Handbag news
First Black-owned luxury handbag company Deseri opens at Galleria Dallas
Deseri handbag
A new handbag boutique is opening at the Dallas Galleria. Called Deseri, it's a Black-woman owned luxury handbag brand created and owned by UT Dallas alumna and Dallas native Deseri Kelley, and it's opening on Level 1 near Gucci, Gregory's, and Tommy Bahama, with a line of clutches, totes, wallets, regular handbags, and jewelry.
Kelley, who launched Deseri in 2022 as an online shop, says she welcomes the opportunity to have a destination for customers as well as the chance to interact with customers one-on-one.
The storefront became a reality after Galleria Dallas reached out, expressing interest in the brand and offering an ideal space.
Handbags were always a thing. She still remembers getting her first designer handbag when she was nine years old, one she stills owns and cherishes today. "I have always loved handbags, collected them, all different kinds,” she says.
But it was while she lived abroad with her family in Barcelona, Spain and Paris, France that she became exposed to tanneries used by other luxury brands. Her handbags are produced and manufactured out of Ubrique, Spain, famous for being a major leather manufacturer for brands such as Dior, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
“What inspired me to get into fashion was my time overseas," she says.
While living abroad, she also saw the discrepancies in price between the U.S. and Europe, where it's cheaper to purchase and produce those goods than in the states.
“When we were moving back to the states, that’s one of the reasons why I created Desiri was because I wanted everyone to be able to afford the same luxuries [in America] that we can afford in Europe,” Kelley says.
Her line includes clutches and totes, priced between $375 and $915. Her best known items are the Rosa bag, featuring the signature DD logo; and the Rosa Mini, adorned with the brand's fox head emblem.
Although online-only, she was able to cultivate customers through social media, trunk shows, and influencer collaborations, and has attracted celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Winnie Harlow, and Tina Knowles.
Kelley says she's looking forward to expanding the brand with more accessories and even clothing, but meanwhile there's a party to attend: The store will host a grand opening event along Galleria Dallas' luxury row, on Thursday May 2 from 6-9 pm with champagne, light bites, and hand-painting by artist Alison Moore from Alison's Corner.
