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Introducing Clare Vivier Bags on cocodot

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Is it us, or has the arms race involving logo-emblazoned status bags started to feel a little, uh, 2007? We’ve found the perfect antidote in L.A. designer Clare Vivier’s gorgeous, superbly made messengers and totes. European-inflected and U.S.A.-made, Clare’s bags are a marriage of inspired form and function. We visited the designer at home to see how this consummate cool chick makes having it all (career, family, awesome pancake-flipping skills) seem easy.

Writer Eve Epstein

Photographer Amy NEUNSINGER

Producer LISA THOMPSON

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Designer Q&A

What three words would you use to describe your collection?
Simple, chic, intelligent.

What inspires you?
People inspire me: from my stylish, hard working friends to the strangely captivating random person on the street.

Tell us about the three designs available on cocodot: the flat clutch, the foldover clutch, the messenger bag. What do you love about these pieces?
The flat clutch is a great grab-and-go chic pouch; the larger size of the foldover clutch gives it more of a proper handbag feel; and our messenger is the quintessential carryall—I love that it's super practical while being minimal and classic.

Your collection is all made in L.A. Why is it important to you to keep production local?
 For many reasons: There's nothing more satisfying than knowing I'm creating or sustaining jobs for our community. I love getting to know the artisans and skilled people who work on the line. Being able to visit the local factories is great for quality control. And the fact that by manufacturing here we are making a smaller carbon footprint feels good.

What's next for you?
We're shipping our first collaboration with Theory right now, Clare Vivier for Theory, for Spring 2012. And we are opening up our very first Clare Vivier standalone store in Silver Lake in a few months. It's all very exciting.

1. The Aqua Neon Flat Clutch features a contrasting zipper closure. 2. The Navy Foldover Clutch is simple (but so chic). 3. The Black Neon Foldover Clutch includes a contrasting zipper with gold charm pull. 4. The Leopard Flat Clutch is made of leopard-printed calf hair.