The Future of Timelessness

Susan Riedweg Designs (SRD) was founded in San Francisco in 1979. Its philosophy of hand-wrought originality -couture that's instinctive in principle and function- has barely wavered from its origins. Susan herself was gifted with a classical haute-couture background, which has fueled her work for the last 30 years. SRD's timeless handbags, accessories and clothing pioneer unusual Italian leathers and materials, forward currents, inter-generational appeal. The antithesis of crowd madness, every piece carries fait-á-la-main elements such as weaving, crochet, cutting, and final assemblage; in this light, every piece may be tailored to suit exclusivity at retail and the real needs of the wearer.

Storytelling made simple

The textural, natural and multifunctional aspects of SRD's collections are given trademark status in Susan's world. Signature details such as buttons, zipper pulls and ornaments are made by loving fingers, either in-studio or in Africa, where SRD has supported a women's group since 2006. And the story takes flight here. The manipulation and reworking of materials and leathers adds yet more inimitability to Susan’s esoteric design platform. In reviewing the typical SRD bag, we find it lined with garment suede to insure longevity. And Susan loves pockets. Interior pockets, richly organic palettes, and old-world details are all part of her design staples. Have a look at the pull on a SRD bag, the button on a jacket, the closure on a belt ... herein lies your own story.

A creative, sustainable life

A childhood passion guided by her mother and seamstress grandmother, not to mention a great aunt in the fur trade, brought Susan to creating wardrobes for her dolls. Before setting out to buy materials for these first collections, the family design team combed closets and bins to find the ideal snippets. This led to Susan's ongoing interest in manipulating and recycling beautiful fabrics, fibers - the odds and ends of a cherished ritual. After completing her university years in Indiana and France, Susan worked with style doyenne Angelique Boer (Alain Boer Haute Couture). It was under Ms. Boer's tutelage that Susan learned the intricacies and detailing of haute couture. Susan's father lent his ethics and business acumen to the growth years of SRD, not to mention his engineering and artistic solutions. The customer is presumed to be right, he contended. Susan agreed. Her clients now count on what has become a 30-year tradition with no end in sight.