In the new kARTu accessory collection “Growth” – deeper explorations of sustainable fashion and the joy of slow growth come to life. kARTu studio presents a handbag collection that invites you to enjoy gradual progress and learn from nature’s cyclical rhythms. The collection draws inspiration from the life cycle of a plant, reflecting the transformations of its forms. The vital energy of nature bubbles beneath the surface, in unseen processes like seed formation, sprouting, and budding. As summer peaks, we revel in its colors and the intoxicating beauty of blooming, but a flower is just a fleeting part of a plant’s journey – an impressive finale that offers only momentary satisfaction. Do you notice the resemblance to the people chasing short-lived beauty?
In this new collection, we witness the entire plant’s journey from sowing to maturity: the kARTu Studio shelves will feature the “Grain” handbag, the “Burgeon” backpack, and the mini handbag “Bloom”. These three unique models reflect the plant’s transformation, reminding us that we cannot expect ourselves to bloom all year round.
Until now, each model in kARTu’s “taste kitchen” has been named after a distinctive plant: from Lithuanian garden herbs to gourmet Eastern spices.
“We allow ourselves to change organically,” says kARTu’s creative director Ingrida Jasinskė, explaining that this collection reflects on the brand’s ten-year progress, contemplating past achievements while embracing a new phase.
Nature’s cycles are processes of constant renewal, self-replenishment, and timely transformations. “It’s unfortunate that the fashion world often operates in the opposite way,” says the head of the fashion house. “Rapidly changing trends encourage consumers to buy more and more, while throwaway purchases are often forgotten.” According to her, this collection aims to mimic ecosystem processes, where everything is interconnected: “In nature, everything moves in cycles, replenishing only when necessary and changing in ways that benefit the species. In our new designs, we strive to embody that same functionality,” says Ingrida Jasinskė.
According to the creators, the collection embodies the idea of cyclicality through both the names of the models and the materials chosen. Creating a circular design collection required consideration not only of aesthetics but also of sustainability, which encompasses environmental, social, and economic responsibility. These handmade accessories are part of the “Design Wings” project, funded by the Lithuanian Council of Culture. During this project, the kARTu studio team collaborated with product designer Viktorija Stundytė and her mentor, fashion designer and costume artist Jolanta Rimkutė. In search of solutions to create eco-friendly models, various plant-based leather alternatives were explored. However, these materials did not meet sustainability criteria in later stages of the product chain: composting would take too long, and because of the plastic in the bonding materials, vegan leather couldn’t be incinerated, according to the kARTu studio team.
The new handbags are crafted using natural Italian leather remnants from large manufacturing companies, making the collection highly limited edition. For the color palette of the “Growth” accessory collection, natural tones were chosen: dark earth, soil, wild grasses, and warm sand shades. According to project designer Viktorija Stundytė, one of the greatest advantages of animal-derived leather is that it can be repaired, restored, and recycled, thereby extending the lifespan of a handbag or backpack. “Sustainability must also become a shift in consumer thinking,” emphasizes Ingrida Jasinskė when discussing today’s fashion challenges.
The kARTu range has also been enriched with a new addition – the “Chatelaine” small accessories set, inspired by the functional accessories of 19th-century housekeepers. The set includes essential items for today’s carry needs: a keychain, a cardholder, a coin purse, and a decorative leather tassel.
The “Growth” collection is filled with the power of naturalness and positive symbolism. The sleek, legume-inspired “Grain” handbag symbolizes a starting point, a hidden desire, and the effort for future transformations. The spacious “Burgeon” backpack, carrying potential and creative energy, will energize style creators in nurturing new ideas. The mini “Bloom” handbag embodies the shortest yet most joyous stage of a flower’s growth, designed to radiate beauty and fragrance while captivating with its ephemeral delicacy.