Style, Music, and Weird News with Katalyst by Kat

Joey Pouch

Italian Leather Joey Designer Pouch handcrafted in USA made in NYC

Marlow Bag

Italian Leather Marlow Designer convertible crossbody clutch small handbag purse handcrafted in USA made in NYC

Avery Satchel

Italian Leather Avery Designer Satchel handcrafted in USA made in NYC adjustable shoulder strap crossbody

Marlow Bag

Italian Leather Marlow Designer convertible crossbody clutch small handbag purse handcrafted in USA made in NYC

Kat, the music blogger of Katalyst by Kat, encompasses a free spirited essence that is also infused in Corrente handbags. An avid supporter of Indy Bands, she recommends bands that are both on the cusp of being infamous and genuinely good, plus we love reading about her weird news. One of our first interviews on the Corrente blog, find out what makes Kat tick. 

You are very supportive and knowledgable of independent music where did this adoration come from? My Parents are music fans and my dad worked in the music business briefly so I grew up with an awesome record collection to listen to and they took me to concerts from the earliest age I can remember.  I also think I must have been a musician in a past life ;) My love of independent i think is because I just don't really like anything main stream not because I'm being contrary just because it's how I feel.

What Band/Musician(s) are you obsessed with right now? Ooooh too many where do I start?! First and foremost a band called Alberta Cross.  Their music is so beautiful and the lyrics really just touch you, I have a feeling about that band that they have stayed under the radar for quite a while but one of these days they are going to burst into everyones lives.  I recently discovered an English band called Django Django that I'm enjoying, Rodriguez changed my life, Diamond Rugs puts some swagger in my step, Other Lives are so musically gifted they are beyond inspiring and for some reason I'm obsessed with 1950s/60s country at the moment, I just put Patsy Cline into Pandora and listen for days.

I love that you included the ‘weird news’ in your blog, can you tell us about a favorite post? I guess my recent favorite story is the one about Big Foot freaking an Indian reservation out in Ohio.  I am fascinated by Native American culture and history so this story combined two of my favorite topics.

What is your daily mantra? Be nice, be successful, be passionate, eat well, love and laugh!

You are from London, but Brooklyn is home. What is your favorite part of living in NYC? I could write a book on this! A quick summary is the way individualism is embraced here, anything goes! I love that most bars play rock n' roll. I love that there are still independent stores and not all just chains, I love that most people are from somewhere else and I love upstate New York.  The Woodstock area is my happy place.

Photo credit: Cultured Productions

ID POP SHOP :: April Event ::

In collaboration with twenty-five other designers, we will be back in Chelsea Market participating in the ID POP SHOP.  To find out what other brands and more information click here. 

Local Leather?! True American Luxury

As a locally made company, we have always been quite proud of the label "handbags made in the usa." We know exactly where and how they are made, and we have been able to share that with our customers. However, we buy all of our supplies from third parties, all of which are small independent businesses, and we love them, but we wanted to know "where do our supplies come from?"

Creative director Corie Humble went on a mission to find leather made locally.  Turns out there are only a handful of tanneries left in America, with a couple in upstate New York.  We ventured to an old tanning town of where else? Gloversville.

This tannery supplies mostly the interior design industry, they buy all of their hides from Italy and treat them on site. These drums soften the leather as well as dye the leather.  

An elk hide that is yet to be dyed. This tannery specializes in deer, which come from the US and Canada. Adjacent is a goat and sheep tanner, 90% of their business is to the US government. 

the skins must all be trimmed by hand

dyed leather that is ready to have the square footage marked. Gorgeous color! 

this is an old manual marking machine.  The metal ribs can figure out the square footage by moving with the piece of the leather. 

 the scale that indicates the footage

the square footage marking that goes on the back of the leather (this is in cm, it is being shipped to Europe)

Finding out about locally made leathers was super inspiring! We can't wait to see some of our new collections adorned in this beautiful local leather. 

A Green Underground Oasis on the Lower East Side?

low line park Lower East Side

corrente handbags had a store on Orchard. The LES needs more development to support independent fashion. 

LES LOW LINE

corrente handbags had a store on Orchard. The LES needs more development to support independent fashion. 

LES LOWLINE LOCATION

corrente handbags had a store on Orchard. The LES needs more development to support independent fashion.

Surreal and amazing. Inspired by the Chelsea High Line, the idea creates a green public space in an old forgotten trolley Terminal, adjacent to the JMZ.  As New Yorkers, we are oblivious to the grime on our daily commutes, it is usually the random tourist that reminds us of the rats and filth. Creating a destination space like this, not only gives a much needed greenery and serenity, a clean underground, but it also will helps all the surrounding businesses, all the little guys. 

 It is difficult to tell where the location is from this map, but it is under Essex market.  Find out more...

Spring has Sprung! Check out Corrente's New Spring Colors!

Our leather coin purses with our signature key chain...such an adorable combo! 

The Eva Ipad bag, with extra padded lining meant to be shock-proof, but the Eva is also a good looking cross body or oversized clutch. 

Our new Spring colors are in store now! I am having such a hard time deciding which color I like more, the sapphire, mustard, or nude. I chose the mustard completely intuitively, I second guessed myself, but it seems people are loving it! Especially off setting all black. oh, and did I mention, the leather is super soft and light. 

Stop by and see them in person, but we will also have them up online in the next few weeks. Stay posted.