A New Economy of Glamour

A Western folk tale speaks of two purses set before a shopper from the East: a sleek, oversized leather name-brand bag; and a small, modest hemp version hand-printed by an independent artisan. The first purse promises to inspire adulation and envy from others, and a heightened sense of position in society. “The catch,” the shopper is told, “is that it costs more than a small car, clashes with almost anything but expensive clothes, must be frequently pampered with oil and protected from scratches, and loses 50% of its value the moment is no longer brand new.” The story stops there. After all, some endings are obvious. We didn’t choose to feature Mingus Designs simply for the eco-friendly organic composition, adorably rustic-modern design, and obvious practicality of its purses and other products. We’ve turned our spotlight on this ahead-of-the-curve accessory artist for our own collective illumination.

Without a doubt, this is one designer tailor-made for a global economy that is gradually turning all of us into smarter, more intuitive and less superficial shoppers. And the kicker is, considering its uniqueness and considerable charm, a screen-printed Mingus purse will turn heads much the way a more expensive purse might without saddling its wearer with even of smidgeon of that pretentious show-off stigma. Should nature themes catch your fancy, the agrarian goodness of The Waves is a must. Animal lovers will clutch closely the Armadillo at Sea, Rabbit Pile or Hummingbird version. And for those who celebrate craftiness itself, images such as the Origami Plane are positively perfect. But generosity may well be the greatest virtue of all, and Mingus Designs proves to have this quality in abundance as well: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive an Elephant Origami organic purse in black, courtesy of the purse’s maker. To qualify, visit Mingus Designs, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Mention in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/4/08

**We have a winner! Ann who said, "My favorite product is the Hummingbird Organic Purse, really nice. Thanks for the great giveaway!"**