Handbag designer Basil Racuk crafts fine leather goods in black and brown, with clean lines and hidden hardware. So creating a lime-green metallic tote was akin to taking up skydiving.
"It's a lot of fun for me as a designer to go out of my comfort zone," he says. "Metallics are a good example of, 'Let's just blast off.' "
Racuk, who's been making artisan bags in Oakland for about five years, just moved to San Francisco and set up shop on 18th Street between Mission and Valencia, on the ground level of a large Victorian. It's cozy and modern, with bright white walls, honey-colored wood floors and a rotating display of contemporary art. In the back, about four steps down, is the workshop where Racuk and two assistants piece together the hides on antique sewing machines. "I love the tiny, slightly irregular stitches these old machines make," he says.
His sturdy, last-forever carryalls for men and women - which feature nature-inspired hardware by Miles Eastman[1] and domestic saddle-quality leathers - range from $138-$238 for suede or metallic totes (also in silver and turquoise); about $500-$600 for an iPad case; and about $1,100-$1,800 for larger cowhide or buffalo bags in classic structured silhouettes like a slim-top pouch, clutches, duffels and briefcases.
Most have cotton moleskin or waxed cotton linings and vegetable tanned handles. Each is made to order, but Racuk welcomes design tweaks from his customers, as well as an offer to work together on the piece. "How about using your mother's dress as a lining? Everything is on the table," he says.
The Mission might seem an odd location to sell bags that rival those at Barneys, but Racuk is convinced the neighborhood is about to turn into a design and decor destination in addition to the food mecca it already is. "I was just about to go into a space on Union Street, but at the 11th hour, this landed in my lap and I knew I wanted to be part of the dynamism here," he says.
3458-A 18th St., San Francisco; (415) 255-7457. Noon-8 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. www.basilracukshop.com[2] .
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