Y.S Atelier creates miniature worlds in handbags
Y.S Atelier is the namesake workshop of Yue Shi, a Sydney, Australia-based luxury handbag designer creating sculptural bags that double as art pieces.
What happens when you merge a background in digital design software with a love for travel and architecture? From the Roman Colosseum, to the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel, to striking bright green and blue dragons carved into purses, luxury handbag designer Yue Shi’s creations are unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Yue’s introduction into fashion design wasn’t a typical path either. His story began as an art student focusing on sculpture in the U.S, with a background in digital computer software. When his wife started a leathercraft class in 2015, it sparked the idea of what he could create himself with this new medium.
Yue coupled leathercraft with his eye for design and digital skills to create the initial design templates.
“I used my background in digital computer software, [and] design software, to create a template and my own aesthetics to get started.”
The workshop opened in 2018 and his elaborate handbag designs have been evolving ever since.
To design Y.S Atelier handbags, Yue focuses on self-expression and personal inspiration rather than trends. He sticks to his values and interests in form, structure, and visual appeal.
“I don’t have to be like, “Oh, I have to come up with something this season. Or this is a trendy colour now. Because I like patent leather, but it’s not really that in fashion now.”
With this in mind, clients can be sure to get a unique luxury handbag that stands out. Like enduring sculptures, these bags could easily become luxury heirloom pieces in your wardrobe.
A passion for architecture also shows up in his handbags, from a purse inspired by the iconic New York Flatiron building, to the Mini Temple Bag, influenced by a trip to Japan.
Yue’s background in sculpture, architecture, and digital design shines through in every creation, and each bag feels like a little world unto itself.
As far as picturing who will wear the unique handbags, he lets his clients tap into their own style. Each purse is already such a statement that it can be styled in any way – from minimal to total maximalist.
“I feel like there are so many ways to interpret a bag, and they can be carried in many ways. By whoever; their lives, their style can be different, so I don’t have that in mind when I’m illustrating. I think it’s up to the customer, or the person who’s carrying it. They can express themselves.” -Yue Shi
To that note, Yue creates bespoke handbags in addition to his original designs in his atelier. Handbags are made from the highest quality materials, with Yue regularly visiting Milan material expos to source leather from Italy. Each bag is handcrafted in-studio, and can take anywhere from 18 hours to an entire week to design and make, depending on its intricacy.
Yue appreciates the quality and originality that he can maintain with bespoke orders. “I didn’t want to be mass produced, [to make] everything simple, just to get the profit margin up. So that wasn’t what I was looking for.” With original designs, the highest quality materials, and artisanal craftsmanship, each bag is truly a luxury item.
So many designer handbags on the market rely heavily on logos, but with a Y.S Atelier bag, you’re getting pure artistry. These bags are statement pieces that will elevate an outfit and make it truly stand out.
Yue Shi creates the handbags in his atelier in Sydney, Australia, and has recently expanded into designing elevated home goods; think tissue box covers disguised as a sandstone highrise, and a bespoke pebble grain leather chair in azure blue. To get in touch with Y.S Atelier, and to place an order on a bespoke luxury handbag or homeware piece, visit his website, and follow and reach out to @ys.atelier on Instagram.
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Love his design! So original
Yes! I haven’t seen anything quite like these bags – they’re incredible.