How this beauty entrepreneur turned an attic space into her walk-in wardrobe

When you have a unique space to experiment with, you need to have a creative vision to maximise it to its fullest potential. When Savina got married, she moved in with her in-laws, and made the massive 2,500 sq ft attic of the three-storey bungalow her matrimonial home.

Without the help of an interior designer, Savina envisioned the entire space herself, including the creation of her dream closet. “I drew the layout, then engaged a carpenter to build it. It’s a custom design with open shelving for easy access, but due to space constraints, I could not build a closet island.” Still, the wardrobe is an interesting use of space, and the centrepiece of the room is definitely her large collection of luxury bags neatly stacked on shelves.

Savina’s love for luxury bags started when she was a fashion student. She says: “We studied fashion history, and I became obsessed with the history of each fashion house’s iconic bag design and origins.” Her first luxury handbag was the Louis Vuitton Twist Lock, which she purchased after saving for two years. Savina views her luxury bag collection as investment pieces, and says she would love to pass them down to her children if she decides to start a family in the future. “Otherwise, they would be given to my niece and godchildren,” she shares.

She has many bags that she cherishes, such as a seasonal Resort 2017 Chanel flap bag she purchased after attending her first Chanel fashion show in Paris in September 2018, and a black Hermes Birkin. Savina says: “I knew that I wanted to get my first Hermes bag after a milestone, and that was closing my first fundraising round for my previous beauty business, Beaubit.” Will she be adding any more to her collection? Definitely, says Savina.

When she designed her bag wardrobe, it was always with the intention of expanding her collection. She admits that she has lost count of the number of bags she owns, but there’s one bag she hopes to add to her growing collection: the Hermes Mini Kelly. “Hopefully, the boutique will reach out soon with some good news!”

Why did you decide to display your bags? I’ve always wanted a walk-in closet to display all my items like a boutique for styling inspiration. They get more use when they are displayed rather than kept in dust bags.

 How did you envision a space for your handbag collection? I knew exactly what I wanted, which is to maximise display area and walking space. The room doubles as a packing room for my work shoots and storage too. 

How did you eventually decide on the design? It was pretty fast; it took two weeks because the design was relatively simple. It’s a classic open shelf concept with wood panels. I drew the layout with simple calculations based on the wall length available. My carpenter did minimal adjustments to the measurements and had it fitted in the factory. The installation took just two hours. 

Do you have a favourite bag brand? It’s been seven years since I started collecting bags. I mostly purchase iconic designs with “investment value”. They are mostly from Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, Loewe, and Bottega Veneta. 

Do you prioritise which bags to showcase? I only display smaller ones and store totes/travel bags. 

How do you care for your luxury handbags to preserve their condition? My bags are kept in a well-ventilated room to prevent mould from forming. They are used frequently and wiped down after use. White bags are kept away from coloured bags. Vintage bags are stored in dust bags since the leather is a little more fragile. 

What advice would you give to someone who’s starting a luxury bag collection? You can never go wrong with iconic bags: the Lady Dior, Louis Vuitton’s Capucine, the Chanel 11.12 Flap, and the Hermes Birkin or Kelly.