Matthew Campbell Laurenza, a jewelry designer known for his red-carpet-ready gems has branched out with a line of handbags that are launching on GILT later this week. According to him, the departure was a natural one, “I noticed that there was a lack of jeweled bags which used natural precious and semi precious stones. As a jeweler, and a big proponent of buying real rather than costume, I jumped on the opportunity to expand my collections into fine handbags which use precious stones set in silver and overlaid onto exotic leathers.”
Laurenza couldn’t be more excited about his bags’ online debut, “Gilt offers an introduction to all ages and economic strata in a matter of a few days.” This collaboration marks only a handful of times that the website has joined forces with a designer to introduce pieces to their massive fashion-loving audience first. They’ll retail from $300 to $6,000 starting this Friday. His favorite of the gothic and art deco influenced group? The teal python number above, “I like the color and the way the jewels play off the snake skin.”
