Our Philosophy
We have a passion to create something you are proud to carry. Artistry is at the heart of every design, every cut and every stitch. That is why every single bag is handmade by Duncan himself.
"Mastery of technique paired with a creative mind results in beautiful works of art"
The artistry that goes into every one of our pieces is pure passion and love for design. The way Duncan goes about the process of creating after getting inspired may seem chaotic to some. Brainstorming, sketches, folding shapes, frustration, euphoria, but that is what makes the process so exciting.
Followed by countless prototypes the final design is never truly finished. As we believe in a simple philosophy, we will always find ways to continuously improve.
The beautiful thing about a handmade piece is that it has a certain feeling attached to it that's unique to the piece. You can tell a true artist worked on it by the way it has true character.
With meticulous craftsmanship and a combination of traditional and modern techniques, a bag by Duncan Maxwell is truly a dream to touch and love.
"Capturing a place, feeling or memory is part of artistic expression"
Fashion design is an incredible medium of artistic expression. A bag has shape, color, texture, movement, scent, and many more aspects that tie it together in a piece that complements itself with balance.
Our favorite moment is when we create a design that truly captures a moment or emotion. With this we mean a bag that conveys the flamboyance of historic royalty, or the tragically beautiful feeling of a black rose.
Also influenced by musical expression many of our designs feature different references to certain artists and movements.
A single silhouette can convey many different identities. The different rich colors and bold textures combine to make a bag that suits a specific statement.
"Nothing compares to the pinnacles of materials, leather"
Leather is one of the most sustainable, durable, and beautiful materials that is used in fashion. Our world is littered with plastics, and we don't want to contribute to the microplastic problem. That is why we are not fond of "vegan" leather, and don't work with it.
The beauty of real leather is the subtle inconsistencies and the natural patina it will accumulate over time. A fine piece of leather is like a fine piece of wood, with the right care it will gain an unmatched character with age.
We use only the highest grade Italian, French or American leather, that not only looks, but also feels lavish and luxurious. Processed by the most reputable and renowned tanneries in their respected countries.
Vegetable tanned leather, which most of our bag outers are made of, is a process of using leaves, tannins and other natural ingredients to cure the leather. Any chrome tanned leather we use is sourced from heavily regulated countries to ensure ethical practices.