It’s shockingly hard to find a good bag. One that won’t unexpectedly fall apart at a fancy cocktail party. One that doesn’t cost a month’s rent. One that every other girl and her botox-happy mother doesn’t own.

Now, try to find a good bag not only designed by a Canadian, but MADE IN Canada? Near impossible. (Most Canadian accessory designers outsource their manufacturing overseas for various reasons.) 

Vancouverite Mary Rich to the rescue. The young designer, who specializes in leatherwork, just launched her line of backpacks, handbags, and clutches–and you’re going to want to start collecting. I’ve been toting the “BC-1006-20-BLK” (I can’t help but love that she hasn’t bothered to dub the bags with cutesy little names) for a few weeks now, and I’ve never gotten more compliments on a clutch.

The bag isn’t exactly what one would call a ‘statement piece,’ but it’s well made with textured lambskin and all the right details– and that’s apparently enough to draw the envy of others. (Perhaps a statement itself on how accustomed we’ve become to complete crap accessories.) Bonus: it matches just about everything and is more than large enough to carry an extra pair of flats in addition to all the usual items. The heavy aluminum zipper provides a nice finish, and glides open and close with ease–something you’d expect of zippers, yes, but a feat lesser ones fail to accomplish all too often.

And if you are in the market for a peacocking piece, there are plenty of those too. I have my eye on her paint splatter patterns, but take a look for yourself below and over at Mary Rich’s online store ($250-$425). 

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Sabrina Maddeaux is Toronto Standard’s managing editor. Follow her on Twitter at @sabrinamaddeaux.

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