Why I Do What I Do
I'm Ria, the designer behind Escapade & Co. I'm also the designer behind my other Etsy shop, Ria Nicholas Designs, where I take antique and vintage chairs and reimagine them into bold statement pieces. When I broke my wrist and had to pause my upholstery work for a time, it confirmed that I need to design almost as much as I need to breathe.
Around the same time, I needed a practical and roomy purse to carry back and forth to my medical appointments. I wanted something that could hold all my stuff, as well as a makeup bag to serve as a catch-all. But often I don't want to carry a big tote-style handbag. I needed something to serve as a small purse as well. A wallet / clutch / wristlet that fit inside the handbag was the perfect answer. I could just pull it out and go.
And because I'm a designer, these items had to be more than just practical. They had to stand out!
I'm also a big believer in the ease of a capsule wardrobe. Give me a few good basics and let the accessories do the work! A great handbag or scarf can change the whole look. So I designed my own. I wanted the large handbag, the wristlet, and the makeup bag to go together without being matchy-matchy.
Lastly, why not throw in a scarf? Scarves can be tied around your neck, your head, the handle of your tote . . .
That's where it all came together: "Designed to coordinate -- not simply match."
One collection soon led to another . . . and another . . . and another. And they're still coming. So I'm sharing them with you here. I hope you like them. Please let me know what you think.