Threads of Legacy: When Art Becomes Divine Design
Sydnie Banks + Kreg Harrison
Interview: Vanessa Coppes | Cover photo: Gib Park
Photography by Mariya Nicole
Handbag by Sydnie Banks
Skirt Grey/Ven
Hair by Jeff Gemmette
Makeup by Hello Gorgeous Beauty Co.
In art and fashion, some connections feel pre-destined — as though the universe itself gently set the pieces in motion.
My partnership with Sydnie Banks is one of those divine alignments — proof that creativity, when guided by purpose, becomes something sacred.
Almost three years ago, Sydnie and I met on Instagram. Two women, both makers, both dreamers, sharing our work and cheering each other on from afar. What began as digital admiration soon evolved into an in-person meeting at Fashion Group International NYC, and later, into a collaboration that would bring both of our worlds full circle.
Sydnie took a handbag I had originally designed with an Italian artisan — a piece already charged with personal history — and transformed it into something transcendent. The result, The BELLA Boss Bag, is not simply a statement of style. It’s a story — one of heritage, transformation, and intention.
With extraordinary sensitivity, Sydnie incorporated pieces from my late father’s wallet into the design, turning a personal relic into a work of wearable art. The finished bag is a bridge between past and present — a reminder that beauty becomes timeless when it carries memory.
For BELLA’s Premiere Art Basel Issue, I wanted to celebrate not only this collaboration but also the artistic lineage that inspires it: Sydnie’s father, Kreg Harrison, an acclaimed sculptor whose four-decade career embodies the same devotion to craft and storytelling that defines his daughter’s work. Together, their journeys illuminate the sacred thread that connects artistry, family, and faith.
‘I learned early what it meant for something to be well made. Those early memories are the blueprint for everything I create today.”
SYDNIE BANKS
The Creative Lineage
Your work exists in two very different mediums — sculpture and luxury handbags — yet both rely on form, structure, and a deep relationship with materials.
How do you see your creative lineage influencing your work, and how has that connection evolved for each of you?
Sydnie: From a young age, I loved building with my hands — just like my dad. I remember watching him sculpt clay at our kitchen table, completely immersed in the process. He always said, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” That stuck with me. My dad was also an avid collector of vintage and handmade items, and I learned early what it meant for something to be well made. Those early memories are the blueprint for everything I create today.
Kreg: A strong form and a pleasing silhouette are the foundation of any great sculpture — whether it’s made of clay, bronze, or leather. From the beginning, I encouraged Sydnie to approach her handbags with a sculptor’s eye. Her ability to merge structure and function, beauty and use, is rare. As her father, it’s deeply rewarding to see that sensibility take shape in her own language of design.
Craft as Storytelling
Both of your practices are grounded in meticulous, hands-on craftsmanship.
How do you define the difference between “craft” and “art”? Do you see your work as storytelling, and what stories are you each trying to tell?
Sydnie: My degree is in art — I studied oil painting, figure drawing, sculpture, and design. But it wasn’t until I came across a video of a craftsman hand-making shoes that I realized leather could become my canvas. That discovery led me to train with master saddle-stitchers and ultimately found my brand, Sydnie Banks — named after my stillborn son, Banks. The barn owl in my logo is a tribute to him. Every bag I make carries meaning, whether borne of my own experiences or a client’s. Each is a one-of-one design — a story told through craft.
The BELLA Boss Bag was special because it wasn’t just my story — it became Vanessa’s. It honored her father, her journey, and her evolution. That’s what art should do: connect souls through shared narrative.
Kreg: Many artists look down on the word “craft,” but I never have. Craftsmanship is art. Good craftsmanship is disappearing in a world that prizes speed over skill. Sydnie’s work keeps that tradition alive. Her saddle-stitching is among the best I’ve seen — anywhere. She’s a maker in the truest sense of the word. Each piece is not only art — it’s a testament to discipline and love.
Art Basel as a Global Stage
Art Basel is where art, fashion, and culture collide. What does presenting your work during this moment mean for each of you?
