Vogue on the Go

JUPITER, FL – September 1, 2017 – The fashion industry is cutthroat. In a market that is constantly evolving, fashion designers must stay at the top of their game, dominating creativity and functionality aspects of their product. Not to mention, staying on top of trends and producing the unthinkable yet likable is the aim. And if this isn’t believable, watch The Devil Wears Prada and then see if you view fashion shows the same way again.

Miriam Jesselli, creative designer, founder, and owner of BUCO Handbags, has quite the fashionable rap sheet. She attended not one but two design schools: Parsons School of Design in New York City and the Dante Alighieri Design School in Florence, Italy. Upon graduation, the fashion world became hers. 

In 1997, she launched Kate Spade’s first leather collection and during the following year, Tahari Leather goods was launched. The talented owner also possessed senior merchandising and design positions with Coach, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren Men’s Accessories, and Calvin Klein. As if that wasn’t enough, Jesselli was the lead designer for Adrienne Vittadini’s 2008 Fall handbag collection.

Now, Jesselli is the current owner of high-end purse company BUCO. Known for their “lightweight feel and artisan inspired appearance,” the handbags are brightly colored, reminiscent of sunny days poolside. Laser cut patterns intrinsically adorn the bags, and fittingly so: BUCO is Italian for the word “hole” (due to the nature of how the bags are made, there is always a hole or two in the tote). 

But don’t let the aesthetics fool you: BUCO bags are as functional as they are stylish. “We pride ourselves on individuality and originality and create each bag to be a unique reflection of our customer’s personal style,” says Jesselli. 

In a nutshell, the brand is associated with “luxurious high quality, creative, casual, compelling, and sophisticated designs that encompass the femininity and charisma of today’s modern woman,” according to Jesselli. She adds, “The BUCO brand represents a unique synthesis of creativity and logic that brings quality, authenticity, and a truly inspirational style. BUCO brand’s mission is to persistently diversify collections while withholding our standards to keep up with the ever changing needs of today’s modern woman.”

The inception of BUCO began in Jesselli’s house in Jupiter. She then moved to an office and now has offices both in New York City and Los Angeles. Nine years later, her business is thriving. 

Not surprisingly, the handbags and their city of origin draw quite a few parallels. “In Jupiter, we have a tropical landscape and we are surrounded by the ocean breeze,” explains Jesselli. “ I keep my bags colorful, happy, and lightweight.” At Bloomingdales and other stores, shoppers can view BUCO’s beach/pool collection, a set of handbags that embodies this notion. Jesselli herself has lived in Jupiter for 14 years and previously resided in New York City.

When asked if she experienced any setbacks on her path to create luxury handbags and how these experiences shaped her, Jesselli replies, “During this journey, the more demand there is for BUCO, the more financially draining it becomes. In addition to today’s retail climate, we find many stores have challenges staying in business so we are always seeking out new customers.

“I did not go to business school, so being in your own business and being the sole owner of a company is not easy because you are always making decisions and hoping those decisions are going to turn out correct. Some do and some don’t. The ones that do not, you learn the next time around [that] you do not repeat that experience.”

Of course, BUCO has its share of fans. “Ladies in Jupiter collect BUCO bags every season,” says Jesselli of the brand’s popularity. “We have a loyal customer base that follows all the stores in Jupiter for new BUCO collections. I want to extend a thank you for all my retail stores who have been carrying BUCO in Jupiter and Tequesta.”

The most recent news from the brand is the launch of a leather goods and cross body collection exclusive in all Papyrus stores. Other items include travel and beach totes, clutches, leather zip wristlets (found under the “personal accessories” tab under the “accessories” dropdown), and more. And, of course, there are a variety of handbags. Prices range from $98 to about $300. Luckily, there is currently a promo code website visitors can use that is displayed on the homepage of the site.