Going Vintage: Kim White’s line of auto-inspired handbags

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We’ve long known that the fashion and automotive industries like to combine forces on occasion. Accessories such as the Tag Heuer sunglasses designed by F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen and the stunning Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti 370 watch are just a small sampling of sartorial tie-ins to all things vehicular. The expensive and exclusive collaborations are usually geared toward those already awash in riches. To that demographic, paying $200,000 for a Bugatti-sponsored watch after already gleefully handing over $1.5 million for a Bugatti Veyron is like us paying $10 for a Dodger Dog. It means whipping out the credit card yet again, but the purchase enhances the overall experience.

The whole richer-than-thou industry can be off-putting to those who simply enjoy and respect four-wheeled machines, which is why Kim White’s line of purses come across as refreshingly unique. White, a Los Angeles designer, uncovered a warehouse chock full of vintage automotive textiles and used them to create a beautiful, and relatively low-priced, accessories collection.

Each purse is tagged with a label noting the car and model year from which the fabric originates, great for the girls (or metros) who wish to have their favorite car memorialized in tote form. It’s little matter if you can’t tell the difference between a Ferrari and Forte though, the colorful patterns speak to the vintage resurgence that has emerged with the recession. As do the prices, which are below the $100 mark for the small handbags made from a 1980 Ford Mustang and max out at $225 for the special edition Camaro clutches. And, for once, we’re not talking about car parts.

Kim White’s designs can be found and purchased on her website.

-- Alison Lakin