The pair stopped by House of Robb Miami to talk handmade luxury, personal history, and the deeper purpose behind their creative work.
Flo Rida, the Grammy-nominated artist behind global hits like “Low,” sat down at House of Robb during Miami Art Week with Bal Harbour-based artist and designer Evens Saint Clair, whose one-of-one handmade bags have become coveted collectible objects. Though the two come from different creative mediums, their conversation made clear how deeply they’re both rooted in craftsmanship, individuality, and the idea that true luxury can’t be mass-produced.
Saint Clair traced the origins of his work back to growing up poor in Haiti, where creativity wasn’t optional but necessary. “You make your toys,” he said. “You make everything by hand.” As a child he scavenged for materials, carving cars out of old sandals and Coca-Cola cans and fashioning kites from scraps of wrapping paper. Handmade wasn’t a style; it was survival. That ethos guides every bag he creates today. “Right now A.I. and robots are making everything,” he said. “Handmade stuff is what we need.”
Flo Rida could relate. Long before music, he grew up as the only boy in a house filled with seven sisters who taught him to care about style, quality, and individuality. “They always made sure I was on point with my dress code,” he said. His love of bold personal expression—custom jewelry, statement pieces, and distinctive accessories—made his connection with Saint Clair feel natural. “I just look at his work, his passion, his drive. I’m not just a local artist, I travel around the world so I get to see a lot of pieces of art. Once you see his stuff, it’s just wonderful,” he said.
A mutual friend introduced them, and the collaboration clicked instantly. “Flo represents the state of Florida, and he represents Miami,” Saint Clair said. “I wanted to do something with him.”
Saint Clair’s bags blur the line between sculpture and fashion. They are all one of one, entirely handmade, often taking years to make. Some pieces require as long as 18 months to complete, not just because of complexity alone but also because Saint Clair insists on sourcing and preparing many of the materials himself—even down to mining stones used in his designs. The work is exacting, slow, and intentionally resistant to shortcuts.
During the panel, Saint Clair surprised Flo Rida by unveiling a custom piece created specifically for him. The blue crocodile bag, dubbed Poseidon Carbon, came housed in a striking storage case that opens with the rapper’s fingerprint, a detail that drew gasps from the audience. For Saint Clair, these touches are not gimmicks but part of his belief that a handmade object should feel as personal as a portrait.
When asked whether his creations are art or accessories, Saint Clair didn’t hesitate. “All my bags are art,” he said. “But they are wearable art.” Many clients display the pieces at home when they’re not carrying them, and each one comes with a protective case designed for both security and presentation.
Giving back is woven just as tightly into his work as craftsmanship. Saint Clair supports communities across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guinea, and the United States, donating money, materials, and resources to agricultural and educational projects. “I do not care where you are in life,” he said. “Always give to charity. To me that is success.”
Flo Rida echoed that sentiment through his own life story. Long before he sold more than 100 million records, he took summer and overnight jobs in Miami and Las Vegas—including sorting silverware at the MGM Grand—experiences that shaped his outlook. “My mom always taught me to dream big,” he said. “To be a visionary. The sky is the limit.”
While their crafts may take different forms, the philosophy is the same: Individuality over imitation, intention over trend, and the belief that the most valuable things are the ones shaped by where you come from.
Source: https://robbreport.com/style/accessories/flo-rida-evens-saint-clair-house-of-robb-1237392875/
