One week a year, New York is all about fashion, fashion and oh, even more fashion. We are of course talking about the world-famous 'New York Fashion Week'. Designers from all over the world travel to the largest and most famous city in the United States to show off their new collections. But New York is also home to more leading fashion events such as The Independent Handbag Designer Awards. A competition that takes place for the thirteenth time this year and where Fraenck is nominated in the category Piñatex Best Green Handbag.

Every year, more than 1,500 known and unknown designers apply to win the coveted title of 'best handbag'. This year, there were even 2000 applications. From all these applications, only a few are nominated and get the chance to become the next 'it bag' designer.

The Independent Handbag Designer Awards

Fraenck besloot deze uitdaging aan te gaan. Als ontwerpers willen Pascal en Ratna zichzelf blijven uitdagen. Waar ze voor hun ontwerpen normaal inspiratie halen uit ‘uitersten’ zoals tribal tattoos of zeemeerminnen, wilden ze het deze keer anders doen. Voor het ontwerp voor de tas die ze uiteindelijk instuurde naar The Independent Handbag Designer Awards, maakten ze een ontwerp dat geïnspireerd door een meer trendy onderwerp. Iets wat anders is, maar toch een breed publiek aanspreekt . De handtas werd verrijkt met wat je normaal alleen in ‘oude’, ‘luxe’ huizen of kantoren ziet, namelijk marmer. Of laten we zeggen het marmereffect. Om de tas te krijgen zoals ze wilden is er geëxperimenteerd met verschillende kleuren, vormen en oppervlakten. Dit heeft geleid tot het pronkstuk waarvoor ze nu genomineerd zijn.

Fraenck decided to take up this challenge. As designers, Pascal and Ratna want to keep challenging themselves. Where they normally get inspiration for their designs from 'extremes' like tribal tattoos or mermaids, they wanted to do it differently this time. For the design of the bag that they finally submitted to The Independent Handbag Designer Awards, they made a design that was inspired by a more trendy subject. Something different, yet appealing to a wide audience. The handbag was enriched with what you normally only see in 'old', 'luxurious' houses or offices, namely marble. Or let's say the marble effect. To get the bag the way they wanted it, they experimented with different colours, shapes and surfaces. This has led to the showpiece for which they are now nominated.

Sustainable collectie

Fraenck strives to create the most sustainable collection possible. The marble collection, of which one can be admired at The Independent Handbag Awards, is one of Fraenck's most sustainable collections. Not only because the basis of the bag consists of upcycled artificial leather. Even the paint, which is used to achieve the marble effect, comes from a leftover batch.

Follow the liveblogs

On 12 June, the designers will compete with four other finalists for the coveted title. This nomination is the crowning glory of the design studio's work. Would you like to follow the adventures of Pascal and Ratna in New York? The designers will be in the Big Apple from 10 to 16 June. Keep an eye on the live updates from the designers on this blog! In the meantime, do you want to see the video pitch that Fraenck used to enter the competition? Watch it below: