These Companies Are Saving Southern Classics

2 of 5

These Companies Are Saving Southern Classics

The Statement Bag

Maker: Ann Howell Bullard
Locale: Raleigh, North Carolina

Southern women are known for flair, whether in the form of a statement lipstick, a scent, or a bag, like those Ann Howell Bullard designs. Her collections, which debut quarterly, feature six or seven whimsical pieces that are cut, sewn, and painted by hand in Bullard’s Raleigh studio. Each cross-body, clutch, and tote becomes a work of art: With her paintbrush, she creates brightly colored florals, gemstones, stars, animal prints, rainbow-hued diamonds, and geometric patterns, as well as a portfolio of custom creations for clients. Bullard’s not interested in big-scale production.“Watering down the hand-painted aspect to make way for cheaper and faster doesn’t feel like art to me,” she says. “I want to make bags that will last for years and become vintage collectibles.”
annhowellbullard.com

photo: Alice Gao