Tiffany Fall 2011 Leather Collection arrives

Nadine Kam photos
Tiffany Leather Collection designers John Truex and Richard Lambertson were in town to introduce the Fall-Winter 2011 designs. They're shown with their classic TRT (Tiffany Reversible Tote, small) in Tiffany Blue/Silver. My first encounter with the leather collection came at the Junior League of Honolulu's "Sacs in the City" event in March, where a version of the Avenue shopper in Tiffany Blue was the subject of a bidding war at silent auction. That led me to the store, where I picked up TRT in pink/metallic.

Tiffany Leather Collection designers John Truex and Richard Lambertson were at the Waikiki boutique Aug. 17, and the Ala Moana Center store Aug. 18, with a Waikiki reception later that evening to introduce the full Fall-Winter 2011 collection.

The introduction of the new line was a great opportunity for the two designers to build a collection seemingly from scratch. In my interview with John and story that appeared in the paper Aug. 18, he noted that of course with a history like Tiffany's, dating to 1837, there is an iconic association with its diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, silver and fine jewelry. But, because they are first and foremost a jewelry company, they had few signatures when it came to leather.

That left the designers free to create, and create they did. The collection is vast, covering the gamut from small leather goods, to shoppers, evening bags, men's leather bags and wallets to serious handbags from exotic leathers.

The very first collection caught handbag lovers' attention, and they're well on their way to achieving icon status equal to some of the best known bags of the last century. An amazing job for a line that's been public for only a year.

Its creation was just as fast. John said it took six months from their start to delivering samples, and a year for the first pieces to arrive at the store. With a company as big as Tiffany, that amounts to moving a mountain, with everyone from supply management team to marketing and advertising departments moving in unison.

Tiffany photo
TRTs (Tiffany Reversible Totes) in fall colorways, including Pesto and Light Walnut. Love the green, as well as the Bordeaux (not pictured)! Not quite ready to jump into fall, though. It's the summer light!

Truex and Lambertson's work for evening.

I love all the leather goods details that read "Tiffany," from silver-tone hardware to Tiffany Blue stitching, as well as discreet logo hardware. (Note that I have boosted the contrast to show the blue, which makes the silver appear black.)

Tiffany Vivian soft clutches for fall.

Confections in Tiffany Blue, served at the open house.

After a while, with Tiffany on the brain, I noticed that the color of the Ilikai is quite close.