Clothes Horse

Adrianne Till and Isa Schatz are not

only friends, they are artisans who have followed their dreams to create beautiful, handmade pieces of art. Their friendship began Florida six years ago when Isa was helping Adrianne at the same time that she was starting her own business. Both women share a passion for using raw, natural materials to construct their items by hand. Their products are different, but they complement each other and style well together. Although they no longer live in the same place, Adrianne and Isa keep in touch often and share the nuances of owning their own businesses. Over the years, their friendship and their businesses have blossomed.

FEATURING GYPSY BELT CO. AND JESUSA ACCESSORIES

Left to Right, Top to Botom: Kenya Bracelet, made with leather, puka shells and an antique Afghanistan coin, and Española Bracelet, made with leather lace and Ethiopian silver beads; Adrianne’s collection of vintage belt buckles; Adrianne is wearing a Pendleton Harding Long Cardigan from Equine Divine, paired with a Chickabiddy crossbody. Isa is wearing a 100% black linen dress and leather vest from @carolitahome, paired with a Kenya necklace, made of natural stone beads, leather, and antique Afghanistan coins. She is carrying a Nikki bag in worn saddle leather.

GYPSY BELT CO.

Gypsy Belt Co. was born out of Adrianne’s love of vintage belt buckles. She has always searched thrift shops and garage sales to collect them. She began by making herself a leather belt for one of her favorite buckles. Her friends noticed, and soon she was making belts for them. Belts turned into leather cuff bracelets, then a clutch. Soon, Adrianne was setting up at trunk shows in Wellington, Florida during polo season, selling her bags. She couldn’t think of a name for her business, so she jokingly called it Gypsy Belt Co. because she is a Stevie Nicks fan, and the name stuck.

Adrianne’s one-of-a-kind bags and stylish designs are not only beautiful, they are functional. The bags are leather, such as bison or cowhide, and hand sewn by Adrianne. There are a variety of bags in different sizes and styles, from her most popular Large Signature Tote to the Nikki, Heritage, Renegade, Texhoma, Hobo and newest CC and Chickabiddy. Eye-catching, finishing details may include a mohair cinch strap, a tooled design strap, fringe or twisted fringe, a sterling or turquoise button or a spur rowel accent. These details make each bag unique.

Gypsy Belt bags are pieces of custom handmade art — all constructed by Adrianne’s skilled hands. They can be purchased via Instagram, @gypsybeltco or you can find them locally in downtown Aiken at Equine Divine at 126 Laurens St. SW.

Left to Right: Cowhide LeighAnn shoulder bag with repurposed Western breast collar strap; Adrianne tooling leather for a bag strap; Adrianne is wearing a capri button-down shirt in Desert Horizon Stripes by Bella Dahl from Equine Divine. Beside her are Nikki bags and smaller Pinto bags.

JESUSA ACCESSORIES

Isa started Jesusa with her friend Lu in Argentina in 2015. A school design project about the native Indians from South Argentina inspired her to design accessories that represented different ethnic cultures from all over the world.

Jesusa offers products which also preserve the craftsmanship of ethnic cultures. Browsing their necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bags, sweaters, and dresses is like taking a trip around the world. Their jewelry is made from ancient coins from Afghanistan, natural stones from Argentina, beads and leather from Africa, and silver from Ethiopia. Exceptional, hand knitted, 100% wool sweaters are a favorite, and sell out quickly.

“Hecho a mano”, or handmade, is Jesusa’s tagline. Each piece is unique and handmade in the traditional way. Jesusa Accessories can be purchased on their website, jesusaaccesorios.com.ar, at selected trunk shows in the United States, or at the Carolita Home showroom in Nuñez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Follow them on Instragram at @ jesusaaccesorios.

Left to Right: A collection of Jesusa Accessories favorites; Kenia necklace (left) made with mixed African bone beads, vintage coins, and puka shells, and horn necklace (right); Kaylin is wearing a white flowy button-down shirt by Bella Dahl from Equine Divine, and an Ethiopia necklace made with African silver beads, paired with the Coin necklace, made with antique Afghanistan coins and leather lace.

Left to Right: Isa and Adrianne (pictured with Isa’s daughter Aurora) find time in their busy schedules to visit as often as they can. Gypsy Belt bags (left to right); the Nikki and the small Signature Tote; Isa is wearing handmade bronze Frasian earrings, a Ruda bead necklace of handmade beading and leather lace, and a Carmela bracelet, made of leather and silver nickel.

Gypsy Belt Co / @gypsybeltco Jesusa / @jesusaaccesorios Equine Divine / 126 Laurens St SW / equinedivineonline.com Thank you to our models: Adrianne Till, Isa Schatz and Kaylin Bender.