The Maasai, the proud warrior race of Africa, has long fascinated the world due to its exotic looks, strong identity and proud demeanour. And it is this fascination that has resulted in a whole new range of Hidesign bags called The Maasai Collection. Comprising handbags and wallets in tan, brown and the signature red of the Maasai, the earthy leather has a heavy grain that is further highlighted by hand colouring a two-tone effect. The brand’s owner-designer Dilip Kapur tells us more.
How did the collection come about?
Earlier this year, I visited Kenya for the launch of Hidesign there. Over the weekend, I flew to Maasai Mara, a place I was keen to visit, having been to Serengiti National Park (the Tanzanian part of the Mara) many years ago. I was inspired by the synergy of the Maasai with nature, their heritage in crafting beads, spears and hides. I wanted a collection that would be modern, yet reflect the elegance and grace of the Maasai people. It took us about six months to design the range and another two months to craft it.
How is this collection different from your other designs?
We developed a special veg-tanned leather which has a strong grain, that comes from having been shrunk and tumbled in a drum for hours. A tough leather with a natural glow, it had the
earthy look I wanted. We had a lot of fun, experimenting with brass, creating masks, spears and shields that were then used as part of the bag fittings. This collection is meant for the international woman, so I used very modern bag shapes and trends like detachable guitar straps with Maasai influences such as bead work and hand stitching leather string.
Is this the first time, other than the Disney collection, that a theme-based range has been launched by Hidesign?
No. Atelier, Nomad, Scandicci, East India collection are only a few theme-based ranges from the past couple of years. You might remember The Icon collection that was launched in 2014 as well. Though Hidesign is not trend-led, innovation and stories have always been an important part of Hidesign’s product conceptualisation.
How did the collaboration with blogger Joy Kinde, who is the face of this collection, come about?
I met Joy while I was in Kenya, and she was, in my eye, the modern Kenyan woman who was grounded in her culture but extremely modern in her outlook. As one of Africa’s best bloggers, her opinion on the collection was important to me while designing the collection.
She was also the ideal face for the collection.
The bags, truly, are one of a kind. Steering away from stereotypical interpretations of the tribe, the range contains contemporary shapes with subtle influences which make it more appealing. Starting from `2,495 onwards, it is now available at select Hidesign stores and at www.hidesign.com.