Twin sisters Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato founded Lizzie Fortunato in 2008 with the intent of creating unique accessories that use unexpected materials and champion handicrafts from a breadth of places and cultures. Lizzie designs the line, while Kathryn, who got her start on Wall Street, oversees sales and operations. Lizzie studied Art History and English at Duke University (where Kathryn majored in Economics) and her interest in “dressing to tell a story” is reflected in the pieces she creates. Lizzie constructs a distinct narrative with each collection, naming each style, and often drawing on historical, artistic, and architectural references as she goes. Fortunato’s designs marry found, reclaimed and precious materials in fashion forward silhouettes, and the sisters’ brand has become synonymous with unique, ahead of the curve accessories that are influenced by fine art, travel, and artisanal craftwork. The Lizzie Fortunato collection is produced in New York by a team of skilled metalsmiths and seamstresses and extreme care goes into each piece. Lizzie Fortunato launched leather goods in 2011. Adorned with exquisite hand-loomed embroidery and beading that Lizzie thoughtfully designs, the clutches, shoulder bags, and small leather goods are a natural extension of the line’s mixed-medium statement jewelry. With an appreciation and love for vintage textiles (collected from Morocco, Turkey, India, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and elsewhere), Lizzie fuses traditional techniques with bold prints in her bag designs. She has repeatedly collaborated with illustrator Bernadette Pascua of the popular blog, Decade Diary, for a range of particularly cheeky leather good styles, which featured motifs ranging from flamingos to sushi.