Distressed leather,
plenty of pockets and

a pretty plaid interior
details the canvas
Milan Shoulder Bag.

The Ultimate

Traveler, from the
Sacs Collection,
transforms from a
compact pouch into
a two-size expan-

The Verona

Clutch has a
detachable
wristlet strap
and three

sions.

separate zip
compartments.

the Journey Collection. Buttery
soft, with gorgeous details
like distressed finishes, heavy,
exposed stitching and luscious
colors, the Journey Collection
combines a distinct style sensi-
bility with Ferber's requirement
of supreme functionality. Just
like the Sacs Collection, Journey
leather pieces (which range in
price from $75 to $320) are full
of secret compartments and user-
friendly features that provide
streamlined organization.
"I try to take functional attri-
butes from the Sacs line and
incorporate them into these
Ferber says. "A lot of really beau-
tiful designer bags don't have
closures, or are too heavy. I try to
keep the user in mind and incor-
porate that into high style:'
Although Ferber has no formal
design training, she has devel-
oped a process for bringing her
creative vision to fruition.
"I know what I like, and I go
with my gut:' she says. "I'll send
a sketch to the manufacturer,
they'll send back a sample and
I'll make corrections. Sometimes
it will be sent back three or four
times before it's exactly what I

want:'
Combining smooth sheet
leather with handpicked fine-
leather remnants from France,
England and Spain, Ferber loves
that each piece is truly unique.
"That's the beauty of the whole
line she says. "A client may
choose a specific design, but
the leather and patina will have
details that make each piece dif-
ferent. And I really like the con-
cept of upcycling."
Ferber's parents, Miriam and
Fred Ferber, are both Holocaust
survivors: He was in Mauthausen,
a German concentration camp;
she was a hidden child, raised by
a Christian family.
"I'm very respectful of my
parents' history and how they
not only survived but flourished
with a gusto for life," says Ferber,
whose family owns Commerce
Township-based HoMedics, and
whose success has allowed them
to help make the world a better
place as staunch philanthropists,
especially targeted at the local
and global Jewish community.
"But they are still very humble
people Ferber says. "What they
instilled in us kids [Ferber and

her two siblings], I want to
instill in my kids:'
With this in mind,
each piece in the Journey
Collection of bags is
embossed with Ferber's
logo — a wishbone.
"Aspirations can be
realized:' she says. "I've
had this wishbone idea
since the day I started
Sacs. You can make a
wish, but you have to
work hard to make it
come true. My par-
ents worked hard to
teach me that:'

ier

❑

The Amsterdam Satchel
has a large front pocket,
zippered side pocket and
tons of interior room.

Look for the Annette
Ferber Collection locally
at Sundance Shoes, West
Bloomfield, and Sole
Sisters in Royal Oak and
Rochester. Annetteferber.
corn; sacsoflife.com .

August 20 • 2015

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