The brand Sammy Handmade in Ethiopia is a bit of a mouthful, but this is a label that’s worth paying attention to. It’s just released this Aster wallet, a playful coin purse with an important purpose.
The embroidered animal motif, vivid hued leather, and rainbow colored zip might be a bit childish for fashion snobs, but there’s certainly a charm to its innocence. And let’s remember that wallets spend most of their lives hidden inside a larger handbag, so we have a little more freedom to embrace our silly side with these accessories.
If you need more convincing maybe the Aster’s altruistic purpose will do it for you. Just as the label’s name suggests, this purse is handcrafted by Ethiopian women working in a co-op. Their story is unique, as each of their families has been affected by AIDS in some way. They were trained in embroidery and other handicrafts, and can now support their needy families.
The Aster wallet is available for $165 from Barneys New York.
