This new startup let me design my own $1,000 luxury handbag from scratch
The place is packed with giant swaths of leather, sewing machines, spools of thread, and dozens of handbags perched on every possible surface. It feels more like a fashion house than a tech startup, and maybe it is.
But the fledgling company, which makes handmade bags you can design entirely yourself, is combining the worlds of high-end fashion and technology to create the first completely customizable luxury brand.
1 Atelier was founded by Stephanie Sarka and Frank Zambrelli - both veterans of Coach - and Anthony Luciano, the company's master craftsman. All three have worked in the fashion or tech worlds, and joined forces last year to start their own business. The company has been in beta since October 2015, but launches to the public on Wednesday.
I got to check out 1 Atelier's offices and design my own bag, start to finish. Here's what it was like.