WHAT MATTERS MOST when it comes to designer accessories: Design? Or functionality? It was an accident that caused Kasha to come up with an ingenious solution, bringing together fine art and novel materials to create a signature bag that makes a powerful statement: Feel. Real. Art.
Women have been willing to sacrifice almost every practical consideration for fashion, but Kasha Ritter wants women to know that now they can have their art and carry it too. Just like Crocs introduced a novel resin material which revolutionized the footwear industry, Ritter has introduced an ingenious solution that will revolutionize the handbag industry: yoga mats. "We believe women need a handbag to move with them, not against them. By its very nature a yoga mat textile is flexible and water resistant, creating a beautiful designer accessory you don’t have to worry about. They give you permission to own a designer accessory, Whoops included!"
Yoga mats are not only the material the bags are made of, they’re the canvas for accomplished art. Capturing spectacular moments in time with color, energy, motion and expression is at the core of this mission to bring extraordinary art into the ordinary everyday lives of women across America—a mission realized with a line of signature bags called Kasha Ritter.
This idea of fusing art with yoga mats came about by accident while working on paintings and yoga practice simultaneously; as a mother of three, Kasha struggled like most women in America to keep everything together for her family—with style taking a backseat to practicality. Glue was always at her side, and when some of it spilled on her yoga mat one day, the path to her line of handbags became a lighted runway. “If this textile could be turned into a pocket this pocket could be turned into a handbag,” she thought. Handbags of quilted fabric or leather cause panic when rain, coffee, or water cross their path which is why the functionality and design of these bags is better. This yoga-mat-textile handles it all as water rolls right off, keeping things dry inside. Even mud rinses away.
The artwork collided with the yoga mat out of another personal belief that art mattered. “People are always coming up to me saying they wish they were creative, or wished they could be an artist and I felt that they forget they already are. I wanted to remind women they have an artist within, we all do.”
Our wildly enthusiastic customers agree! “I get to carry my art wherever I go!” echoes Patricia Stepan of Colorado. “I just love that. I even named my bag.” Donna Jamison of New Jersey agrees: “I dropped my purse in the snow and just laughed because I knew everything was safe and dry inside. Cell phone included!” For even more proof that this is a phenomenon in the making, women are collecting purses for the signature art pieces that adorn them: "I adore Kasha Ritter's carryalls! I delight in giving them as gifts, but my guiltiest pleasure is keeping them for myself. I now own six of these beauties and there is no end in sight,” exclaims Susan J. Pearl of Illinois. These bags are the beginning of a huge new trend as we see from our retailers who can’t keep her bags in the store because of demand. “These bags are fabulous! We sold them out in two weeks. They are a must for every store,” says Beth Vages, owner of Tyler and Tallulah in Vineyard Haven, MA.
Kasha Ritter, founded in 2008 is a lifestyle brand built off the platform of yoga mats + artwork. Taking art off the wall and into women’s hands where creativity can have an impact on daily life is the mission of this company. The original canvas artwork and yoga mat material features included textured, non-slip surface, latex free, phthalate free inks and no heavy metals.
Om, yes.
