Linda Masquefa Handbags' Night Out in Beverly Hills

EKC client Linda Masquefa handbags enjoyed a glamorous evening out last night at the SLS in Beverly Hills! The chic hotel was the backdrop for RAND Luxury's exclusive showcase of the hottest luxury products and services. Editors got to browse the latest from the LM collection, and catch a sneak peak at what Linda has in store for 2011!

Check Out What’s Going On With a Few of EKC’s Beautiful Clients

Linda Masquefa Handbags Make Beverly Center Debut at TRAFFIC During ‘Fashion’s Night Out’

On Friday, September 10, Beverly Center welcomed the arrival of Linda Masquefa’s exotic handbag line. Her eclectic fashions were displayed during the Fashion’s Night Out festivities. West Hollywood fashion boutique Traffic will carry these sought after items. View her collection here.

Amanda Eliasch Has Lunch With Fashion Designer, Ozwald Boateng

Photographer, writer, fashion editor…work never slows for Amanda Eliasch. Over the weekend, Amanda enjoyed a lunch with fashion designer, Ozwald Boateng at West Hollywood’s Cecconi’s. Looks like Ozwald needs some of Amanda’s expertise, as he requests her help to celebrate his 25^th year in the business at this year’s London Fashion Week! Amanda runs in the same circle with other dazzling fashion icons including Dita Von Teese and editor of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani. Read more about her lunch date with Ozwald on her blog.

Check out Deanna Shapiro’s Most Recent Work

Switch up your movie night this week and check out some of our favorite independent film producer, Deanna Shapiro’s most recent work. Her most recent 2010 films include Kill Speed, starring Andrew Keegan and Nick Carter, and the psychological-horror-thriller, Junkyard Dog, starring Vivica A. Fox. Both films were artfully crafted screenplays from writer-director Kim Bass. Keep an eye out for some of Deanna’s films that are currently in the pipeline; “The Unbroken,” “Grand Grabbers,” and “The Mark,” to name a few.

Summer is Ending…But the Holidays are Right Around the Corner!

In January 2010, EKC client Amy Weber dazzled the cover of Germany’s Maxim with her stunning bikini bod. The cover serves as a real inspiration not just to women who want to stay bikini ready all year long, but to new mom’s trying to get their taut figure back! With the bikini-friendly Labor Day parties over and the combination of cooler weather and the high-calorie foods that accompany those Monday night football parties everyone loves so much, it’s easy to fall off the wagon! Just thinking of Amy Weber and her Maxim cover has given all the girls at EKC a new burst of inspiration to stay fit this holiday season. Wonder who will be next to grace the cover of Maxim for the 2011 year!

In addition to looking good, Amy also has a few television shows in development and is currently the spokesperson for www.BestStreak.com, a sporting network that will be launching their website this October.

Linda Masquefa Featured in 944 Magazine

Luxury handbag designer and EKC client Linda Masquefa is featured in this month's 944 for Orange County! Check out the article, where Linda talks about how her travels to South America served as the inspiration for her stunning line:

Skins of the Season
Linda Masquefa Scours the World for Handbag Inspiration and Materialsby Dani Smith

At one point in time, Linda Masquefa was the CEO of a finance company. Today, the Newport Beach resident is the designer of an exclusive handbag line with no more than five bags per design produced. From crocodile and python to stingray and ostrich leg, her evening minaudières (box clutches) are handcrafted using only the finest materials and most exotic skins. With a strong rapport for luxury, uniqueness and style, a Linda Masquefa handbag is the epitome of glamour. Available locally at Marque in Laguna Beach and online, they are the perfect accessory for a night out or trip abroad.

944: What sparked the change from finance company CEO to handbag designer?
LINDA MASQUEFA: I was vacationing in Central and South America a few years back and my travels took me to a small crocodile farm in Panama. I became infatuated with these exotic animals and I had a sudden urge to somehow capture their amazing essence. Design was the most natural channel for me.

944: How did your new career begin?
LM: When I came back from my trip, I started researching the use of exotic skins in fashion and realized that there really weren’t any U.S.-based handbag designers working exclusively with skins. My business partner and I decided that this was the perfect niche for my vision.

944: Why do you choose to use such exotic skins?
LM: To me, exotic skins epitomize luxury and exclusivity. They convey a certain spirit that just can’t be expressed with “ordinary” materials. And as I said, skins really don’t have much of a presence here in the States.

944: Where do you draw inspiration from?
LM: From my life! Everything from my travels to remarkable people I meet to exquisite works of art. Nature will always be a huge inspiration to me as well.

944: What designers do you wear?
LM: I have an extremely eclectic style so it all depends on my mood and where I’m going. As far as accessories, my favorite designer is Gladys Villareal. I also love the young, edgy-but-chic look of classic contemporary designers like Marc Jacobs. (read more...)

Kate Gosselin Dons a Linda Masquefa bag for the DWTS Finale!

ABC's Dancing With the Stars contestant and reality TV personality Kate Gosselin selected to wear a bag by EKC luxury handbag designer Linda Masquefa!

Kate graced the red carpet during the show's finale and after-party with Linda Masquefa's Senora bag, as seen in the following Extra video -

Linda Masquefa Bags in Genlux Magazine

Genlux readers: check out Linda Masquefa's stunning creations in the Spring II issue, hand-picked by international socialite and discriminating fashion editor Amanda Eliasch for her 'Editor's Picks' page. As her must-haves, Amanda chose two of LM's opulent, classic evening bags-- a black one and a metallic one, both made of died python skin with gold accents.

We could definitely see either one of these on her fabulous arm!

Linda Masquefa is Winning L.A.'s Heart, One Fashion Editor at a Time

We're in love with Linda Masquefa's handbag collection-- the perfect mix of decadent classics and fun statement pieces, all crafted from artisan hardware and to-die-for exotic skins. And as the word gets out about the up-and-coming designer, L.A.'s most influential fashionistas are beginning to catch LM fever, too.

Be sure to snag a copy of Genlux Magazine when it hits newsstands next week...We hear Linda's bags caught the eye of a certain notorious socialite-fashion editor, and will be appearing in her monthly "must-haves" column!

Bag Blogosphere Already Abuzz About LM Bags

Even before the official debut of her stunning new spring creations, Linda Masquefa is already gaining the attention of purse and fashion blogs.

Today, BagBunch raved, "I love what I've seen, and can't wait to see what Masquefa can do with a larger canvas." Neither can we! Read the rest of the article below:

Individuality means everything to Californian handbag designer Linda Masquefa. No more than five Linda Masquefa minaudieres of a single design are ever produced.

"I wanted to go for exclusivity," the designer explained. "If a woman has my bag, she won't see it walking down the street."

Each Linda Masquefa bag is handcrafted with exotic skins from Italy, including lizard, ostrich, calf hair, leather, python, stingray, and her favorite, crocodile.

"I believe it's so elegant, so pretty, so classic," she explained.

The simplistic designs lend themselves as easily to a dinner date as a glamorous soiree.

Considering their exotic skins and limited status, Linda Masquefa purses are surprisingly affordable. The pieces are priced between $800 and $2880. They are available from selected American boutiques and Linda Masquefa's online store.

While Linda Masquefa currently specializes in clutches, she hopes to design day bags, a pet carrier, and belts. I love what I've seen, and can't wait to see what Masquefa can do with a larger canvas.

Linda Masquefa Featured in OC Register

Style writer Candice Shih of the Orange County Register recently profiled EKC's Linda Masquefa! Check out Linda discussing how she got into the luxury handbag business and the inspiration behind her gorgeous designs:

Linda Masquefa’s minaudieres aren’t for everyone, but that’s not the point.

“I wanted to go for exclusivity,” said Masquefa, 53, of Aliso Viejo. “If a woman has my bag, she won’t see it walking down the street.”

