How Fashion Brand Eittem Makes Luxury Handbags From Salvaged Wood
A Manhattan atelier, Eittem, is redefining what a handbag can be. From their Chelsea atelier in Manhattan, this brand transforms salvaged walnut wood into bold, limited-edition luxury handbags. Founded by Erin and Joe Saluti, Eittem blends art, sculpture, and high fashion in a way that feels fresh and fearless.
Before it becomes a bag, the walnut has already lived a life—shading passersby in Central Park or lining the edges of a botanical trail. Eittem repurposes this fallen wood, honoring its story rather than discarding it. The result is more than design; it’s preservation. Each piece carries a trace of place, weather, and time.
Eittem NYC / Instagram / Sourced from urban locations like Central Park and botanical gardens, the wood is repurposed into sleek, lightweight bags.
Inside the atelier, transparency is key. Clients are welcome to step in, see the work in progress, and meet the artisans shaping each design. There’s no conveyor belt in sight—just open worktables and a team focused on getting every cut, stitch, and polish exactly right. Nothing feels rushed. Every part of the process is deliberate, hands-on, and visibly cared for.
Materials and Details
Luxury details elevate each piece far beyond craft. Eittem works with Alpine leather, sourced from the same supplier used by Hermès, which adds softness and durability. The hardware is stainless steel and the chains are rhodium-plated sterling silver, giving each bag a sculptural gleam.
However, building one bag is not quick work. It takes two full weeks and combines CAD modeling, 3D printing, and over twenty hand-painting stages. The result is a finish that feels smooth against the skin and a structure that feels both strong and surprisingly light.
Eittem’s first collection features three striking shapes: Owl, Moon, and Bird. Each form nods to nature yet feels sharp and modern. Clients can choose between natural walnut grain or bold glossy colors, both turning heads in very different ways.
Eittem / Instagram / The experience of carrying one is unexpected. Though made of wood, each bag feels soft and silky against the body.
The curves are deliberate, shaped to sit comfortably whether held by hand or worn on the shoulder. This is a design that considers both look and feel.
Keep in mind that these wooden handbags are surprisingly lightweight and are designed to feel “soft and silky.”
Limited Editions With Value
Eittem doesn’t do volume—it does precision. Fewer than 200 bags leave their studio each year, and every one carries the maker’s signature and number. It’s not just branding—it’s accountability, authorship. You’re not buying into a trend; you’re collecting something that was made to be counted.
The price tag? Significant. But it’s not arbitrary. Most pieces fall between $5,800 and $7,800, and that cost tells a story—of time, of technique, of materials chosen with intent. These are bags built to stay with you, not be cycled out with the next fashion season. Scarcity isn’t a gimmick—it’s built into the ethos, and collectors notice.
Their future plans aren’t about scaling up but refining down. One new design per year—that’s the rhythm they’re setting. They’re in talks for select retail partnerships, but the model isn’t changing: keep production small, relationships personal, and craftsmanship at the center of it all.
At the heart of Eittem’s appeal is their refusal to rush. Every material is chosen for a reason—reclaimed wood, buttery leather, hardware that’s finished by hand. Nothing feels incidental. It’s the kind of care you don’t see often, and it’s what sets them apart in a market full of shortcuts.