Instead of paying retail prices for luxury handbags, some New Yorkers are heading to a 36th Street studio to build their own from scratch over glasses of wine. At Anthony Luciano‘s Sip & Stitch workshop, attendees with zero prior experience learn to construct custom leather bags from beginning to end.
The experience is a full design and construction process, rather than simply decorating a pre-made item. Participants start by sorting through materials to select their preferred leather, with options ranging from brightly colored finishes to textured prints like leopard and ostrich. After choosing their hardware, attendees move into production. The hands-on work involves cutting the material from stencils, hammering seams, and utilizing heavy-duty studio sewing machines to piece the leather together into a functional accessory.
From Global Boutiques to Hands-On Classes
Luciano has operated his own custom handbag business for the past 26 years out of his Garment District workspace. For years, he designed and sold his own collections to major retailers including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, as well as specialty boutiques around the world. The interactive workshops started as a smaller project but quickly exploded into a completely new business model that transformed the daily use of his studio.
Throughout the multi-hour building process, the studio provides bottomless wine and cocktails, alongside a large spread of charcuterie, cheeses, and snacks. The relaxed environment encourages participants to socialize while tackling the technical steps of bag making.
The Sip & Stitch workshops currently run three to four times a week at 347 W 36th St. Each session is tailored to a specific bag design, meaning attendees must pick the style they want to build and register for that particular class. By the end of the evening, participants walk out with a fully assembled, custom leather handbag they constructed themselves.