Or at least it is extremely unlikely. Masquefa’s small evening clutches are made of exotic skins and typically only five or fewer of each design are produced. The pieces cost $800 to $2,880 each.

Masquefa, who was born in Santa Ana and grew up in Newport Beach (with the maiden name Jump), was inspired to get into the luxury handbag business during a trip to Central and South America in 2008.

Her previous boss at an electronic check company was interested in importing and exporting crocodile products. That led them to a crocodile farm in Panama. (read full article...)

EKC Client Luxury Designer Linda Masquefa Reveals Newest Collection During Panama City Trunk Show

On March 2, 2010, luxury handbag designer Linda Masquefa will be showcasing her exclusive collection of handcrafted creations at the world culture inspired Pangea Restaurant in Panama City. The designer will be present to display her current limited number pieces, as well as reveal her newest collection.

The Linda Masquefa Trunk Show finds the designer back in the land where her creative journey began. Inspiration first struck Masquefa during a visit to a Panama crocodile farm. The unique skins were the most exquisite, wondrous materials she had ever seen and were the catalyst to her couture handbag creations. Marrying these exclusive skins with classic and innovative design, the most desirable handles, closures and accent hardware from Italy, and old world craftsmanship has placed Masquefa’s creations at the vanguard of true luxury handbag reinvention. Her luxury pieces are now housed in premier boutiques in Las Vegas, Laguna Beach and Panama City.

Pangea Restaurant, which is ancient Greek for “entire world,” sets the perfect backdrop for the intricately imagined Linda Masquefa Collection. Six rooms, each in their own unique and distinctive style, and the multi-cultured platform exude the aesthetic and artistic idealism of Masquefa’s eclectic pieces. Pangea owner Gary Doherty called on the services of interior designer Jennifer Simpson to bring to life the most beautiful cultural imagery from around the world, invoking the spirit of old worlds past while melding the highest value of current technology. Each distinct room (Asia, Caribbean, East Africa, North Africa, South America and Indian Sub Continent) all holds claim to sought-after gourmet food and the finest consumptions.

The Linda Masquefa Trunk Show will be held on Tuesday, March 2, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Pangea Restaurant, located at Calle Alberto Navarro, Casa 45-A El Cangrejo, Panama City, Panama. For reservations, email info@pangeapanama.com.

For the latest news on Linda Masquefa, visit her fan page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter (@LindaMasqeufa).

For more information or to interview Linda Masquefa, please contact Eileen Koch @ Eileen Koch & Company INC, 310.441.1000 or email Eileen @ Eileen@eileenkoch.com. Please visit www.eileenkoch.com.

A Sneak Peak at New Designer Linda Masquefa's Latest Bags!

EKC just got ahold of these GORGEOUS photos from client Linda Masquefa's recent photo shoot!

Here are some of the stunning new evening bag designs that Linda completed just in time for awards season.....
We're especially loving the the turquoise one-- could definitely see Penelope Cruz or Marion Cotillard carrying it down the red carpet at the Oscars, adding a pop of color to a classic gown. Hmm...We'll see!

Linda Masquefa Preps For Spring Photo Shoot

This week, EKC is busy helping client designer Linda Masquefa prepare for a photo shoot with Marcel Indik for her spring line of uber-exclusive handbags.

We conducted a casting of LA and New York's hottest models, in hopes of finding the perfect girls to help showcase Linda's gorgeous bags. Now that it's narrowed down to a few, we can't wait to see who will get to flaunt the new LM bags...Right before all the celebs do this award season!

EKC PR Welcomes Handbag Designer Linda Masquefa

Eileen Koch & Company has been chosen to represent Linda Masquefa, an Orange County-based designer of high-end handbags. The brand imports exotic materials from around the world to create near one-of-a-kind pieces that embody luxury and exquisite craftsmanship. We look forward to getting the word out about Linda and her gorgeous bags!