Having searched high and low for a chic laptop bag, designer Sarah Bleibtreu resorted to starting her own line of cool gear cases. Her company, Bleibtreu (pronounced blibe-troy), soon began turning out a neat and functional line-up of carryalls for laptops as well as blackberries, palm pilots, and other digital equipment. Fast-forward to the past year, and Bleibtreu has expanded beyond tech-territory into full-on fashion accessories. Many of her handbag designs, including the mid-size Mukha and the larger slouchy Breit bag, are handmade by just one craftsman in midtown Manhattan. Bleibtreu uses buttery soft lambskins and makes each purse reversible, with a contrasting suede or leather. "These bags are meant to be touched and handled," says Sarah of her tactile treasures. "They're about contrast, too. I designed them so you could be spontaneous but a bit conservative at the same time." And thanks to loads of compartments, these bags are intended for endless use, too. "I was really intrigued by chambers when designing these," says Sarah. "So I made sure they had plenty." From $350.
Bleibtreu, 206 Avenue B; 212-979-5250.
Industrial designer Sarah Bleibtreu goes above and beyond the basics of tech-inspired totes to create a new line of style-minded bags.