Telfar Clemens developed the Telfar Bag to create fashionable, high-quality bags that were also environmentally friendly. Since then, his idea has grown into an internationally recognized brand that sells quality clothing and accessories to thousands of customers worldwide. Today, Telfar Bag has more than 80 international stockists, including some of the most popular retail stores in the world, such as Harrods and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, Joyce in Japan, L’Eclaireur in Paris, Goodhood in London, and UNIQLO in New York City.
1) What Is Telfar Bag
We live in a world where innovation and change are almost part of our daily routines. And you’re reading about one of those innovations—the Telfar purse. Launched seven years ago by designers Clemens Von Brecht and Lulu Powers, its design combined with functionality has made it what some are calling The Tesla of bags. And that kind of distinction comes from being good at two things: first, you have to be innovative; second, you have to make sure your product works for your audience on many levels.
The Telfar bag does both. As you read about it here, we hope you’ll see how brilliant an idea it was from inception! In terms of form, function, and ability to not only look great but to stand up to everyday use, it sets a new standard for other brands out there today. Here’s why. At first, I was hesitant to start a business because I thought business owners had massive egos or were arrogant people.
2) History of Telfar
Telfar Clemens, one of the founders of the company, has a long history with fabric. His father was a textile manufacturer in Germany, and after spending some time at school there. He came to New York to work as an apprentice for a family friend’s retail business. In 2014 he began selling handcrafted bags from his apartment before launching Telfar as a wholesale boutique based on industry out of downtown Manhattan in 2005. The rest, as they say, is history: Telfar launched its first ready-to-wear collection and opened its flagship store on Spring Street that same year and has been growing ever since. Its label represents luxury goods without compromising craftsmanship, and it shows. All of their pieces are handmade right here in New York City.
3) What Makes Telfar Special
For many people, though, there’s one thing that makes Telfar special. The company’s founder and namesake, Clemens. When working with Clemens on my recent profile of him for Fast Company. I found it easy to see why he and his bags have become so popular. He told me his story and why he decided to start making handbags in a language. I was a non-native English speaker—could easily understand.
And while we talked about design inspiration and craftsmanship for hours. There was never any pretense or arrogance. Every word was genuine. Every insight he gave had been built up over years of experience in the business. I make what people like, he said at one point. That’s all I can do. It is simple. Even after spending more than an hour talking with Clemens, I could feel myself yearning to hear more from him. So when he ended our interview by offering me a bag, I accepted without hesitation.
4) All About Production
Telfar’s bags are manufactured in various colors and materials, including cotton, waxed canvas, denim, leather, and more. The company has its factory where production starts with ordering fabric. That gets cut into individual shapes (i.e., laptop sleeve, purse) by industrial machines. It uses industrial sewing machines made for heavy-duty jobs like upholstery work. Each piece of fabric is hand-sewn onto another before it’s sewn to yet another piece of cloth. This creates a composite layer of material (which adds to durability).
These composite layers are then stitched together using industrial sewing machines for outerwear and sewists using industrial sewing machines for anything else. Which results in highly durable bags and products with an artisanal feel. The process lasts about three months from start to finish. And can vary depending on how many orders need to be filled or what type of order it is.
5) Who are Telfar’s Founders
If you’re unfamiliar with Telfar, then you’ve probably never attended an artsy rooftop party or struck up a conversation with an impeccably dressed person at an airport. The brand, which describes itself as ultra-modern yet timeless, has built its reputation on creating high-quality accessories for people. Who take pride in their appearance. The key to becoming so popular? According to founder Telfar Clemens, it’s not just about designing luxurious items; it’s also about creating objects that complement one another. And once they developed their first pair of shoes – women’s heels – things started to happen, as Clemens tells Fashionista, that led them to design more shoes and expand into bags. Then men’s items, wallets, and clothing.
6) Distribution Strategies about Telfar Bag
One of our goals at Telfar Global was to understand and capture as many distribution channels as possible. We’ve generated revenue from 3 different channels during Q4, 2014. This includes whole telfar bag sale to retailers, e-commerce websites, and online direct-to-consumer platforms. We have been careful not to restrict ourselves exclusively to one distribution channel. Because it has enabled us a competitive advantage by allowing us a much larger market reach than a company that focuses on just one specific medium. Although social media marketing will play an essential role in our marketing strategies going forward, having multiple distribution channels allows us to leverage opportunities when they arise without waiting for any single track to generate awareness.
The Purpose of Our E-Commerce Strategy. Selling directly through our website allows for higher margins since we don’t pay any intermediary fees or pass along cost increases due to rising costs in components. Being able to maintain these prices allows us to charge less for comparable goods sold elsewhere. While still maintaining decent profit margins.
7) The Inspiration Behind Telfar Clemens’ Handbag Collection
Before starting a company, founders need to put a lot of thought into how they will make a living once their startup takes off. However, the route Clemens took was unusual. He decided to create an exclusive handbag collection that catered exclusively to women from Brazil and became one of Brazil’s most sought-after accessory designers. I think our approach towards design makes us different from other brands, says co-founder João Luiz Santos. We don’t try to overthink things or complicate our plans. Instead, we look at them as we would wear them ourselves and optimize on them. And if it doesn’t work for real life, well, you know you have to change something.
8) Where Can I Buy Them
Keep in mind that you won’t have any options when purchasing a Telfar bag. Unless it has become widely popular in your area since these bags are still being made by hand if you live in one of these cities. So hit up their website to find out when they’ll be at an event near you. This month, for example, they are doing pop-ups in New York City and Chicago. But if you don’t live in either city, the chances are good if there isn’t a retailer nearby offering them yet.
One way to ensure that doesn’t happen is to ask local retailers who carry them to carry more items from their line. This may end up increasing interest among others across town. And even if you can’t see yourself spending $400 on a purse right now. Please do yourself a favor and learn how it creates. The story behind its creation will make anyone want one!
9) Why Are They So Expensive
That’s a good question, and in part, it comes down to craftsmanship. A lot of handwork goes into each bag. For instance, their signature tote bags are cut by hand from one piece of leather. An artisanal technique called single-needle saddle stitching that requires about 10 hours per bag. Furthermore, they only use premium Italian leather; no synthetics are used in any of their products (including their iconic jeans). Each bag is handmade in Italy using all-natural materials. The result: an unparalleled product that is high quality and carries a higher price tag than other items on the market. You get what you pay for at Telfar! They don’t offer anything less than exceptional.
10) How Much Does One Cost of Telfar Bag
The good news is that a single bag from Telfar will only $150 to $400, but there’s a lot more to it than just a one-time cost. The high telfar bag price tag of these bags is due to their environmental awareness. Made from all-natural materials, these bags prove to last at least 25 years with proper care and maintenance. This helps avoid the overuse of plastics and unnecessary waste of money on cheaper alternatives that don’t last as long or look as stylish as an organic cotton messenger bag from Telfar does! Their environmentally friendly materials have even made them popular among celebrities, including members of One Direction.
