Timmy Woods certainly has the right name for her business, since she designs handbags from fallen acacia trees. The niece of renowned architectural photographer Julius Shulman (especially known for his stunning black-and-white images of midcentury modern homes), Woods draws inspiration from architecture, with a focus on shape. In addition to her classic bags (such as the one shown here, photographed by Shulman), Woods designs these functional sculptures in shapes based on animals, pop culture, sports, hobbies, and holidays.
A former model who was trained in classical ballet and danced with New York City Ballet, Woods holds a
degree in sociology and art from UCLA and attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. She splits her time between Beverly Hills and La Quinta and sells her wooden handbags in 1,500 specialty stores, through The Smithsonian catalog, and online at www.timmywoods.com.