Upon entering the pop-up shop on Queen Street West, Zane Aburaneh, owner of A2Zane handbags and accessories, sits me down and proudly shows me his iPad.

I am looking at his website which launched no more than eight hours ago. It’s bright, clean, and full of potential. Zane, who used to work as a Gucci specialist at Holt Renfrew, prides himself on being one of the only retailers south of Bloor carrying brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, Ben Minkoff, CC Skye and Cambridge Satchels. He carries collections for both men and women, describing the pieces as “attainable luxury”.

“Bags are for everybody,” Zane says. They defy gender, race, colour and size, and most important of all, a good bag is a great investment piece.

“It’s tough to find handbags in the $200-$600 price point that are cooler than Coach,” Zane says. He wants to stay away from large logos and intense branding.

It’s obvious that Zane has good taste in accessories; his collections draw the eye aesthetically above all else. His favourite line at the shop is currently Ben Minkoff, which is a men’s handbag collection designed by Rebecca Minkoff. Even if you aren’t ready to invest, Zane is a fantastic and warm person who you should meet. Drop by A2Zane’s permanent location at 753 Queen Street West and sign up for the newsletter at www.a2zane.com.

~ Erin Pehlivan