Crafting Timeless Elegance
HANDMADE BAGS MADE WITH ART
Meet BYRSAN, a brand that stands as a bridge between the past and the present. Our story is a journey of rediscovery, where we breathe new life into vintage handbags through the art of customization.
The Journey
In a world flooded with mass-produced accessories, the essence of finely crafted items from the past often remains hidden, overshadowed by the clamor of the present. Yet, there is a yearning for unique, meaningful iconic pieces that reflect both heritage and modernity.
At BYRSAN, we are your companions on this remarkable journey, where British tradition harmoniously converges with Spanish creativity. We respect the legacy of finely crafted items while embracing the sensibilities and diversity of the contemporary world.
Our Roadmap
Our roadmap is simple yet meaningful: we seek out vintage handbags, treasures that bear the mark of time. With skilled artisans and the stroke of a brush, we transform these heirlooms into one-of-a-kind masterpiece, adding a touch of modern artistry to their timeless charm.
The Collection
We invite you to explore our collection, where each vintage handbag is a canvas that tells a story. These handbags are not just accessories; they are a reflection of your appreciation for tradition and your commitment to responsible luxury.
By choosing BYRSAN, you avoid the disappointment of generic, mass-produced fashion. Our handbags are unique, embodying the heritage of the past and the promise of the future.
The Artistry
With a BYRSAN handbag in your possession, you carry a unique piece of history infused with contemporary artistry. It is a symbol of your values – quality, sustainability, and responsible luxury. True luxury is not just about the item itself; it is about the stories it tells and the values it represents.
Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey where vintage charm and modern values intersect. Welcome to the world of BYRSAN, where we redefine heritage, one handbag at a time, and invite you to be part of this timeless narrative.
THE BRAND
BYRSAN is a creative fusion of "By Raquel Santamaria" -founder and creative director- and it encapsulates the essence of our brand.
It also draws its inspiration from the archaic Greek word "byrsa" which means "leather". Our brand name pays homage to the legacy of leather, evoking a sense of tradition and quality that has endured through the ages.
Raquel Santamaría
In the midst of a fast-paced world overloaded with fast fashion and fleeting trends, there is a haven — a place that is changing the very definition of luxury.
This is the story of BYRSAN, a brand born out of a rich tapestry of experiences, family heritage, and a passion that goes beyond the ordinary to create a symphony of exclusivity, sustainability, and art.
Meet the Spanish creator, Raquel Santamaría, a passionate soul whose roots trace back to a century-old family of shoe artisans in Spain. From the early days, leather and fabrics whispered stories to her, stories that led her on a very personal journey. She was also inspired by the timeless elegance and vintage treasures she discovered in the well-traveled trunks of a great-grandmother's steamship voyages to the family-owned garment factory in Latin America. Each of these outfits and accessories tell stories that live in different time frames, as Raquel also wore them to parties and dinners, and the magic found in those trunks inspired her unconditional love of vintage fashion.
Her youthful admiration for the quality woven into vintage fashion evolved into a personal mission. A pivotal moment occurred in the bustling depths of the London Underground. Surrounded by the monotony of identical handbags from a well-known luxury brand, she questioned the very definition of luxury. “Shouldn't true luxury embrace uniqueness? And what about the luxury of time, absent in the hurried queues of traditional luxury shops?”
Raquel’s global exposure gained from working in the art industry, which included curating exhibitions, attending international art fairs, and managing galleries in Madrid and Shanghai, broadened her perspective. Understanding the diverse needs of clients around the world, she envisioned transforming fashion into a new art form that preserved each piece's unique essence.
Thus, BYRSAN was born, a tribute to the fusion of sustainability, artistry, and the revival of forgotten treasures rebelling against the rapid obsolescence of conventional fashion. Each piece, a relic of a previous decade, is carefully adapted to current trends, transforming into a one-of-a-kind creation while adhering to the values of sustainability and a circular economy.
Raquel, as the curator, meticulously blends artistic vision with an aesthetic sense of fashion, ensuring each bag is treated with the reverence bestowed upon a gallery sculpture. This is more than a brand; it is a narrative, a dialogue between exclusivity, elegance, sustainability, and art.
BYRSAN is a symphony of stories, a commitment to providing something extraordinary in a world accustomed to uniformity. With each bag, a chapter unfolds, weaving you into the fabric of her passion and vision.