Sydnie: Being featured at Art Basel alongside my dad’s belt weaving tapestry — a piece that took him nearly 40 years to create — was emotional. Both of us prefer to work quietly behind the scenes, so this moment pushed us outside of our comfort zones. Looking back, I’m grateful we have this record of two generations of artists standing together.
Our shared exhibit, Pressure and Time, tells stories of those who lived before us. My dad’s tapestry includes over 1,000 vintage belts once worn by strangers whose lives have now been woven into something new. My handbags continue that conversation — reimagining materials, honoring history, and giving old stories a new form. The BELLA Boss Bag — created from up-cycled panels of Vanessa’s original bag and her father’s wallet — is a symbol of how art can hold legacy.
Kreg: Art Basel gave me a chance to show a different side of my work — the abstract pieces that most of my collectors have never seen. I’ve spent years collecting objects that speak to me — belts, watches, tools — and transforming them into sculpture. Each item carries time, texture, and humanity. Exhibiting at Basel is a reminder that even ordinary things can be elevated when made, or remade, with intention.
‘I know my true legacy isn’t my art. It’s my family. God has blessed me with the chance to create for a living, and I hope that my work — and Sydnie’s — inspire others to do what they love”
KREG HARRISON
The Tension Between Beauty + Function
Your work lives between beauty and utility. How does that tension influence your creative process?
Sydnie: My goal is always to create something that makes people stop and look twice — but then discover it’s also perfectly usable. My designs might resemble a clock, a flower, or a pyramid, but they always fit a phone. That balance keeps me grounded: to create something sculptural, but also deeply personal and functional.
Kreg: Many functional objects are inherently beautiful — a pipe, a belt, a vintage car. I collect them because they show how utility and artistry coexist. Sydnie’s handbags embody that philosophy. They’re living sculptures, carried through the world by those who own them.
Influence, Mentorship & Collaboration
As a father-daughter duo of artists, what have you learned from each other, and what has collaboration looked like for you?
Sydnie: My dad has always believed in me. When I told him I wanted to hand-make shoes, he didn’t hesitate. He gave me my first alligator skin, my first tools, and even traded one of his bronzes so I could train under a master. The most meaningful project we created together was The Raven — a black alligator bag adorned with an 18K gold owl head sculpted by him. My mom carried it to the FGI Rising Star Awards, and it later sold for $30,000. That piece represented the intersection of our worlds — art, fashion, and family.
Kreg: Seeing Sydnie find her own rhythm as an artist, wife, and mother has been one of the greatest joys of my life. My critiques can be tough, but I only push because I see her potential. I’ve had my time in the art world — now I’m happiest watching her shine. She has access to my collections, my tools, and my mistakes — all the raw material she needs to keep building her own legacy.
Legacy, Identity & The Future of Their Art
Looking ahead, what do you each hope your artistic legacy will represent?
Sydnie: I hope people feel connected to my work — that they see not just the craftsmanship but the emotion. Every bag has a story, a life behind it. If my daughters, or any young girls, see my journey and think I can do that too, then that’s my legacy.
Kreg: I’ve never focused much on legacy — I just wanted to make one good one. But after all these years, I know my true legacy isn’t my art. It’s my family. God has blessed me with the chance to create for a living, and I hope that my work — and Sydnie’s — inspire others to do what they love without fear.
Divine Design
Through the BELLA Boss Bag, Sydnie and I have proven that fashion can be both beautiful and meaningful — that it can hold memory, purpose, and heart.
Repurposing isn’t just sustainability; it’s reverence. It’s the art of honoring what already exists, breathing new life into what once was, and allowing beauty to evolve alongside us.
And through her father, Kreg Harrison, we see the deeper truth: that art is inheritance — not of material, but of spirit.
As The BELLA Boss Bag and Pressure and Time debut at Art Basel, they remind us that when heart, history, and artistry intertwine, the result isn’t just design. It’s divine.