We’ve been following the beautiful Russian-born Katya Komarova and her eponymous handbag label since the days of its inception back in Adelaide in 2014, and we’ve been loving it since then too. The brand has come far in the past seven years, and in 2021 Katya Komarova was invited to showcase at the one and only Afterpay Australian Fashion Week alongside other top brands in the AU scene.
The latest collection focuses on clean lines, boxy styles and a mix of sustainably-sourced, tanned leathers and soft but sturdy felts. Thick chains and fabric straps add some sartorial accents to the pieces, with plenty of mini pouch and phone case-style bags to tie into contemporary trends.
All Katya Komarova pieces are quite customisable, from the colour of the leather to the style of strap you use, with additional bag accessories able to be purchased and interchanged with the base pieces. Our favourite pairing from the range would have to be the Leather Mini Purse with the Major Chain Handle attached, creating a super fun contrast between the mini bag and the chunky chain.
Though the brand has evolved greatly since the beautiful En Pointe collection launch we attended in 2015, some things remain the same; namely, the passion for creating ethical and sustainable wares. Limited quantities are handmade of each design, not just meaning that a Katya Komarova piece is unique, but also that there’s no wasted stock. All handbags are made from natural materials and crafted using a stitch-free design, meaning the leather can be reused if need be. Even the locally-sourced leather is vegetable tanned using bark, wood, roots, leaves and fruit, which is the most natural process to achieve these beautifully coloured leathers.
You can shop Katya Komarova at its online store. For more info on the Australian Fashion Week showing, check out our Reel on the showcase here.
