According to Sarah Jessica Parker, the next huge accessories designer isn’t in Paris, New York, or Milan, however on Etsy. Her name is Maria Gabriela Duque and her cactus leather convertible Emma Bag just won the 2023 Etsy Design Award Grand Prize. Choosing a single piece from thousands of entries was no little accomplishment, however in a sea of artisanal accessories, Duque’s bag stood apart to Parker.
” I tend to approach vintage, which is why someone like Maria is interesting,” she solely informs InStyle. “The style is innovative. It does not look like other things.”
Duque’s piece– which can be worn as a belt, crossbody, or top-handle bag– strike every box on her personal devices checklist. Parker likewise included that she does not like to see “a lot of things” on bags. “Maria’s bag is truly tidy.
As a former electrical engineer turned independent fashion designer, Duque blends technical expertise with innovative vision and sustainability. According to Parker, it was this distinct technique that assisted Duque cinch the $25,000 Grand Prize.
” The technical parts that make a bag practical are extremely crucial. She does every single thing herself, which is a substantial undertaking. The method she works, what’s important to her, the renters of sustainability– it’s compelling.”
Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson, who judged this year’s Etsy Design Awards along with Parker, concurs completely. “What I enjoy most about this bag is how versatile it is,” she informs InStyle. “From wearing it with the chain as a crossbody for a night out, converting it into a belt bag to dress up your denims, or perhaps simply using it on your wrist, this bag has endless options.”
Like Parker, Johnson likewise valued that sustainability was front of mind for Duque. “Vegan leather is certainly the direction fashion is moving into [and] what I appreciate so much about Maria Gabriela Duque’s technique to her work is she’s ensuring her consumers understand the whole lifecycle of her pieces, which is a trend that never goes out of design.”
Throughout her education and career in engineering, style has actually never been far from Duque’s mind. Fast-forward to today and Duque is still making practical, lovely pieces by hand.
In the case of the Emma Bag, Duque wanted to create something unconventional. “I discovered an old wooden bracelet of mine that was a crucial element to release the style,” she states. Other important elements consisted of sustainable products and visual recommendations to the natural world.
Duque was able to buy simply a few backyards of cactus leather in a shade of green that satisfied her requirements, but still wasn’t quite pleased. It was one of the things that took the longest to define,” she shares. Even so, it only took 2 models, built in about a week, before Duque had the final Emma Bag in her hands.
Even after sending to the Etsy Design Awards, Duque states she “never imagined” she would win. Being an immigrant, a single mother, and a little service owner has actually not been easy,” the designer says.
The plight of small company owners who not just market and sell, however handcraft their items by hand, is something the Etsy Design Award looks for to minimize by highlighting the very best that Etsy’s artisans need to use. The strength of these creators was something that resonated with Parker.
” As a company owner, it’s just truly difficult. It’s actually hard every single day and I have a decent quantity of facilities,” she states. “I was so amazed at the number of talented people are creating organizations by themselves. One of the best parts of this whole experience was discovering special and skilled, innovative people creating companies that are particular and inspired.”
