While earning her BFA in Fiber Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2003, Claire Sanchez moved away from her background in sculpture and fine art, and began creating a line of functional, artistic objects. Using her knowledge of textiles and her skills in surface design, Claire started embellishing everyday objects such as silk lampshades and pillows, and elevated everyday household accessories to functional works of art. Claire continued to become more interested in the "art of the object", and exploring the connection we have with the things around us.

While creating a line of hand-embellished accessories, she perfected a method of applying copper leaf to fabric, which is now her signature mark as seen in the Precious Metals Collection. Handbags eventually became Claire's primary canvas, after seeing her first line flourish in Savannah, Georgia. She then returned to her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and formed her company, Claire Sanchez Studios, Llc.

Claire now devotes her time to developing her handbag collections, which are made up of three distinct lines. The collections include an array of graphic cotton prints, vintage textiles, and hand-embellished silks.

In her first line, the bold cotton prints and colorful linings combine to create modern, functional handbags and totes that are available in an endless assortment of patterns and colors. They are easily interchanged to compliment any mood or style and there are two lines available every year, one in the spring and one in fall.

The handbags and totes of the Limited Edition Vintage Collection are created from genuine vintage fabrics found at estate sales, auctions and thrift stores. Because the quantities of these fabrics are limited, these handbags are continually changing. After customers purchase a bag, they may never see another like theirs.

The silk dupioni bags of the Precious Metals Collection, Claire's signature line, are copper leafed by hand using a heat transfer process developed by Claire. Claire and her assistant individually embellish each Precious Metals handbag at Claire Sanchez Studios making each one more unique. In February of 2005, Claire's Precious Metals no. 1, green handbag was chosen and included in the presenter's gift bags for the 2005 Screen Actor's Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

Claire's work has been featured in Country Living (April 2004), Jet bunny (May 2004), local magazines, and can also be seen in the April 2005 issue of Vogue. She currently takes orders online and at her studio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Claire's handbags can also be found in retailers across the country. Prices range from $60.00 to $85.00. Please visit the company website at www.clairesanchez.com for more information, a complete list of retailers, and to view the current collection of Claire Sanchez handbags and totes.