Donae Chramosta is the owner and CEO of The Vintage Contessa. She shares her thoughts on the inspiration behind HCCC’s upcoming silent auction, featuring pieces you won’t see anywhere else – wearable art and sculpture created from re-purposed, vintage couture handbags.
I am thrilled to announce my position as Chair of the Art as Accessory Silent Auction for HCCC’s 2012 Crafting a Legacy Luncheon on April 18th, at River Oaks Country Club.
Last summer, while traveling in the Hamptons, I was inspired by a few pieces of art as fashion or fashion as art. In fact, I was so moved, it became a mission to gather a group of artists in Houston who would translate handbags into art; however, I didn’t know how to put the pieces together.
Fast forward a few months, when the amazing media mogul, Alton LaDay, asked my husband, Rob, and me to participate as Honorary Committee Members for the fundraiser he was co-chairing, the Martini Madness! 10th Birthday Bash, at HCCC last September. A few martinis later, with a bit of liquid courage, I pitched the idea of “fashion as art” to the amazingly forward-thinking Julie Farr, Executive Director of HCCC, and, thankfully, she loved it!
Now my once-lofty dream has become a reality in the form of beautiful and unique wearable art, sculpture and jewelry created from re-purposed couture handbags.
The Vintage Contessa, our international website offering vintage, luxury-designer handbags and accessories for less, donated a group of vintage couture handbags that were showing signs of wear and tear and were less desirable for resale. A group of current and former HCCC artists-in-residence were invited to the Center to select one or two pre-owned, pre-loved couture bags to redesign.
You’ll find amazing works by Elaine Bradford, Nathan Dube, Jessica Dupuis, Giovanna Imperia, Masumi Kataoka, Edward McCartney, Pamela Sager, Leslie Shershow, John Van Domelen, Melissa Walter, and Kristi Rae Wilson.
We hope you’ll join us on April 18th or submit a bid on one of these fabulous auction items!
–Donae Chramosta
