Exploring Métier’s commitment to excellence.
Métier is one of the most refined and deliberate handbag companies on the market, thanks to its designer-founder Melissa Morris who describes herself as “passionate about creating elegant solutions for modern problems.” After ending up on the subway floor struggling to find her belongings in giant tote bags, Melissa set out to design a laptop-friendly handbag that could take her from day to night.
Inspired by vintage cars, such as the Alfa Romeo Spider, and watches from the 1960s, including the Rolex Pan AM GMT Master — the first watch to tell time across two time zones with the turn of a dial — every Métier piece is designed for travel, ease of use and to meet a specific need.
Métier’s bags are lined with alcantara, a microfiber known for its sturdiness and used in collectible vintage cars. Inspired by Melissa’s favorite wine, a rich Northern Italian red, Métier’s signature color Amarone, took nine months of lab testing to perfect.
Melissa’s designs are executed with the precision of a seasoned architect. Lightweight yet built to last, Métier bags have up to 300 unique patterns of varying leather thicknesses under the surface. Each has a rounded base, to graze the body like a pillow. All of the brand’s hardware, which looks more like fine jewelry than clasps and locks, is made to measure from solid brass.
Much like Bauhaus furniture design, each Métier piece is designed to modularly work with the rest of the collection. Bags can be built upon or reduced to a small portfolio while the brand’s wallets slip effortlessly into packing pouches they produce.
Melissa finds a well of inspiration in her own travels, which she does often for work and pleasure. “I love observing different ways to approach the world and different ways to communicate. I am inspired by the different ways that exist to design buildings, roads or even signs… it’s something we take for granted, but each culture has really developed their own way, something I find fascinating,” she says.
A stickler for quality and longevity, Melissa ensures that every Métier bag is built to last: testing each in an Italian facility that simulates 20 years of use; including wind, rain and 22 pounds of stones.
