loveshine's Profile

Bio

The Love Shine line of handbag, totes and backpack designs was founded in 1994 by Mark Seamon and Mike Gonzales in New York in the basement of a Spanish Harlem apartment building. The design duo began creating one-of-a-kind bags out of hand dyed canvas for friends and family as a sideline hobby to take their mind off their their other careers. The response to their products was robust and they began getting special requests and orders from friends of friends and later small boutiques. Thus, a small business was born.
In the beginning, many of Love Shine's designs were inspired by the travels of Seamon and Gonzales. From Mexico to Japan, they found inspiration and ideas. They brought back from Mexico beautiful rolls of brightly colored nylon mesh and oilcloth (a waterproof material decorated with images of flower or fruits that is traditionally used as table covers). They also collected images, trims, and other treasures from Japan, Greece and Spain.

As time progressed, they developed a line of striking Love Shine mesh totes and oil cloth accessories (wallets, dop kits, etc). In addition to designing handbags, purses and totes in soft cottons and upholstery fabrics, they continued to create new canvas and oil cloth backpacks and "day bags" with funky images.

In 1997, Mark Seamon opened a Love Shine retail and workshop in the East Village of Manhattan. In addition to the wonderful bags and accessories found at Love Shine, the studio-shop-showroom has also been the site of numerous sidewalk fashion shows, special events and art installations.

Love Shine is now moving into cyberspace and Mark wants to welcome Y-O-U to his new virtual home at www.loveshinenyc.com. Since he is still decorating adding new products and features daily, you are encouraged to come back often to check the site for updates. He just L-O-V-E-S having guests. Or, if you are in New York, he invites you to come by and visit him in person.

Favorite Materials

Canvas and Oil Cloth