AT THE HEART OF URBAN SOUTHERN
At the heart of our vision behind Urban Southern is the notion that practical, high-quality leather bags are for every woman. (And dudes that 💖 our bags, too.)
We’re Everyday Women
As we filled our VIP seats at both of the runway shows we accessorized at New York Fashion Week, we were completely delighted that we had folks coming from every walk of life.
We had mamas.
We had stylists.
We had cousins.
We had friends.
We had models.
We had buyers.
We had bloggers.
We had women AND men.
We had everyday people who showed up, just like us.
Aren’t we all everyday people?
Making Fashion Relatable with Leather Bags
When Regina sketches a new bag design, it’s never about unattainable, unrelatable fashion. It’s never about one woman being better than another woman because she carries a certain bag, dresses a certain way, comes from a certain neighborhood, or has a certain level of education.
The first time we showed our website redesign to a Nashville stylist that we were having coffee with, she said, “I like it. It’s so relatable. It doesn’t make me feel like I shouldn’t be here.”
We loved that feedback. In that moment we both looked at each other and knew we were hitting a bullseye on a concept that we want to communicate with you. Urban Southern is a relatable style brand for everyone, everyday.
Staying Grounded at New York Fashion Week
As we went into the big city fashion week thing, we remembered that this is US and this will continue to be US.
We stayed grounded. We learned a lot.
We experienced fashion industry drama that we’d only read about before. Our new Spring Line received plenty of love from those who saw it on the catwalks and around Manhattan, but we also encountered people who told us we didn’t belong there.
You know that didn’t bother us.
We know we’re doing something different with this brand and this experience proved to us that we’re doing something right.
We’re Building a Community
We grew up in small, close-knit communities. There were both positive and negative things that came from our secluded, conservative backgrounds. We have chosen to hold to the good from that sense of community. Today we are building a special kind of community around our brand.
Seeing photos of our leather bags in everyday life with style bloggers, micro influencers, or simply browsing our hashtags #USgoeseverywhere and #UrbanSouthern always renews our passion for what we do.
Friends Help Each Other
“You’re going to New York Fashion Week? What are you going to wear?”
It’s the first question we were asked over and over when our friends found out we were headed to NYFW17.
Regina has a solid sense of her personal style and she also likes to plan things out so she had her outfits picked out weeks before we boarded our flights to the Big Apple. We sent lots of outfit ideas to each other and read articles about what you should or shouldn’t wear to Fashion Week. (Hint, there are no conclusive answers.)
After lots of idea hunting, I still didn’t know what I would wear.
You see, I live my life via the delicate science of riding by the seat of my pants. Click To Tweet
The week before our trip, I had a key conversation with my stylish friend Mary June Miller.
Isn’t she fabulous?
I told Mary June that I wanted to dress with my own eclectic flavor and give a nod to our Amish heritage. She gave me key advice to choose classic wool pieces, good basics, and cropped pants.
3 Days before My Flight: I found a wool cape-style street coat and a mink fur leather vest from Olde Town Exchange.
1 Day before My Flight: I made my own pair of cropped jeans from a classic pair of Levi’s.
I also wanted a black wool Amish hat, the church kind that our Grandpa wore. Our friend Marie was able to get one from her Amish neighbor and brought it to New York for me on the night of the first runway show we accessorized.
I felt truly proud of my personal style at Fashion Week with my Amish hat and the circle tote from our new Spring Collection. I was even given the opportunity to walk the catwalk with this bag!
I just want to know how that Amish man would feel about his old hat being on a fashionable woman's head. Click To TweetLadies, we need each other! We are women without rival. We are community over competition.
Take Yourself on a Date
We love this styled photo shoot with the Half Moon Bag by Mallory on the Moon
Mallory asks, “If you can’t love yourself, how do you expect to love someone else?”
Put Your Leather Bag to the Test
Danny Murtaugh from @MemoryCardFull is testing out a new leather backpack design for us. What do you think?
Black + Brown are a Match Made in Style Heaven
Merjem Bajrami Duriqi with @MeMissGirl styled her crossbody wallet with her black outfit today. We love how she accessorized with browns and gold.
A Leather Bag with its Own Character
Kelly from @HouseofAqua has been using her Market Tote for well over a year and it just keeps looking more beautiful as the leather develops its luxurious sheen, known as patina. We love everything that Kelly does, from her interesting thrifting hauls on Youtube to her clean interior design styles on Instagram.
Friday Favorite: The Urban Tote
Stephanie loves the Urban Tote so much that she has featured it in her blog’s Friday Favorites twice.
One weekend Stephanie was at church and met our dear friend Marie who also carries an Urban Southern bag.
We keep saying it: leather bags bring women together. And it's true. Click To Tweet
The Perfect tote for carting around 145 things
Shelby from Simone Plus says, “The Market Tote is big and roomy — what every mom needs! It doesn’t have any pocket so it is so easy and simple — perfect for farmer’s market runs, a work bag, or carting around the 145 things you just bought from Target. I used it as my personal carry-on item on our recent flight to Portugal and it was able to hold SO MUCH stuff!”
The Mom with Sassy Shoes
The first time Sherri, from Rage Against The Mom Jean, wore this outfit, she got schooled by her 7-year-old. Apparently, her shoes were “too sassy” and they made her look “mean”.
We had to giggle when we read this because well, we both have 7 year-olds and we know just how opinionated they can be!
Work it, mama. You make the Market Tote look good.
Mom and Me Leather Totes
Last fall we introduced our holiday special, a mini version of our popular Market Tote. It was wildly popular. When we discontinued it after Christmas, we had over a dozen requests to bring it back. You know we like to keep our ladies happy, so we listed it back in our shop.
Andrea from Momfessionals reviewed the Mini Market Tote for us last year. Recently she shared new photos of her and her daughter with us. They are as adorable as two peas in a pod with matching leather totes.
Thank you for being here.
We would not be US without YOU.
#USgoeseverywhere
Tag your Urban Southern bag selfies on Instagram with #USgoeseverywhere or #urbansouthern and show us how you’re using your leather bag in your everyday life. We would love to see your photos and celebrate YOU.
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