FEATURE
Step into the World of Daniella Ortiz Where Exotic Meets Refined By Laurie Melchionne In the sultry heat of West Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue, Daniella Ortiz’s flagship store stands surrounded by climbing azaleas and windows adorned with handbags crafted by Argentinian leather experts. The Worth Avenue flagship is one of three luxury locations in the South Florida area, where the world of Daniella Ortiz contributes to charity, thrives on meticulously crafted handbags with roots in both Argentina and Italy, and dazzles hotels, boutiques, showrooms and more with high-end trunk shows that deliver Ortiz’s one-of-a-kind “companions” throughout the United States. Handbags Made with Love…Literally Flashback to 18 years ago. Husband-and-wife team Daniella Ortiz and Alfredo Baeza decided to launch Daniella Ortiz, the brand, in South Florida where Ortiz had already built a life as a director of fundraising and development at Nova Southeastern University. The couple met while Ortiz attended her best friend’s wedding in Argentina. At the time, Alfredo was a manager at a large company in Argentina, while Daniella had her life in Florida. It was then that the two faced a choice: one of them had to give up their lives in America or Argentina so that they could be together. Economics in Argentina faced an unstable time, so fate decided for the couple; Alfredo came to Florida and the two decided that the best way to start a life together was to become the powerhouse team that they are today. Daniella is the brand’s beating heart, while Alfredo spearheads the behind-the-scenes operations it takes to plan, design, manufacture and market each carefully crafted concept. Along with a team of two designers, Daniella’s vision for each sketch requires a nine-monthlong process. During this time, each item is born out of countless hours of dedication to the tiniest of details, from the placement of carved sterling silver hardware to the addition of pockets, zippers or hidden compartments. “Sometimes, I’ll have an idea in the middle of the night and I’ll start sketching something in my bed so I don’t forget the next day,” laughed Ortiz. “From there, I’ll show it to my husband. He has a very good sense of design and aesthetic, and is very involved in the design process as well.” With this design team, nothing is ever rushed; each product receives the same meticulous devotion to detail that is shared with its traditional manufacturers in Argentina and, now for the first time, Italy.
36 | FM November/December 2023
The Daniella Ortiz Woman Being a Daniella Ortiz woman means several things at once. On the surface, it means flaunting bags, jewelry and belts with roots both in Argentina and Italy, where both of these manufacturing behemoths in leather-making contribute their iconic craftsmanship to the smallest detail on a Daniella Ortiz product. Genuine lizard, crocodile and stingray blend the exotic environments of Argentina with elegant leather. When you drag your hand across the gilded luster of the Justine bag, or the bold crimson of the Serena clutch, you know exactly what it feels like to touch the wildlife of the Yacutinga Rainforest or the Iguazu Falls. Whether you’re standing in the Worth Avenue flagship, the shop at the Town Center at Boca Raton, or the Waldorf Astoria boutique, you will find yourself surrounded by a rainbow array of colors. With these options, Daniella Ortiz allows the wearer to become a part of Argentina’s landscape. Gone are the days when elegant handbags translate to the standard black, white, gray or brown leather. At Daniella Ortiz, class and refinement mean head-turning color, exotic fabrics sourced with unparalleled materials and statement-making crossbodies, clutches, shoulder bags, wallets and so much more. While each bag is made with the same high-quality dedication, no two designs are alike. The Versailles, with its silver lion heads, pebbled leather surface and suede lining, differs from the hardware-featuring Mia, whose reflective lizard skin glosses the bag with a marble-like shine. Three staple elements comprise every product you’ll find on shelves: sophistication, boldness and versatility. The World of Charity Behind each handbag, belt or piece of jewelry, Daniella Ortiz spearheads a vibrant social calendar. “I love people. I love talking and making new friends,” explained Ortiz, who shared that her people-person approach to haute couture is why charity is such an integral part of the brand. Ortiz is no stranger to fundraising; her time at the University integrated her in this world. “Each charity has a director of development,” she said, “which made me think, ‘How about doing a pop-up in these crowds and giving a percentage back to the charities?’” Trunk shows take the brand throughout the country. More than 60
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