To celebrate the launch of the new C de Cartier handbag, Cartier held the Asia Leather Goods Roadshow in Shanghai earlier this month. ZTYLEZ was fortunate to be invited to attend the event and personally appreciate the new C de Cartier and Savoir-Faire handbags, getting a glimpse of the brand’s classic vintage collection!
Marlin Yuson, Creative Director of the Leather Goods Department, also personally came to Shanghai to meet with us and shared some stories about her and the design inspiration for the new handbags. She also revealed the process of making the handbags and showed us the drafts! In addition, the brand specially invited craftsmen to demonstrate the exquisite craftsmanship in creating the C de Cartier handbags, with every detail being meticulously crafted, which was truly eye-opening!
Before we delve into our interview, let’s first get to know Marlin Yuson, the passionate creative director of Cartier’s leather fashion. Marlin grew up in New York and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from New York University (NYU) and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) with a degree in Ready-to-Wear (RTW) Design.
From Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo to Calvin Klein, Marlin has always been active in the fashion industry and has rich experience in the luxury goods industry. Since 2002, Marlin has been working for Cartier, joining as the Market Director of the Accessories Department. Three years later, she even established the Leather Goods and Leather Accessories Design Department, and was promoted to the Creative Director of the Leather Goods Department, bringing popular series of bags such as Marcello, C de Cartier, and Panthère!
ZTYLEZ: Can you tell us three words that best describe C De Cartier?
Marlin Yuson: “Modern”, “beautiful”, “versatile”
ZTYLEZ: Can you share what new elements you have added to the C De Cartier handbags?
Marlin Yuson: With the new C de Cartier handbag, we aim to enhance the collection to new heights by incorporating precious textiles and fabrics, and adding a modern touch to the iconic emblem.
ZTYLEZ: Is there anything interesting about creating the new C De Cartier watch that you can share with us?
Marlin Yuson: In designing the new C De Cartier, I intentionally created unique elements such as special shapes and structures to add a touch of uniqueness to the piece. It may not be tangible or visible to the naked eye, but it does exist. The embroidery on the new C de Cartier series bags may appear simple, but in reality, the process is very time-consuming. The embroidery process alone takes several hours to complete (excluding assembly), and it is highly complex.
ZTYLEZ: How would you suggest women mix and match these handbags with their outfits?
Marlin Yuson: The new C De Cartier handbag comes with a Cartier embroidered shoulder strap and a short leather shoulder strap, cleverly mixing leather and embroidered canvas in matching tones. I believe Cartier customers can add more versatility to their style with the two different widths of shoulder straps, effortlessly creating new highlights.
ZTYLEZ: From the women’s department of Ferragamo to the creative director of Cartier’s leather goods department, can you share how you have reached your current position step by step?
Marlin Yuson: From New York, Brazil to Italy, I have been busy working in the fashion industry. While working at Salvatore Ferragamo, I discovered a passion for leather, which changed my fashion journey. Working with leather makes me feel free, I love the texture of leather, and it has endless possibilities to create unexpected products, allowing me to express myself freely and boldly in designing handbags.
