Philip Karto in the Press
The work, as the press has seen it.
The Upcycling Revolutionary
Reported in Forbes and the international press, Philip Karto's work has been seen on Miley Cyrus, Bella Hadid, Mike Tyson or Floyd Mayweather, to name a few.
Each creation begins as an authenticated vintage Louis Vuitton or Hermès piece, often from the 1980s, 1990s, or early 2000s, chosen for its history and the integrity of its construction. In the Atelier, it is taken apart, cleaned, and restored by hand, then rebuilt into a singular object, one of one, signed under a new name. Nothing is reproduced, and no two pieces are alike.
What time left behind is not concealed but answered. A worn seam becomes a deliberate line, a faded panel the ground for something new.
The international press calls it a revolution in luxury. Philip Karto calls it a dialogue with what came before.
The story
The Atelier, in time
What began with a single repainted vintage bag is now an Atelier of one-of-one luxury. The milestones that shaped it, from a Paris sellout to a new chapter.
Nearly a decade spent giving vintage luxury a second life.
2003–2016
Before the Atelier
Designs for Kulte, Christian Audigier and Faith Connexion. The rock and roll signature that will define the Atelier takes shape.
2017
A Paris sellout
Philip Karto founds the Atelier in Miami. His first hand-painted vintage bags, consigned to Montaigne Market in Paris, sell out within days. The work soon reaches luxury boutiques around the world.
2024
Pop Art and a following
The Pop Art collection reimagines icons like the Birkin as singular, collectible objects. The work has been carried by collectors and public figures, including Miley Cyrus, Bella Hadid, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, among others.
2026
A push into direct
Backed by new investment, the Atelier makes its biggest push into direct-to-consumer, offering its numbered art editions and one-of-one commissions online, alongside its retail partners.
About Philip Karto
Philip Karto is a French designer and artist who reconstructs authenticated vintage luxury bags into one-of-one works. Born in the south of France, with a background across fashion and jewelry, he founded his Atelier in Miami, where each piece is restored, reauthored, and signed by hand.
He treats a handbag as a canvas and a record, an object with a history that deserves a second life rather than a replacement. He started the Atelier out of discomfort with the waste in fashion, and a belief that the most interesting luxury is the kind that already exists.
Interested in featuring Philip Karto?
For interviews, high-resolution imagery, product loans, or press inquiries, write to the Atelier.
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