Bespoke by Ethan K

Whether it’s a classic clutch, a shopper, a briefcase or a structured

handbag, each Ethan K masterpiece is a perfect work of art – and you

can have yours exactly the way you want it. In fact, you are the only

one who can have a bag like yours because no two are the same.

That’s right: Each Ethan K bag is unique.

Born and raised in Singapore, 28-year-old Ethan Koh is a fourth-generation artisan. Beginning with his great grandfather, the family has specialized in exotic luxury skins since the early 1900s. Koh grew up with a crocodile tannery in his backyard. Heng Long International, his father’s company – which supplies skins to many of today’s leading luxury houses – was then situated at the back of the family’s home. From an early age, he was intrigued by the exotic leathers in the tannery and inspired by the tropical colors of his native land. 

Koh has earned a Bachelor of Fashion Management degree at the London College of Fashion and completed an internship with Diane Von Furstenberg before completing a course in bag making at Central St. Martin’s and interning with Hermès and Louis Vuitton. At 22, he launched his first bags in London.

Sounds simple. But when you hold his pieces

of perfection in your hands, you know it’s not.

Koh uses various natural skins – all grown on farms – Nile crocodile, ostrich, lizard, Louisiana alligator and python. Each is hand-rubbed and dyed in rich colors inspired by the natural world. To the extent possible as the designs dictate, the skins are left in large pieces to preserve their value.

From a frog with African jade on the eyes to a custom Buddha clasp for one of his customers, the hardware, designed by Koh, is solid brass, plated in 18k yellow gold, rose gold or palladium. Each is thoughtfully chosen for its meaning. The frog, for instance, represents good luck and prosperity.

Bespoke customers may choose the skin of their preference, the color from the season’s available selection, the style from one of his nine collections, the color of the lining from a selection and hardware from the Ethan K Wildlife Odyssey collection. Koh also has created a dream bag for a particular customer’s requirements, this service by appointment only.

The bags are beautiful from every angle, lined in complementary colors and often repeating the hardware inside the bag. The many options give Koh the ability to make each bag distinctive.

That, and the fact that he produces fewer than 1,000 pieces anuually.  

“Luxury has become so mass market,” Koh says. “Luxury for me is about a personal touch, embarking on a journey with a customer. There are so many women in the world who have everything in their closets, but they really want something special.”

To Koh, a handbag is a status symbol and can be that “something special.”

“A beautiful handbag is really something you cherish and feel you have a personal connection with,” Koh says.

Ethan K has a private salon in London, with additional locations in Seoul, Lagos, Kiev, Munich, Paris, Singapore and Moscow. The bags are available at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and Boston, and can be ordered through other Saks Fifth Avenue locations, including Biltmore Fashion Park, where he recently met with a select group of invited customers.

PHOTOS COURTESY ETHAN K