FUNNY BUT WHEN ON THE ENGLISH KEYBOARD you type the letters VBH, WHY SOMETHING OUT THE JOYFUL RUSSIAN WORD “PEACE”. THERE IS IN THIS, SURELY, ANY SENSE OF SENSE, AND MAYBE BEEN, SIMPLY A MATCH. HOWEVER I HONESTLY SAY, VERNON BRUCE OF HOEXIM IS A MAN TENDING RIGHT TO CREATION, THAN TO DESTRUCTION, AND IT WILL NOW AGAINST "PEACE".
The abbreviation VBH, which became the name of its own label, is the first letters of the name of the designer who made another “revolution” in the world of luxury handbags and turned a single woman into a head.
Firstly, because he himself is a handsome man, and secondly, his work is qualitatively different from what is already on the market. Once he was the creative director of the English company Asprey, then for more than 15 years the art director of the Valentino House. But, apparently, he was bored with coming up with something for others, and Bruce decided to open his own company.
Bruce, please tell me what experience you gained while working in leading fashion houses, and why did your bags and accessories immediately attract the attention of fashionistas from all over the world?
Working at Valentino House has become my biggest school. There I gained an understanding of what “hot couture” is and what the concept of true luxury means. I am an architect by education with an additional degree in business. Having vast experience in the fashion world, at some point I decided to try my hand and start producing my own collections of handbags.
What is the difference between your bag design and everything that is already in fashion?
Initially, I did not see the point of doing what is already there. Probably, in my bags and clutches, the approach of the architect is felt - they are very concise forms. I pay great attention to every detail, every element of the design. As for the materials, I relied, firstly, on reptile skin, which has been very popular for several years, and secondly, on animal prints, which almost traditionally come into fashion in the fall. Simple smooth skin in my collections is not so much. As a rule, she performs in a duet with textured leather, or is used for unexpected decisions (for example, one of the models of smooth leather handbags is strewn with transparent crystals).
Another, and perhaps the main difference, is that I personally can make a bag from beginning to end. Manually! From sketch to finished product! It is in the modern world of fashion that only a few can. I thoroughly know the whole technological process, which is why I can immediately determine what misses were made during the manufacture of a product. And this means only one thing - all products of the VBH brand are not just high, but ideal in quality.
Is that why VBH bags have become the favorites of many Hollywood stars?
Most likely, that's why. Quality and individual approach are what attract women who do not want to be like others. They need accessories that emphasize their inner self. Today, VBH handbags are carried with pleasure by such stylish ladies as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani and many others.
And if a woman is not a celebrity or a star of world cinema, will she be able to afford a bag from VBH?
Of course (laughs), our bags and accessories don't stand like a private jet! Not at all. Today, I am pleased to present my products in the Harvey Nichols Gallery, also in major department stores in Europe and Asia. I offer ladies clutches for every taste and budget: Brera Cube collections, hard clutches Mail, Vault and Rhapsody, luxurious evening bags from the Manila and Origami rulers. However, if a woman wants to receive a handbag tailored to her individual order, then she must be ready for the “waiting list” and for a price that will be higher than the average for the VBH line.
How would you characterize the style that dominates the VBH collections? Where are they made?
The style of my collections as a whole can be characterized by a single word - “elegance”, with the note that this is elegance with a “twist”, elegance from VBH. The main specialization of VBH is luxury leather bags and clutches, women's accessories, as well as collections of jewelry and decorative items for the home. All leather products are manufactured in factories owned by my company in Florence.
Do you think the bag can tell about the status of a woman?
Yes, a bag is a unique accessory. He can tell a lot: the character, habits, status and even self-esteem of a woman. Today, bags have become an independent element of the fashion ensemble, and fortunately, they are not as susceptible to changing seasons as clothing collections. Therefore, even if a woman wears the most modest dress, her bag will help to understand a lot about her. And since VBH does not produce fashionable clothes, we can afford to design a wide variety of bags and accessories that do not go out of fashion for a long time and remain women's companions for different seasons. This qualitatively distinguishes VBH from other luxury brands.
What are your plans for the future?
My immediate goal is to start producing shoes that fit VBH bags. This is necessary, first of all, to our customers. They need the same quality, the same aesthetics as our bags. We are already working on the first shoe collection. In the more distant future, the release of one's own spirits. The only thing I’m unlikely to do is the production of fashionable clothes. I am satisfied with the niche that VBH has today. Better we will be the best and most demanded in the production of luxury accessories.
Thanks, Bruce. I wish your collections more new fans.
