TL-180

"TL-508"... a secret entrance code? A discount code for online fashion shopping at Montaigne Market? A part of a chemical formula for eternal youth? The mystery behind name like this could easily become obsessive. In this case, behind this slightly barbaric name hides a new brand of bags with a lot of potential.

The list of famous fashion duos - e.g., Viktor&Rolf, Dolce&Gabbana and Rag&Bone - has just been increased by one -- a new team destined to become a sure value in the fashion world. Tine and Luisa, two young French-Italians behind TL-180, have everything it takes to win over the bag addicts, from their unusual beginning to their creative approach.

After having finished their respective degrees in architecture and fashion, Tine and Luisa met during a party given at the Villa Medicis in Rome. The two new friends spent the summer painting together before deciding to launch a line of bags. All they needed was a name; they finally decided on TL (their initials) and the number 180 (their height in cm).

Their volumes quickly proved to be more pragmatic than revolutionary, but their designs were their trump cards. Inspired by the German artist Anselm Kiefer (whose artistic approach could be summed up in the phrase "destroy to better recreate"), Tine and Luisa brought an unusual originality to their work, rendering it unique.

Their research centered on the materials and the many possibilities of altering them, which gave birth to bags whose appearance and feel had very little to do with the original elements. They traveled the Italian peninsula to find quality skins only to mistreat them in order to give them an exceptional look.

TL-180 designs are created in Italy for the local quality craftsmanship and to keep production close to the creative center. The leather might sometimes be completely laminated, but the finishing details are very high quality.

Aware of arriving in a saturated market, the two friends opted to develop slowly, allowing them to gradually build a name for themselves. They chose to emphasize their originality of their approach as well as the reasonable prices of their designs (given the quality of the product).

And their strategy seems to be working: numerous fashion editors have fallen for the TL-180 slate clutch and have made it a star in their magazines (as seen here, and here, and here). To be continued...

Available at Printemps Haussmann, 140 euros for a clutch and 650 euros for a bag.
Official website: http://www.tl-180.com/