Lauren Sanchez’s pocketbooks have a practical origin. When her architecture firm was dumping a trove of fabric remnants from its library, she realized the old 12” by 16” sample dimension presented the perfect proportion for a small handbag.

The handles came from a 2½” strip from the long side, and the rest became the body. Sticking to this same format, Lauren now gets her fabric by the half-yard, from an eclectic variety of sources. With a slim taper and traditional prints often contrasting bold interiors, each purse is a unique work.