“To the person I love most in this world,” reads the inscription inside the original Fiona, the first JAMAH bag inspired by a love story.
When Johnney Z. first contacted Nancy Gale to commission a design for his wife, he described her as beautiful, intelligent and kind. Her taste, he said, is impeccable, her style, quietly sophisticated and her acute sense of interior design, exquisite. Her grace, generosity, attention to detail and her quiet confidence are just some of the reasons why he admires, loves and adores Fiona.
His goal was to present his cherished wife with a gift as flawless as she: a one-of-a-kind custom JAMAH handbag, designed to reflect her discerning eye.
The bag had to be alligator and it had to be pink, Fiona’s favorite color. Gale personally selected an alligator skin of the highest quality. Luxurious and supple with textured scales, the immaculate hide will last for generations. After examining countless shades, the perfect pink was selected and the raw skin was dyed. As Johnney did not want a glossy finish, the hide was then waxed and buffed to a brilliant sheen. The resulting luster highlighted the depth and luminosity of the leather, evocative of Fiona’s soulful demeanor and refined taste.
While preparing the skin, the design was going through countless transformations. No decision was insignificant. Every detail needed to capture Fiona’s chic aesthetic and highlight the beauty of the leather.
Johnney gave Gale an idea of dimensions and specified that the top of the bag be open to reflect Fiona’s generous nature. Rigidity and balance essential, the bag needed to stand on its own. Should the perfect handles be anchored on the inside or the outside of the bag? Should they be flat or round? What about the chain? Where should the grommets be placed?
Gale’s desire to mirror the aesthetic of its namesake guided every design decision. Elegant. Fluid. Astute. Pristine. Intelligent. Alluring. Classic. Captivating.
With the process complete, Johnney was ready to present his beloved Fiona with the perfect gift -- an original, custom-made JAMAH alligator bag. The final touch, an additional interior inscription that reads: “The Fiona, First Edition.”
Watch the making of The Fiona here.
Fiona’s closet with her namesake JAMAH bag front and center.