Tyler Ellis still gets excited when she sees one of her handbags on the red carpet. Even though her creations have been carried by Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Emily Blunt, the thrill remains the same, she says. Particularly when it comes to Lopez. “She is such a powerhouse – an independent, self-made woman. I am in awe of her. She’s carried [my bags] multiple times and every time, I am blown away.”
Jennifer Lopez is such a powerhouse – an independent, self-made woman. I am in awe of her.
Tyler Ellis,
designer
It is this mix of infectious enthusiasm and considered humility that makes Ellis such a likeable person to interview. She has set herself the Goliath task of building a young luxury heritage brand that prides itself on its craftsmanship and customer-centricity. But while Ellis has pin-point focus when it comes to quality and attention to detail, she also doesn’t seem to take herself too seriously, which can probably be attributed to her laid-back LA roots, and certainly manifests itself in her designs, which are timeless but also imbued with a tangible sense of playfulness.
Having fun with fashion
The Tyler Ellis spring/summer 2021 collection, in particular, offers an uplifting palette of neon brights – eye-catching shades of orange, pink, green and “golden leopard”, as well as transparent elements, elongated tassels, bold hardware, oversized stitching and clouds of ostrich feathers. “After the tough year that everyone has had, I wanted something positive. I like whimsical elements,” Ellis says.
But also, more broadly: “It should be fun. Sometimes you see these models walking down the runway and it’s all so serious. I want people to use their bags. Even if they are expensive, they are durable and meant to be used. Take them out, have fun with them and enjoy them.”
Ellis’s love of handbags blossomed during a trip to Paris that she took with a friend when she was 16. “That’s really where I fell in love with the luxury side of things,” she says. “I’m born and raised in LA, which is a very casual city – my wardrobe is super-low-key; jeans and a T-shirt. And then you go over to Paris and it’s so elegant; the people-watching is to die for.”
She went into a Dior store because she had her heart set on one of the brand’s Saddle bags. But when she found the piece she wanted and pointed it out to the sales assistant, her request was denied. “She said: ‘No, you can’t buy it. We don’t have any more.’ So I went over to my friend’s mother and said, they are out. My friend’s mother walked over to the desk, put the Birkin she was carrying on the counter, and they brought the Saddle bag right out to her. It was hilarious.”
Ellis says she was intrigued by the “aloofness” that she experienced on that shopping trip, but it is perhaps no coincidence that her own brand represents the polar opposite. “I feel we are very approachable. That aloofness, it works and some people love it, but I want you to have access.”
Her bags are all crafted in Italy, in a boutique, father-and-son-run factory that it took her three years to find. They are designed to be intuitive, with strategically placed pockets, lightweight constructions and cross-body straps that ensure you can go hands-free whenever needed. Ellis is a fan of clean lines and sleek, simple designs, although a new collaboration with Emirati designer Hamda Al Fahim is introducing a whole new dimension to that signature aesthetic.
Partnering with Hamda Al Fahim
Ellis first became aware of Al Fahim’s work during a trip to the UAE a few years ago. “I thought her gowns were spectacular – the workmanship that goes into them is beyond. So immediately I knew we had the same aesthetic and view on luxury. Then I did a little research and realised we are almost exactly the same age, but born and raised on different sides of the world, and we are trying to do the same thing: build an independent luxury brand. So I thought the synergy was there.”
For the collection, which launched at the beginning of June, her silhouettes were combined with Al Fahim’s embroidery accents. It is a mark of Ellis’s fondness for the UAE, which she has visited several times. “I find there is a true appreciation for true luxury in the region. In America, a lot of people just don’t get it.”
There are no logos or branding on the outside of Ellis’s bags. Her signatures are more subtle – like little secrets for those in the know. The insides come in a trademark shade of Thayer blue, named after the LA street where she spent her early years, while zippers, feet and fasteners take the shape of miniature pine cones, “which signifies the third eye and the highest form of spiritual awakening”, she explains.
Earning her surname
Ellis is the daughter of television producer Barbara Gallagher and influential American fashion designer Perry Ellis, who is credited with reshaping menswear in the 1980s. Forward-thinking and innovative, Perry designed clothing that was meant to be worn, and famously said that “fashion dies when you take it too seriously”, an ethos that his daughter has embraced.
Perry died in 1986 at the age of 46, but I wonder whether having such a famous father adds an extra layer of pressure to Ellis’s design aspirations. When she first started creating handbags in 2011, she did so under the brand name Tyler Alexandra, believing that the Ellis name was something she needed to earn, rather than capitalise on. It was not until 2017, after she had spent six years honing her craft, that she released a collection under the Tyler Ellis brand.
“He passed away when I was 18 months old and I don’t have any memories of him,” Ellis says. “My mum raised me in LA. He was living in New York and was part of that fashion scene, and my mum was really not in the fashion world, so she wanted to give me a private childhood, away from that.
"Growing up, I didn’t have much access to the fashion world. I don’t have many friends or contacts in that world. I’ve kind of done that on my own and I guess internally, that’s how I wanted to do it. I didn’t use my last name because it’s such an iconic last name and I felt like I had to earn it, and that just using it wasn’t appropriate. But his handwriting is my logo, so he is a part of everything I do and that makes me really proud and happy.”
Lessons from Michael Kors
Ellis’s inauguration into the world of fashion ultimately occurred thanks to another household name. After studying communications at Boston University, she moved to New York and ended up working as an intern for Michael Kors and his partner, Lance LePere, and it was there that she learnt about the importance of details. “That was an incredible experience,” she says.
“We would be working behind the scenes of his New York Fashion Week show and basically you’d have the model and the looks there, but then they would add a cinch belt, just to make it perfect. There were all these tiny little details that would make or break an outfit, that would really take it to the next level.”
Ellis is committed to using that same attention to detail to create coveted, unique pieces. Her clients already have their Hermes, Chanel and Dior bags – they come to her for something different.
It is telling that her most prized possession is a charm bracelet given to her by her paternal grandmother, which she has since turned into a necklace and wears every day. It is beautiful, timeless and a one-of-a-kind, she explains. Something entirely in line with her definition of luxury. “I want my bags to be passed down for generations and to remain relevant,” Ellis says. “I’m not of the moment, I’m looking for the long-term approach.”
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
Read more about the coronavirus
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5