The inspiration for Artillerie’s lingerie bags

The vision behind Artillerie is pretty simple, really: I wanted a designer hand bag that would keep my most personal belongings safe, clean and precious, that was pretty and well-designed. But I couldn’t find such a bag, online or off.

This need struck me especially when traveling through airports. I often saw women’s accessories being handled by security personnel and/or visible to passersby, which I find to be not only embarrassing and unsanitary but generally unseemly for a lady. I wanted to find a way to match elegance with practicality.

So, armed with my sewing machine and an old silk shirt, I came up with a general design for a bag that I then developed into the Artillerie “Original” style bag. For those who instead of having multiple zipped compartments prefer larger single compartments, I designed the pouch collection.  And then, inspired by the personal collection of Babette, a personal icon, and a lady who has lived “the fabulous life” (traveling in style through France, Switzerland and numerous Mediterranean locations since the 1960s), I designed the Babette series (the Babette is perfect, by the way, if you’re looking for bridal shower gift ideas!).

What I love most about Artillerie bags are the secret compartments hidden inside the linings of many bags, along with the water-resistant lining option on many bags. The secret compartments really are secret, making them the perfect place to keep something special hidden away.  Aside from being a way to discreetly transport items you don’t want a travel companion to see, they come in handy in keeping jewelry or extra cash out of eye’s view.  And the optional water-resistant linings make the bags surprisingly versatile (one friend in Los Angeles told me she actually uses it as a diaper bag!). The smaller ones—the clutches—double beautifully as evening bags.

I can’t talk about Artillerie’s inspiration without making some mention of my aunts in Italy. During summer visits, they gave me gifts of fine lingerie, almost like a dowry, and instilled in me an appreciation for romantic elegance. That European aesthetic is at the heart of the Artillerie line!