hello and thank you rafe for spending the afternoon with us in the north fork! 

the salting: how long have you now had your beloved luxury handbag and accessory brand RAFE?

rafe totengco: I started my accessories brand RAFE New York in 1997. before that I had my own clothing and accessories brand in mail in the late 80s.

 

ts: what inspires you? 

rt: I'm inspired by people and their energy, places I've been and want to go next, art in all forms and genres, gardens and any music that will get me swaying and dancing.

 

ts: we loved hearing the back story about the production of your pieces. please share a bit with us.

rt: I have always been drawn to things that are handcrafted versus mass produced. I find slight variations to be beautiful and they make each piece even more special. my straw clutches are hand-embroidered in the phillipines, the embellished clutches are hand-beaded in India as well as the handwoven leather bags. I'm always astonished when I see the finished product and see how my designs are executed by these artisans.

 

ts: you've recently added styles that fall into a genderless category: what drew you to that decision?

rt: I really had an ulterior motive by designing bags that are more gender neutral: I wanted to wear my own bags. for the longest time I have been wearing bags I designed in the past and I wanted some new updates to my wardrobe.

 

ts: favorite designer?

rt: always and forever dries van noten. he is a master when it comes to combining embellishment, print and color in ways that are irresistible.

 

ts: favorite accessory designer? (other than your own obviously!)

rt: elsa peretti. unmistakable, original, iconic and still relevant to this day.

 

ts: three favorite restaurants in NYC?

rt: Indochine - an institution since the early 90s and still filled with beautiful people and delicious food.

bottino - a neighborhood standby plus anthony always has a glass of Prosecco ready for me within minutes of my arrival.

omen - another institution in soho. quiet, low key and consistently good. it has that IYKYK kind of reputation.

 

ts: three favorite movies?

rt: the last emperor, the talented mr ripley, a room with a view

 

ts: favorite season?

rt: I love all of the seasons really but if I had to pick it would be late spring, when most of the flowers are in bloom. It's such a thrill to start seeing them coming out of the ground from hibernation.

 

ts: morning or evening?

rt: I love waking up early when everyone is still asleep. I feel like I get more things done and I'm generally more productive.

 

ts: do you have a best selling piece?

rt: the Ariel minaudière is one of my best sellers. it is hand crafted from a whole abalone shell. each piece is slightly different because the shape is determined by the shell, which is organic and unique.

 

ts: biggest challenge owning your own brand/business? 

rt: I think the biggest challenge of owning your own business is your'e always feeling like your'e not doing enough. I've had to learn over the years to switch off at certain times of the day otherwise it is all consuming. don't get me wrong, I love every minute of it but I also love switching off and being in the moment. the balance is hard but is achievable.

 

ts: any advice / wisdom to share?

rt: just because you can doesn't mean you should. and it is easier said than done because as a creative person, I like a challenge and I don't like the word "no". but more and more I say no to things that don't make sense to me and my brand.

 

ts: we have always admired your collection: you have created something beloved with a wonderful spirit and strong following: how have you maintained your brand integrity and steady growth?

rt: it has been a journey filled with ups and downs. but I try to stay true to what I love, what inspires me and also listen to what my customers want and expect from me. I can't be everything to everyone, and that's perfectly okay with me. when I meet people who are wearing my bags and they tell me stories about how much they love it and how many compliments they received, its the greatest feeling in the world. we connected through my work. isn't that something worth smiling about?

 

ts: how do you erase hate in your everyday life?

rt: I believe in inherent goodness in people, even when they aren't so obvious sometimes. 

"you must not lose faith in humanity. humanity is an ocean: if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty." - Mahatma Gandhi.