Independent labels crush: Elleme
By Vanessa Harris
I tend to be pretty indecisive, but over the years, I’ve learned to create situations that free me from overthinking or agonizing over obsessions with details. On putting looks and outfit side of things, there are days I love getting lost in the drama of self-expression, to escape in the theatre of makeup plus outfit combos. Other times, a spontaneous, split-second outfit choice feels just as powerful and effortless. To lighten your decision-making processes you only need an object that is small enough. A handbag that would only allow the room for your choices for the evening at a serious reduction level. It’s like an anchor that simplifies my choices and offers a sense of freedom from the pressure to decide.
For some time now, I’ve been spending longer summers in the Mediterranean, which has meant packing larger suitcases while ultimately narrowing down my choices to just one handbag on my packing list. My choice? The Elleme small dimple bag (mine is sky blue). This bag is the epitome of functional minimalism—designed to hold only the essentials: lipstick, wallet, and your keys. It’s not about flashy logos or trends that fade within months. Instead, it’s timeless and chic, free from awkward shapes or designs that quickly become outdated.
Elleme small Dimple bag model
The simple leather pleating details made me think of Marylin Monroe’s iconic white skirt, suspended between dream and reality, lifts up for an air shot over the drains of New York subway. That moment, has become synonymous with elegance, sensuality, and the timeless appeal of pleats. There's something flirtatious yet refined about pleating, a playful movement balanced by a sense of control.
What adds further depth to this bag are its artfully stitched top handles, reminiscent of the luxurious detailing on the gearshift of a finely crafted car, with contrasting stitches highlighting both its function and form. The juxtaposition of these two elements—pleated naiveté and the structured, precise stitching—creates a harmony of softness and sophistication.
In this sense, the bag flirts with surrealism, bringing to mind Lautréamont's famous line about the “chance meeting of a sewing machine and an umbrella on an operating table.” It exists as a fusion of unexpected elements, offering both practicality and a dreamlike quality, blending utility with art. Could it be considered a surreal object? Perhaps, in the way it transcends mere function to evoke a narrative of form and emotion.
Although Elleme brand is no longer entirely under-the-radar, it still maintains an air of exclusivity, positioning itself just outside the mainstream fashion spotlight. I like to think of it as relatively niche, carving its own path within the luxury accessories world. The brand’s founder, Jingjing Fan, is entirely self-taught, from sketching her designs to mastering the art of pattern making. It’s easy to imagine her in one of those Apartamento stories, sitting in her beige-toned Parisian apartment, sharing insights into her hands-on creative process, a journey shaped by personal intuition rather than formal training.
