A personal love of designer bags, sparked by a fascination with her grandmother’s penchant for Chanel, saw Fatima Savea embark on her own handbag collection, which has since grown into an impressive handbag hire business.
In the current economic climate, spending money on a designer handbag is probably not up there on the winter essentials list, but, that doesn’t stop our desire to have a new luxury leather good on our arm, for everyday style as well as special occasions.
Fatima (Tima) Savea is making handbag dreams come true, with her business Tima’s Style Lounge having grown into one of New Zealand’s largest collections of handbag rentals, offering new and vintage pieces.
The self-confessed handbag lover has been working on her own personal collection since she was 18, after saving to purchase her first ever Louis Vuitton.
Inspired by her grandmother’s handbags (in particular Chanel), Tima’s love for luxury leather goods is in her blood, but it was upon returning to New Zealand during the pandemic, after two years living in France, that she saw a huge gap in the market for a luxury handbag hire.
When Tima first returned to New Zealand, no one was offering the service, which was super popular in Europe, London in particular. So she invested in a collection specifically for New Zealand bag lovers fueled by a passion to help all Kiwis have the opportunity to enjoy luxury at an affordable price.
Tima’s collection has grown to more than 22 handbags available to hire, from Chanel to Dior to Bottega, including rare vintage pieces. FashioNZ caught up with Tima to find out about her personal style.
Where did your love of designer bags come from?
It definitely is in my DNA, but originally, I would say it was from my grandmother. She was a Chanel lover and I was obsessed with her collection as a teenager. It wasn’t long until I started saving for a bag of my own after being inspired by her own beautiful range.
What was the first bag you ever bought?
I bought my first designer bag when I was only 18 years old and saved up for it. It was the Louis Vuitton Noe bag and it had my initials stamped on it. I still have it and carry it from time to time but being a mum, all I carry day to day is a baby bag.
How many are in your collection?
I am handbag obsessed but at last count, there are 22 bags in Tima’s Style Lounge collection, and I have another 12 bags in my personal collection. I am hoping to expand the collection in the future and add more to both the business’s collection and my personal collection. Who doesn’t want more handbags?
What do you look for when selecting a designer bag?
There are no set guidelines for me. I think that’s key, especially with the business. I have a wide range of handbags that are all different. For my personal collection, I like to invest in timeless pieces such as Chanel that will age well and appreciate in price over the years. They are not wrong when they say Chanel is a good investment. They are one of the few handbag brands that actually appreciate in price. I also look for bags that are currently on trend and bright colours for variation and I don’t stick to basic colours all the time. When people are renting a bag they are more confident to play with colour.
What is your ultimate handbag – no budget too big? And why?
That’s a hard question but probably my Chanel 19 bag. I definitely splurged and treated myself. It’s my most expensive and most-loved bag. It’s so versatile and I absolutely love the feel of the leather. I know it’s a bag I will have forever and will eventually pass it down to my daughter one day.
Which are the favourites from your collection and why?
From Tima’s Style Lounge collection, it would have to be the vintage Chanel Wallet on Chain. It’s patent leather in a gorgeous orange colour and looks absolutely stunning. I love that it is so unique and the fact that it is vintage means you’d be hard-pressed to find many others out there like it. From my personal collection, it would be the Chanel 19, Chanel multi-colour classic flap, and the Bottega Veneta mini Jodie in green. I love a pop of colour with my outfits and the Chanel multi-colour and Jodie bags bring a bit of fun to my outfits.
Do you think some bags stand the test of time and some are more seasonal? How can people make the right selection when investing?
Yes definitely. When investing in your first designer bag, I always say buy something that will go with every outfit and age well. I personally love the YSL Loulou bags. They’re a great everyday bag and can also be dressed up for a night out. Always think of practicality when purchasing your first designer bag and ask yourself ‘will I get enough wear out of this for the money I’m spending?’ and ‘will this be a staple bag I can wear with any outfit?’ I like to look at it as a cost-per-wear investment. That certainly justifies it.
You’ve got some amazing vintage bags in your collection. How did you source these?
I bought most of them from Vestiaire, a great platform for selling and buying second-hand designer items. I always find great gems on there. I wish we had more second-hand designer stores in New Zealand like they do in Europe and the States. It really is a treasure trove to find unique pieces.
Which of your bags is the most sentimental and why?
My Louis Vuitton Noe, as it was my first purchase that I worked so hard to save for. Definitely made it more sentimental.
Who are some of your fashion inspirations?
I love Louise O’Neil (misslouoneil on IG). She has the most incredible and elegant style. I don’t follow many fashion bloggers but she’s definitely one I love following.
What are your tips for styling designer bags?
My number one tip is to make sure your bag doesn’t clash with your shoes. A bag must complement the shoes you’re wearing. I also love pairing a mono-toned outfit with a bright bag for some pop of colour. Don’t be afraid of bright-coloured bags. They’re always fun to style with outfits.
What are your thoughts on cheaper bags or dupes? Are there some out there worth investing in?
I got my first dupe a few weeks ago from watching a Tik Tok video and I was really curious to see the quality and also to just be able to see what this particular bag looked like. I got a dupe of the Hermes mini Kelly because your girl here will never get her hands on the real deal and buying them at resell price is just insanity. I must say it’s a cute bag but you can definitely tell it’s a dupe and nothing will ever compare to the real deal. I would say if you want a good-quality designer bag, then invest in the real one because nothing will ever be of the same quality.
Are you as passionate about luxury shoes and other items of clothing too, and if so, what are some must-have pieces everyone needs in their wardrobe?
I love designer shoes and have a few in my collection. My staples are the Bottega Veneta leather mules. They are extremely comfortable for heels and they look good with every outfit, whether it’s jeans or a dress. I also love my walk-in-Dior sneakers. They’re another shoe I love that I’ve had since 2018 and wear quite regularly.
In terms of clothing, I don’t buy a lot of designer clothing, as I love switching out my wardrobe every season and selling my clothes. Designer clothing usually doesn’t sell as well as mid-range clothing does. My only staple designer piece of clothing at the moment is my Loewe black anagram singlet. A simple singlet that can be dressed up or down.
And finally, what’s the best piece of styling advice you’ve been given?
Never be afraid of expressing yourself with your style. Be bold, be unique, and don’t necessarily follow trends if you don’t want to.
Images supplied