Refinery 29: Independent Style, Defined and Refined

Fashion: All

August 18, 2008

bags handbags accessories

Profiles

Brace Yourself

Fleet Ilya's leather bags go from practical to provocative. By Kelley Hoffman


fleetilya_instory1.jpg


It's said that good things come in 3s, and Fleet Ilya's leather accessory tri-line is no exception. Launching its first season as three separate lines, Classic, Concept, and Restraint each focuses on a different design objective. "The Classic is a timeless ready-to-wear line. The Concept line is an area for me to experiment with the bizarre and surreal, these pieces have a couture outlook on accessory design. The Restraint is luxury bondage," explains designer Ilya Fleet, who, along with co-art director Resha Sharma, make up the London-based label.


fleet_ilya_instory2.jpg


While the lines may reflect different levels of play, what ties them together is a basic palette of mostly blacks, browns, and whites, as well as a clean construction. Fleet studied under a master leather craftsman and saddler, and combines this traditional training with exquisite designs pushing the limits of functionality and structure. Fall marks the first inclusion of bag designs in Classic, and combined with the statement-making corsets in Concept, and the harnesses seen in Restraint, this label surely proves it can work itself from the briefcase to the ball or bedroom.

For more information and availability, go to www.fleetilya.com.

 
About Fashion From the most promising up-and-coming designers to the latest trend emerging from the streets of Paris, Los Angeles, or New York, Refinery29's indie fashion content is always on the cutting-edge. Check out our latest objects of desire, new store openings worldwide, and find out what our favorite new designers are doing in the studio as well as the shops.