These days starting a new brand, much less one that uses luxury materials, is a brave venture. But young accessories designer Khirma Eliazov has not only found a burgeoning success in her handbag line, but also a stylish fan base — Sessilee Lopez recently rocked the line’s stingray and leather drawstring pouch while out and about. Not too shabby for a line that was started only in the last year.  With a trunk show at Henri Bendel coming up on Sept. 17, Khirma is slated to be the next big thing. FABRIC sat down with the New York-based designer to chat a bit of business and a lot of fashion and design.

How did you come about starting your own handbag line?

I’d been an freelance editor for awhile and have been obsessed with accessories since my first job at Mademoiselle out of college. Accessories are the one thing that a person can distinguish a person’s personality. And especially as a freelancer I was exposed to the best out there and I’ve seen the established and how they reinvented themselves. I saw what was missing was that many designers had beauty but not both beauty and function.

Sounds girl-friendly to us! How did you incorporate “function”?

I’m not reinventing the wheel, but I wanted to make something special and beautiful but also served women’s needs. Which is why our signature hand woven strap are measured so that they fit in crease of your shoulder and the hardware are hand-drawn. and the zipper pulls are woven too.

Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. What are some challenges of being a young brand?

Production is the number one challenge when you’re a young designer. You’re running around trying to find a good manufacturer and it’s upsetting because there aren’t that many people that will give you helping hand in production. I know it is competitive but I really think that the industry should be about giving and taking and helping each other out. Financially it’s really expensive to get your samples out there. Just this past July, I finally met a girl who knows about production and sales.

But there must be rewards as well too, right?

The feeling you have when you have something on paper and now you’re getting the real product and you’re proud of it too is amazing. I imagine its the same kind of thing for a stylist to see the final images of a shoot or a painter that finishes a painting.

You’ve become known for your use of stingray, how did you come about using the material?

It was something recognizable and I looked at lots of different materials, but I was looking for something durable and luxurious as well. I use the raw form that isn’t used often — most of the stingray pieces out there has been stripped. And I’m using the whole entire sting ray and it’s farm-raised.

Tell us a bit about your Spring 2010 collection. What can we look forward to?

For Spring, I’m doing the classic hobo but adding a twist to it. Alot of the collection is inspired by classic shapes but I try to give it more of a modern feel.

To me it’s important that a specific bag has longevity. The pouch bag is inspired by an old vintage pouch from my mom. The handles are inspired by lanyards. There will also be a unisex card wallet and a messenger clutch that has a chain that you can cross your body or shorten to wear on your shoulder.

Who is your ideal customer?

Most of the people carrying my bags currently are fashion conscious, but I’m hoping to reach those who are even a bit conservative. For them it would be that something special, a statement bag that makes the outfit.