Martine

Martine Satchels is a leather accessory line created to make something special for you. They are handmade in Portland Oregon by designer sarah atkins. every Piece is individual like the people that wear them.
So there have been many things happening in the Martine shop this year. To catch up first and foremost we moved from a very quaint and rustic shed (which was awesome!) into a real working shop with a retail front.  If you live in the Portland Oregon area, we are located at 2716 SE 23rd Ave @ Clinton St. and are happy to give tours or meet for custom orders.  martinesatchels@gmail.com for appointments.   Secondly the first Martine lookbook and editorial photo shoot took place in March.  Photos to be published shortly.  The shoot was at the beautiful School House Electric, a fine vintage and remade item store located in the NW industrial part of Portland.  We were lucky enough to shoot on the 4th floor of this amazing building. Big thanks to Brian Faherty (owner) who opened up the space for our crew.   Christine Taylor of Happy Playground was the photographer and put together not only the great location, but a great group including the beautiful Sarah Schroeder who modeled, Danielle Delceppo on makeup and wall paper design that you see in the background, Dawn Sharp clothing, Laura Kinsinger and Aaron Montaigne on wardrobe and photography assistance.  Another big thanks to Ritche Young and Seth Mankoski for production assistance.  The whole thing could not have happened without all of these wonderful people there.  

So there have been many things happening in the Martine shop this year.

To catch up first and foremost we moved from a very quaint and rustic shed (which was awesome!) into a real working shop with a retail front.  If you live in the Portland Oregon area, we are located at 2716 SE 23rd Ave @ Clinton St. and are happy to give tours or meet for custom orders.  martinesatchels@gmail.com for appointments.  

Secondly the first Martine lookbook and editorial photo shoot took place in March.  Photos to be published shortly.  The shoot was at the beautiful School House Electric, a fine vintage and remade item store located in the NW industrial part of Portland.  We were lucky enough to shoot on the 4th floor of this amazing building. Big thanks to Brian Faherty (owner) who opened up the space for our crew.  

Christine Taylor of Happy Playground was the photographer and put together not only the great location, but a great group including the beautiful Sarah Schroeder who modeled, Danielle Delceppo on makeup and wall paper design that you see in the background, Dawn Sharp clothing, Laura Kinsinger and Aaron Montaigne on wardrobe and photography assistance.  Another big thanks to Ritche Young and Seth Mankoski for production assistance.  The whole thing could not have happened without all of these wonderful people there.  

Oh wow it is already November.  But what a beautiful fall it has been in the Pacific Northwest.  At the Martine shop, some changes to the design and look of the bags have been happening.  Web site work has also been in the works, super excited to show all of the line!  Here is a a piece I really love, the Anna Clutch.

Oh wow it is already November.  But what a beautiful fall it has been in the Pacific Northwest.  At the Martine shop, some changes to the design and look of the bags have been happening.  Web site work has also been in the works, super excited to show all of the line!  Here is a a piece I really love, the Anna Clutch.

Part of the Isaac Hers “Con el Sol” runway show, this model is also wearing the Minka Belt and Wallet made by Martine Satchels! 

Part of the Isaac Hers “Con el Sol” runway show, this model is also wearing the Minka Belt and Wallet made by Martine Satchels! 

Martine and Isaac Hers

Portland designer label Isaac Hers revealed the spring 2012 collection in a runway show last night.  Entitled “Con el Sol”  it evokes the feeling of being on the beach in Baja California.  With bright colors mixed with black, beautiful cut outs to flatter figures, and a combination of cloth and leather, this line was stunning.  Can I mention the Frida Kalho dress enough?  I have to have one for sure.

Among these beautiful clothes, Martine products and creations accessorized.  The Mileu Satchel was first, along with the Minka Belt and Wallet featured in the Fall Collection.

In the Spring Collection, we collaborated to make exclusive private label belts that were featured among many of the looks on the runway. 

All in all the show was a giant success and we were very, very proud to see Martine creations (whether under our label or not) displayed so wonderfully on the runway!

These little buddies are the newest from Martine.  The Birdie handbag is a medium sized round handbag.  It holds everything you need, but not bulky.  Simple, stylish and unique…these are one of a kind.  They are for sale at Radish Underground in downtown Portland Oregon, and will be available on the website soon!

These little buddies are the newest from Martine.  The Birdie handbag is a medium sized round handbag.  It holds everything you need, but not bulky.  Simple, stylish and unique…these are one of a kind.  They are for sale at Radish Underground in downtown Portland Oregon, and will be available on the website soon!

This commercial is awesome.

Martine turns 1 today!  The photo on the left is the first bag I ever made with leather.  The photo on the right shows a few bags ready for sale in Portland.

The idea of making a company a year ago was in dream stage, and I was a novice to leather work for sure.  I bought a couple of books on making bags, researched nightly on techniques, and purchased (sort of reluctantly because of price) a large hide of English Bridle leather..veg tanned. 

It was a bitch to work with, I’ll be honest.  My friend Eric used his band saw to cut a piece of cedar that I used to wet mold the leather into the shape it still is today.  I hand stitched every part of it.  It took me a week.  By the end I was so happy to pound in the copper rivets, I didn’t care if they were a bit uneven.  It was done, and I was ready to do a ton more.

And a ton I did.  I wrote a business plan.  I bought more leather.  I bought more tools.  I took classes.  I youtubed the shit out of youtube.  I got a grant to start up a small business.  I moved myself into a working shop.  I bought machinery with the grant.  I hired a graphic designer for the logo.  I asked my friends for help.  I had a professional photo shoot with my products.  I put Martine Satchels into retail stores in Portland.  

We are only a year old and so much has happened.

Happy Birthday Martine! 

The Martine shop at night

Bonnie Satchel

Bonnie Satchel

Tiny Happenings for Bigger Things

Ok,  This week has been a big one for Martine

So.  Deep Sigh..  Big Time

We had a photo shoot for the website (which will be awesome don’t you even worry) where we went out to a horse farm in Sandy, Oregon. 

For those that aren’t familiar with Sandy, I will just tell you that this is a place of dreams where sleepy volcanoes reside in the distance, lush trees filled with apple, pear and cherry grow all around.   It is green pastures and rolling hills with horses that hang out.  That’s right…they hang out.  They eat carrots from your hand, and love you for feeding carrots to them, from your hand. 

It is undeniably a perfect setting.  I was so lucky to have this happen.

Even better, my friends were there to do the shoot as well.  I am lucky.   I  have beautiful friends…seriously…they are beautiful.  Also, Kevin.  A friend that goes back to when we worked together agreed to shoot it for me.  He usually does film for National Geographic boats…I am seriously lucky. 

So we meet, we walk around, check light,  check horse. Models get model-y.  Kevin gets photog-y and I stand back to see what happens.

This is not the first time I have worked on a photo shoot, or a set, but it is the first time it was entirely my project, so I was a bit nervous.  Plus we had a live horse to include.

But there was nothing to be nervous about.  It went smoothly, more than smoothly.  The whole shoot just sort of unfolded into a bunch of people (stylish and attractive people) all hanging out at a horse farm in Sandy, with a horse, wearing my bags.  It was amazing.

And it worked out.