Showing Your PVD Love on Your Arm

Handbag designer Kent Stetson has a following that has grown from a few in-the-know fashionistas in Providence to well-dressed women across the country. That doesn’t mean, though, that he’s forgotten where it all started. Kent recently debuted a line of Providence-themed purses at Nude, the designer collaborative in the Arcade. “When I was asked to be a part of Nude, I found myself spending a lot of time downtown,” he says. “I wanted to make something that quite literally embraced the theme of locally-made-in-Providence.” He made one of his iconic clutches with an image of the Arcade on it, which inspired a line of bags featuring the city’s most iconic landmarks, like the Superman Building and the Turk’s Head Building. “A handbag can be a great ice-breaker, be funny and chic, and also tell a story,” Kent says. “Providence has given me a niche to explore this, and each of these handbags is a chance for me to tip my proverbial hat to the city and people who have made this possible.” Available at Nude at the Arcade or online.