Ashley Watson turns leather apparel into colorful accessories

Jackets are apparently the fabric source du jour for budding designers. On a recent episode of "Project Runway," the bratty yet fierce wunderkind Christian Siriano created a fantastically innovative pair of skinny jeans using the sleeves of a denim jacket.

Closer to home -- and minus the attitude -- Vancouver, B.C., designer Ashley Watson deconstructs used leather jackets into smooth, supple bags, belts, wallets and accessories, available locally at Ballard boutique Olivine.

I often find "eco" collections to be yawn-inducing for their drab neutrals and grays, but Watson's line, which is crafted from recycled materials she sources from local thrift stores, is surprisingly colorful. Cobalt blue looks bright and cheery on an agenda cover, and buttery yellow makes for a great spring bag.

When I dropped into Olivine to check out the collection, I found that the boutique had been left in the competent hands of owner Julie Merriman's mother, Evy Cohen, while Merriman enjoyed her honeymoon. "I just love these bags," Cohen gushed about Watson's goods. "The leather is amazing."

Olivine carries several of Watson's bags and accessories, including the Wren ($125) and Kestral ($150) handbags, and the aforementioned cobalt blue agenda cover ($45). Prices reflect Olivine's half-off winter sale pricing, which is continually dropping, so supplies are limited and prices may drop even further.

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