they picked our collection. And thank you to all of you who showed up ;)

New Yorkers, don't forget Adriana Castro handbags are now available in these 2 stores. 

Henri Bendel

712 Fifth Avenue

1.800.HBENDEL

Searle 

635 Madison Avenue at 60th Street

212.750.5153

Meet Adriana Castro at Henri Bendel NYC 12.05.08

Some of the pieces that are available at Henri Bendel NYC

Tomorrow I will be at Henri Bendel to personally meet customers. This is so exciting! Let me tell you that this is what I enjoy the most. I receive lots of e-mails from clients asking what handbag to buy, what color, what size, what skin, what finish etc...Not only they ask all these fashion related questions, but also they want to know me better, I mean personal life...So for me to be there and respond to all these questions "live" is huge. I will be there with my husband so you will have the opportunity to meet us up close and personal ;)

I love interacting with customers; listening what they have to say really means a lot to me. At the end, I am here to please and make you happy! Hope to see you there. 

What? Adriana Castro Trunk Show and PA

Where? Henri Bendel - 712 Fifth Avenue (3rd Floor)

When? December 5th from 11 am - 7 pm

Adriana Castro Trunk Show and PA at Henri Bendel

Press Release

November 2008, New York, NY. Henri Bendel, Fifth Avenue’s prestigious specialty department store, will be hosting a trunk show of Adriana Castro exotic skin handbags and accessories. This event will celebrate the Spring 2009 Collection, which is now available as a permanent addition to the store’s mix of luxury accessories.

Adriana Castro’s aesthetic and design is very fitting for the store’s unique characteristic, hip and youthful, yet classic and elegant vibe. On December 5th Mrs. Castro will be making an in-store personal appearance, to meet and greet shoppers and introduce the latest additions to her line of elegant crocodile and skin totes and clutches.

Henri Bendel will carry the Adriana Satchel, Classic Tote, Ariel Satchel,Vibora Clutch, Modish Clutch, Annie Clutch, Star Clutch, all in vibrant and rich colors such as purple, fuchsia, red, green and white. Each piece is handmade in Colombia and retails from $900 to $1500 for clutches and $2500 to $2800 for totes and satchels.

Press Contact: B' squared Public Relations, Beth Overzat, bethanne9280@hotmail.com

Adriana Castro December Skin-ny Giveaway

Enter to win our December Skin-ny Giveaway; the Star Clutch. To enter, just join the Adriana Castro Collection Group on Facebook and after visiting our web site,  tell us which is your favorite Adriana Castro bag. Leave your answers here in the comments section. Last day to enter is December 31, 2008 11:59pm EST. One lucky winner will be randomly selected on January 1, 2009. Winner will be announced on this blog by January 5, 2009. Only one entry per person (US shipping address only). Don't forget to invite your friends to join. 

By the way, if you have not subscribed to our blog, please do! You don't want to miss our upcoming giveaways, events and more.

Good Luck!

Kisses.