A Different Kind of Clutch: Kim White makes handbags from old car interior fabrics
Kim White Special Edition Handbag - Click above for high-res image gallery
The annals of automotive history are full of great interior fabrics, especially from American automakers during the 1970s and early '80s. While our tastes in seating surfaces may have changed over the years, those colorful prints and durable fabrics still have lots of life left in them – at least according to Kim White, who offers a full line of handbags sewn up from vintage automotive fabrics starting from $95.
According to White, these handbags "have a widespread appeal, from trendy teens to stylish grandmothers and every woman in between," and they certainly good to our eyes, especially the killer Camaro Special Edition ($225 incl. tax and shipping to Continental U.S.). Concerned that a slew of bums have quite literally ridden around on your brand new handbag for the last few decades? Fret not. Says the company's website:
Kim White uses dead stock never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans. She fortuitously unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles.There you have it. Not only are these handbags assembled right here in the US of A using all-new textiles, Kim White Handbags is apparently the only place in the world where you'll find them. Check out our gallery below for samples.
Gallery: Kim White Handbags
[Source: Kim White Handbags via vLane]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bob-omb 11:04AM (6/25/2009)
That Camaro bag is kind of awesome. I want my couch upholstered in that stuff!
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TyWright 5:20PM (6/25/2009)
This rules. I hope she's pushing it hard with PR.
Randy 8:56PM (6/25/2009)
That's pretty cool to reuse interiors... During the holidays I saw some license plate and car fender handbags on a site... Let me look..
Here it is..
License Plate Handbags
http://www.greenandmore.com/handbags.html
DJ 11:07AM (6/25/2009)
Just hope she doesn't offer handbags made from the old seat leather or fabric of Brittany Spears or Lindsay Lohan's cars.......
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Harrison 7:36PM (6/25/2009)
Reading. It helps.
cfsporn 11:17AM (6/25/2009)
That would be awesome if any of the chicks I know liked cars!
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AZZO45b 11:24AM (6/25/2009)
"Chicks" are not into European 18-wheeler trucks, yet they love their FREITAG bags (& other stuff...) Plus Kim White sounds like a "chick".
For the AB folks who are not familiar with FREITAG...
http://www.freitag.ch/shop/FREITAG/page/frontpage/detail.jsf
Charles Sporn 11:30AM (6/25/2009)
Sorry. It was supposed to be a joke. (I am not into 18 wheelers myself)
dukeisduke 11:35AM (6/25/2009)
Great. Now she's got the supply of NOS fabric locked up. I'd rather see that fabric available to people restoring cars.
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rsg115 11:37AM (6/25/2009)
I would rather those fabrics be stored again and used for future restoration projects myself. I am pretty sure this is one fashion fad we could live without. Living without a newly mint IROC-Z in 20 years, I don't think so. However, my fiancee would love the Camaro bag.
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Miss Jane 11:59AM (6/25/2009)
I would like to get myself some of this collection. Sounds pretty neat and looks chic!
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tuna 11:59AM (6/25/2009)
Adds meaning to "cash for clunkers".
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Joe K. 12:10PM (6/25/2009)
Does the Camaro bag come with matching arm bangles and a lifetime supply of Aquanet?
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FThorn 12:10PM (6/25/2009)
I hope they test those for VD remnants. At least black (UV) light them.
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Kattleox 12:15PM (6/25/2009)
I just puked a little when I thought of what they would look like with the GTI's plaid seats. *shiver*
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Lindsey 12:24PM (6/25/2009)
As a chick who loves cars and handbags, I prefer my Harvey's Seatbelt Bags - but some of those are pretty cool. Most are a little old and funky for my taste, though.
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Merritt Johnson 12:55PM (6/25/2009)
I too am all about Harvey's Seatbelt Bags. They have many styles and great prices too. The Kim White bags cost a fair amount. One place you can find them is at the Petersen Automotive Museum gift shop. I might just have to pick one up if I decided to get a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro come spring time.
Al in Texas 2:49PM (6/29/2009)
If only I carried a man purse.
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