Flamestitch
Written by Yvette N. Coleman

Flamestitch was officially created in the summer of 2006, by Randi Channel and Renee Parrill. The twin sisters learned to sew in their family’s upholstery shop. For them, handbag design and construction was the perfect creative endeavor because they were able to use their sewing and art background, to produce a functional product.

Randi graduated from The Ohio State University with a BFA in 1999. She was recently featured in an Art and Technology exhibit at OSU, where she is currently working toward her master’s. Renee was recently named a finalist in the Independent Handbag Designer Awards, and currently has a design on the cover of Pretty Little Patchwork, published by Lark Books.

The siblings work together to offer custom handbags with this season’s inspiration coming from popular culture. The sisters point out:

“We simultaneously revere it and try to deconstruct it. We like to pair opposites, and blaspheme that which comforts the masses. Specifically, we are inspired by: video games, subcultures, song lyrics, colorfully turned phrases, hacking, and rebuilding. Also inspiring to us is technology, and the opportunities it presents. Now, more than ever it is possible to subvert the old and outworn system of waiting to be discovered. If you have a good product and a digital camera, you can state your intentions and create your own opportunities. We like very much the idea that we can do this ourselves, on our own terms.”

Who do you envision as your core client?
Our bags are not designed for one specific group of people. To be honest, we’ve been making bags that we like. Our customer base is wide and diverse, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Is there a bag trend that you are not fond of?
Large, shapeless bags. We really like to build a lot of structure into our bags, so this trend is killing us.

What's next for Flamestich?
We both have new designs in production, and a constant queue of ideas ready to be made real. Our focus is on growing our business and building our new website.

Words of wisdom from Randi Channel and Renee Parrill of Flamestitch:

The answer to this depends on your goals. Our goals are to hand make everything, and to produce a unique and well-made product. With these Spartan goals, we labored under the belief that we would never sell anything, and that has given us creative freedom like nothing else. We don’t make bags for a certain group of people; we make bags because we love them, or because they are the punch line to a joke, or because they make some kind of a comment about how we view the world. The best advice we can give is to do it because you love it, and because nothing else will make you happy.

Bags range from $18 to $250.

Flamestitch is available at www.flamestitch.esty.com