About the Brand
About
Philip Karto is an independent luxury atelier founded in Miami by French artist and designer Philip Karto. The house transforms authenticated vintage luxury bags into collectible works through reconstruction, restoration and artistic intervention.
Each piece begins with an authenticated vintage object, primarily from Louis Vuitton or Hermès, sourced through the secondary market. It is dismantled, restored and reconstructed by hand in the Miami atelier, then transformed through painting, embroidery, couture-level stitching and Philip Karto-designed details. Every finished work is individually executed, numbered and documented.
Positioned at the intersection of luxury craftsmanship, contemporary art and circular design, Philip Karto challenges the traditional idea that luxury must constantly create something new. Instead, the atelier gives existing icons a second authorship and a new cultural life. Philip Karto’s work has been featured by international publications including Forbes, Vogue, ELLE, Marie Claire, L’Officiel and Cosmopolitan, and has been carried by figures including Miley Cyrus, Bella Hadid and Mike Tyson.
Founding Story
Philip Karto’s story began with a simple question: why should exceptional luxury objects disappear simply because they have aged?
Born in the south of France, Philip Karto developed his creative language across fashion and jewelry before relocating to Miami in 2013. Increasingly uncomfortable with the waste generated by fashion, he began experimenting with a different approach to luxury: rather than creating another new object, he would work with one that already carried history.
In 2017, he founded the Philip Karto Atelier in Miami and began sourcing authenticated vintage luxury bags, dismantling and reconstructing them by hand before introducing his own artistic language through painting, embroidery, stitching and custom components. His first hand-painted vintage bags were consigned to Montaigne Market in Paris and sold out within days, establishing the foundation for the atelier.
What started as the transformation of existing luxury objects developed into a broader philosophy: heritage does not need to be preserved untouched to survive. It can evolve. Today, the atelier creates individually executed and numbered works that preserve the history of the original object while introducing a new artistic authorship — extending its life rather than replacing it.
At a Glance
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Authenticated Vintage Foundations
Each Philip Karto piece begins with an authenticated vintage luxury bag, sourced from the secondary market and selected for its quality, character, and potential for transformation.
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Hand-Finished in Miami
Every piece is individually transformed and finished by hand in the Philip Karto atelier in Miami, combining restoration, reconstruction, painting, embroidery, stitching, and custom detailing.
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Individually Executed & Numbered
Philip Karto pieces are individually executed and numbered, reinforcing their collectible nature and distinguishing them from conventional mass-produced luxury accessories.
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Circular Luxury Approach
Rather than creating from entirely new materials, Philip Karto extends the life of existing luxury objects by reworking authenticated vintage pieces into a new artistic expression.
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Art Meets Luxury Craftsmanship
The atelier operates at the intersection of contemporary art and luxury craftsmanship, using each vintage bag as a canvas for Philip Karto’s visual language.
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Preserving the Original Object’s History
The transformation process intentionally preserves recognizable elements of the original vintage object while introducing a new artistic identity and authorship.
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Multi-Technique Atelier Work
Depending on the edition, pieces may combine hand painting, embroidery, patchwork, reconstruction, couture-level stitching, custom hardware, and other atelier techniques.
Services
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Philip Karto can customize bags that the customers already have and make it personalized combining their history and mindset.
Signature Products
Tap a product to view details and request a sample.
Philip Karto
Fashion & Accessories
Philip Karto
Fashion & Accessories
Philip Karto
Fashion & Accessories
Philip Karto
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Philip Karto
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Philip Karto
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Philip Karto
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Philip Karto
Fashion & Accessories
Philip Karto
Fashion & Accessories
Team & Experts
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Philip Karto is a French designer, artist and entrepreneur whose career spans fashion, jewelry and contemporary luxury. Born in Toulon and raised in Bandol in the South of France, he developed an early fascination with American culture and the intersection of fashion, music and popular culture.
In the early 2000s, Karto worked with French fashion label Kulte before moving to Los Angeles, where he worked alongside Christian Audigier, the designer and entrepreneur behind the international rise of brands including Von Dutch and Ed Hardy. He later created his own jewelry brand, Caption, and designed for Faith Connexion, developing a rock-influenced aesthetic centered around jewelry, skull motifs and strong graphic codes. His career also included collaborations involving Karl Lagerfeld, Faith Connexion, Kulte and Christian Audigier Jewelry. Wikipédia
After years working within the traditional fashion system, Karto became increasingly concerned by the volume of waste generated by the industry. This shift in perspective ultimately led him away from conventional seasonal production and toward the transformation of existing objects.
After relocating to Miami in 2013, he developed the concept that would become Philip Karto. Beginning with authenticated vintage luxury bags, he dismantled, restored and reconstructed existing pieces before introducing his own artistic language through painting, embroidery, stitching and custom components. In 2017, this practice developed into the Philip Karto atelier and namesake brand. Wikipédia
Today, Karto’s work sits at the intersection of luxury craftsmanship, contemporary art and circular design. His practice centers on giving existing luxury objects a new artistic identity rather than replacing them, transforming pieces from houses such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Goyard into individually executed and collectible works. His creations have gained international attention and have been carried by personalities across fashion, music, sports and entertainment.
Locations
Philip Karto Atelier
7250 NE 2ND AVE, Miami
The Atelier
Asset Library
Editorial-ready assets. All images cleared for press use with credit.
Press Contact
PK
Primary press contact
Philip Karto
Press inquiries
- leslie@philipkarto.com
- Replies within 24 hours