1uv Luxury Bags: Art on Your Arm

By: Saema Nasir

As the rain pounded down on the blustery, slippery streets of Toronto, some of its more fashionable inhabitants gathered at the Spoke Club to celebrate the launch of a new handbag line. Called 1uv the assortment of leather purses and clutches all feature original art from the talented Canadian artist, Kent Thomson. “It’s a way to get my art to a new audience. It’s an amazing new way to experience art,” said Thomson humbly, as he discreetly and quietly surveyed the crowd gathered to fete the handbag line and his art.

The trendy and the artsy mingled with each other as soothing live music played in the background. Warm golden lighting served to accentuate the mossy, rose and purple hues of some of the artwork featured on the bags. “We really thought about what we could do together to bring art to the street,” said Sofia Thomson, vice-president of sales and marketing.

I couldn’t help but notice that this finely crafted handbag line, created in the old world tradition, each unique, was serving another very important purpose: that of promoting and supporting Canadian art. The luxury handbags are made from the finest leather and original acrylic paintings, which are one-of-a-kind wearable accessories. These handbags will turn their owners’ arms into mobile art galleries, showcasing the impressive art displayed on them to crowds who may not have the time or inclination to go to a Canadian art gallery. Not only are prospective customers buying a handbag, they are getting a piece of art – one that is uniquely Canadian. And that is worth having!

To find out more about 1uv, visit 1uv.ca, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.