Python Obsession
Katherine Fleming
Miami native, New York-based designer
By Daedrian McNaughton
The former Tory Burch accessories designer, launched her new handbag line in spring of 2009 of timelessly chic pieces, inspired by old world with a futuristic feel. She is a native of Miami and is currently based in New York. She has returned home, where it all started amongst friends and families. During the days you may find Ms. Fleming at her new Pop up shop at the F Factory in the Design District. As a part of the Limited Edition Experiences, Fleming will have her one-of-a-kind python Jane clutches, displayed as art (similar to the one she wears in the photo).
Instead of getting rid of an inventory of poorly produced clutches, she decided to give them a new lease on life by transforming them into pieces of art. She commissioned 16 artists to refurbish her python Janes. The artists include Naomi Fisher, Jim Drain, Alejandro Cardenas, Jenna Gribbon, Megan Marrin, Robert Melee, Jeff Miller, Alexia Stamatiou, Kembra Pfahler, Gordon Hull, Kolkoz, Tom Fruin, Confettisystem, Scott Reeder, Timothy Hull, Luis Gispert, Constantin and Laurene Boym. Each artist added a touch of personality to the bags.
These 17 clutches will be auctioned off on ebay with a starting bid of $2000. All the proceeds will benefit Bas Fisher Invitational (BFI), a non profit organization started by her close friends Naomi Fisher and Hernan Bas that provides emerging artists a venue to present their work in Miami, Florida.
She invites you to visit her pop up shop with her one-of-a-kind clutches displayed as pieces of art. She will also be selling her clutches throughout the month long exhibition. Her wallet chains are now available for $650 in python and $400.
Visit Katherine Fleming at The F Factory| Moore Building | 191 NE 40th St 2nd floor
PGM: You just launched your new bag line this spring. How did you get to be a part of the Limited Edition Experiences?
KF: The bag line is just a year and a half old and is sold at barneys. It is also in some international stores. I was asked by Greg Robins and Fendi to participate in the F Factory, and it was the perfect thing. I am also from Miami. I never had a store and this was a good opportunity for me to see my home town, and for me to think of everything.
PGM: What are your limited edition pieces?
KF: I had these bags from my first season collection that came out wrong because of the wrong materials used in them. They had the wrong leather but had python in them. Usually people would destroy their inventory, instead I held on to them and had to remake them. I had this great idea of having an artist paint something pretty on them, but I never found the right artist so I held on to them. When they asked me to do this, it was the perfect opportunity. In the meantime, my friend Naomi Fisher and Hernan Bas have this organization called the Bas Fisher Invitational which is right around the corner in the Design District. They recently won a grant by the Knight Foundation, and they have developed a challenge grant where they match dollar for dollar. We asked all of our friends to make something special on the bags, some of them are wearable and some are actual pieces of art. They are 17 original pieces and we are auctioning them off on eBay and all the proceeds will go to the Bas Fisher Invitational.
PGM: What is the price range?
KF: The ones that are wearable are starting at $1500 and the bigger pieces of art are at $2000 on eBay (that is the reserved price) Katherine Fleming on eBay
PGM: You are a native of Miami, yet you do not have your store here. Why?
KF: I would love to have a store here. The first stores we sold to was Barneys, Opening Ceremony and Barneys in the Coop. They do not have that in Miami yet. That’s unfortunate. I am dying to be in some other stores here, so hopefully while I am down here I can make that work.
PGM: Tell us a little about your background in design.
KF: I went to Parsons School of Design then I worked for the Gap, Club Monaco, and Tory Burch for 5 years. After doing that I decided to start my own line. I really wanted to do something in Italy and I have been working a lot in Asia for all those companies. I always dreamt of being in Italy and to form my own company.
PGM: You are a start up company. How has the economical climate affected your business?
KF: By the time I launched my first collection, the first season, the economy flopped. It has been very challenging but I have been trying to make it through. I just make beautiful things and stay in Italy and try to make more beautiful things. We are very lucky we are in a lot of stores. We are in Barneys, 10 Doors, Opening Ceremony, and internationally. We are at a lot if stores. People order in small amounts than they use to. We have been selling a lot to our friends and to our family and having some trunk shows. The first season I had a trunk show in Miami, I sold so many bags. Obviously, because of all our friends and family and my parent’s friends. I think this is going to be successful because my parents have been emailing everybody they know. Just how long is it going to last.
The young Katherine Fleming has returned home, and when not busy at her new pop-up shop in the F Factory in the Design District, she is relaxing in her mother’s backyard overlooking Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami. If she gets bored with that, she heads over to Joe’s Stone Crab or Prima Pasta.
For more on Katherine Fleming, please visit http://katherinefleming.com/