Back to the Bags
January 17th, 2006So I’ve gone back to the freelancing job I had for about three years after having quit from exhaustion.
I hand-paint monograms on luggage and handbags.
Oh Yes.
I also paint stripes. And custom insignias.
You see, I work for an old French luxury brand called G—-d. “luxury brand” means when you look at a flimsy, coated-canvas tote, you say, “Jesus Christ, that costs $785!”
Yes. Yes it does.
Here’s what $785 looks like (minus my standard model, Yumi)…
They also make very cool old-fashioned steamer trunks ($4000). You see, the stripes and the monograms are a continuation of the tradition of personalizing your trunks for your trans-Atlantic voyage, the better to claim your stuff at the end of the trip. Makes sense right?…sort of?
It’s glorified sweat-shop work, but I like its mind-numbyness.
As a side note, I decided to write this post because the guy below me keeps banging on the ceiling for me to stop making noise in my living-room/studio and I’m scared of him.
January 18th, 2006 at 9:16 am
How much *with* Yumi? And I’d like Yumi monogrammed. And striped.
January 19th, 2006 at 1:11 am
What a sacreligiously-named old french luxury brand.
January 19th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
I think your experience with this job/product is an example of the old maxim, “Don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” You were a little obsessed with this thing while you were first doing it. And then, despite the deep-seated hatred you developed for the job, you became even *more* obsessed with it when you stopped. While I was initially concerned for your sanity when you decided to take it up again, as a fellow monogrammer I am glad to have you back.
January 20th, 2006 at 2:06 am
A friend just told me about a job he had painting hand-tooled leather belts. It was similar to G-d in that it was a bunch of artists who did it, and it was for a high-end department store. He quit when his boss hit him with one of the belts. so, they may be psycho over there at B-y’s, but not that psycho.
At least the purchasers of luxury brand hand painted items are keeping c artists employed with their ridiculous purchases.
January 26th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Look, M–h, I checked your blog!
I’m commenting more on the x–y format than the G–d b–gs from B–y. I feel like i’m reading an old english novel and I kind of like that.
By the way, shift-alt-dash doesn’t seem to work on my computer. What the f–k?
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:51 am
Hi, I was wondering what kind of paint you use to paint the monograms on the luggage? I have a local artist who is going to monogram my Vuitton luggage but we dont know what type of paint to use. Can you PLEASE help me. Send reply to: brookeevans1@comcast.net. Thank You, Thank You… Brooke Evans.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hi,
Am inquiring about the custom work you do on luggage. Cost, where you are, etc. I am in Los Angeles and want to have some Vuitton bags done with stripes and initials…. even though they only really did the hard sided luggage.
Any info would be great…. even the type of paint you use.
much peace,
jeff