Celeb-Loved Online Leather Brand Launches New Collaboration, Mobile Monogramming

Sibling entrepreneurs Rae and David Liu took over their family business in 2011 with one idea in mind: to create high quality products at a more affordable price. Now, online-based brand Leatherology is touring the country with its new Mobile Monogramming Trunk and launching a collaboration with DVF today (October 4).

Rae has an impressive background as the former accessories development manager for Alexander Wang where she helped launch the brand’s first handbag collection in 2008.

“I’m a product person at heart,” she tells PaperCity. “I love to create things.”

Her brother David comes from a business background and works more on the marketing side of things. He previously worked for Google in London until his sister recruited him to come on board four years ago. It was the perfect match for an all digital handbag and accessories business with a headquarters in Dallas (where the Lius live) and manufacturing facilities in China.

“We come from an entrepreneurial family and something we always wanted to do,” David says. “It’s in our blood.” Their father first started the company in 2008.

“By owning this business, I’ve learned more than in the career I had for 10 years before,” David says.

Success of the brand quickly skyrocketed and there always seems to be a waitlist for Leatherology’s most popular products. Celebrities like Serena Williams, Erin & Sara Foster, Demi Moore and Nina Dobrev have even been seen with their own Leatherology bags.

The fact that the company is vertically integrated helps out a lot with filling orders as quick as possible. Rae and David have a direct-to-consumer model and do all of the manufacturing, distribution, etc. on their own.

Finally giving the brother-sister duo some face time with their customers, their new Mobile Monogramming Trunk has given them the opportunity to do so around the country.

“We don’t get to speak to customers often,” David says. “It’s created an experiential moment.”

The trunk just got back from Austin and Nashville. It will appear in Charleston next. Special designs are even created for the cities that they visit. For Nashville, a mockingbird design was incorporated and in Austin, a new electric blue color with lasso screen print was produced. In Charleston, Leatherology is collaborating with Garden & Gun on a fox design.

As for how the company got involved with DVF, a world-renowned fashion brand, it was completely organic. The siblings had previously hosted an event with Erin & Sara Foster in Los Angeles where photos were inevitably posted on Instagram. Soon after, David received a direct message on Instagram about a possibly collaboration.

New designs will be a “nice marriage” of DVF’s iconic prints and the classic silhouettes of Leatherology, Rae says.

The favorite Willow Envelope will come in snow leopard prints and pouches, luggage tags and slim wallets will have a Geotile design. Another one of Rae’s favorites, the Belmont Structured Tote will also be available in snow leopard for this collection.

“We’re excited to expose the brand to the DVF customer,” she says. “DVF is known for empowering women.” Which is another reason Rae is excited since Leatherology is a primarily female-run company.

“I’m excited to just be pulling it off,” jokes David. The turnaround was quick as they started discussions just five months ago.

After this, the duo would love to do more pop-ups. They say once they find the right space, they plan to hold one in Dallas.