APRIL 8, 2023
Unveiling NUUR: Our Very First Handbag drop
A Magical Journey of Design and Discovery
I am so excited to introduce NUUR - our first DIARRABLU handbag drop imagined with conscious design and sustainability in mind. Made from ethically sourced Italian leather and upcycled ocean plastic waste, these convertible bags are a dreamy blend of style and responsibility. Handcrafted by talented artisans in Spain, NUUR comes in four stunning colors: Camel, Noir, Navy, and Orange.
...but first I want to share the story that led to this special moment for us.
It Started from Failure
Designing handbags has been a long journey, filled with failure, wonder and discovery. It all started back in 2013 when I launched my first brand, Diarra Bousso, specializing in luxury bags made of recycled exotic leather in Senegal and adorned with 24 carat gold hardware and an iconic stylized db logo. Those bags were bespoke pieces, ranging from $5,000 to $14,000, and were made-to-order for celebrities like Akon and first ladies around the world.
Unfortunately, as I delved deeper into this business model, I realized that it was not sustainably scalable, and after running out of resources, I had to bid farewell to my very first fashion brand less than 2 years later. It felt like the end of my short creative career and everytime I looked at the bag prototypes in my Dakar studio I felt defeated and lost.
A New Dream was Born
However my creative spirit did not wane, and I ventured into designing womenswear and founded the DIARRABLU clothing brand in 2015. For the first couple of years, I was struggling to maintain a solid business and relied on my other sources of income as a math teacher to keep the dream alive. The last few years have been a whirlwind of growth and experience, as I explored shoes, swimwear, artwork, and jewelry in addition to clothing and learned to build an incredible online community while building a global brand with the most incredible team.
The Journey to the NUUR Bag
Nonetheless, I always missed my first love, bags. So, in 2021, I set out on a new journey to bring back my bag collection, but this time infused with the values of the DIARRABLU brand; conscious design and responsible production. I started ideating and exchanging with creatives remotely and through multiple zoom calls, design meetings and revised sketches our first bag collection started to take shape.
Artisanal Craftsmanship
My quest led me to a small town in Spain, where I discovered a talented creative team and a family-run workshop of skilled artisans with a legacy of leather craftsmanship spanning generations. Their passion for their art was inspiring, and I knew I had found my perfect collaborators.
Meet our first handbag NUUR, which means "light" in Arabic, to embody the magic and growth that were infused into every step of this design journey. Several other bags were designed and I plan to launch them slowly as I gain a better understanding of what resonates best with you. NUUR is the magnificent outcome of years of meticulous design research, aimed at creating a versatile handbag crafted from premium materials with a socially conscious mission.
Convertible Design
As part of our commitment to this mission, we have designed the bag to be convertible and long-lasting. NUUR comes with a removable printed inner bag and detachable printed straps, allowing you to wear it in a variety of ways for years to come. I generally use my inner bag by itself when I go to the pool and sometimes also use it inside my other basket bags.
Responsible Sourcing
We sourced the leather from an ethically responsible tannery in Italy, while the inner bag is made of an innovative material called seaqual. This unique yarn is crafted from regenerated fabric made of recycled ocean plastic waste. We chose a special bamboo handle to pay tribute to nature's magic.
Explore the world of NUUR and discover its four special perforated leather colors. NUUR’s printed inner bags and detachable straps feature our iconic Baol, Suto, Tilo, and Abstract prints.
A Special Journey
This bag is a symbol of my heartfelt journey, a return to my original design passion, and an exploration that has taught me to wander in foreign lands and uncover new methods of creation. If you had told me in 2013, that one day I would be launching from my studio in San Francisco a bag range handmade in the South of Spain, photographed in Marrakech, with the support of a global team hailing from New York, São Paulo, Madrid and London, I would have never thought it possible. But when you step outside of your comfort zone and welcome the unfamiliar, amazing things can happen.
We hope you will share the beautiful story of NUUR and can’t wait to see you carrying it.
It would make me so happy!
Love,
Diarra.
