Luggage-making is a fine art for Taris Charysyn

“Best in Show” award was given to Taris Charysyn at Pebble Beach in 2023 for his trunk with enclosed luggage on a 1935 Imperial, one of only three such beauties in the world.

1959 BMW Luggage and Bar Case exhibits the creativity and nook and cranny craftsmanship of internationally-respected, custom luggage maker Taris Charysyn, working out of his barn shop in the Catskill Mountains.

There is only one 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Bertone Coupe on the planet (and probably therefore in the known universe), now equipped with one of the artisan’s most impressive one-of-a-kind luggage sets which won “Best in Show” recognition at Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance.

WEST KILL - Somewhere in these same Catskill Mountains where Rip Van Winkle famously slept, Taris Charysyn is seemingly in perpetual motion, transforming simple suitcases into luxuriant works of art.

If you have ever seen a guy sporting a nifty handlebar moustache, looking like a man content with things, that might be him, especially if he is in his barn workshop, in the shadows of these local high hills.

Charysyn has a website that explains what he’s quietly doing there, earning an international reputation for his one-of-a-kind workmanship.

He is a, “world renowned premier luggage maker with over 500 sets of luggage and countless satisfied clientele,” the website states.

“His luggage continues to find its way into the mainstream of the prestigious shows in North America and beyond.”

Charysyn works with, “many individual owners and many high-end restoration shops that cater specifically to the high level Concours d'Elegance shows,” the website states.

“He is known for his precise craftsmanship, authenticity, integrity, quality and perfectionism, which is depicted in his attention to fine detail.”

His unlimited offerings include handcrafted, custom-fitted luggage for Jaguars, Ferraris, Porsches, Mercedes and Aston-Martins.

Other patrons trust him with their Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Duesenberg, Maserati, Packard, BMW, Morgan, Triumph, Austin Healey and other classic and contemporary automobiles.

Charysyn does what he does, “all to your personal or original marque specifications, also offering the restoration or creation of exterior trunks that contain luggage sets.”

“My luggage sets are authentically handcrafted with the highest quality materials available resulting in a durable structure that surpasses the quality of the original pieces offered of the era,” Charysyn says.

“They are uniquely molded using the finest leathers in the world and complimented with Nickel hardware, and custom made leather handles that match or compliment the luggage,” Charysyn says.

“The Interiors complete the perfection of the cases with imported quality English Broadcloth, a variety of plaids, or various other materials in colors of your choice. Some sets offer extra luggage configurations, or extra options such as soft zippered totes.

“Your imagination will continue to inspire me to produce one of the most elegant accessories that will not only compliment your automobile, but also increase its value and enhance its uniqueness,” Charysn says.

Perhaps equally extraordinarily, the artisan fell into this particular form of expression by happenstance, akin to ‘ol Rip dozing two decades.

“When I was in high school, I thought about being an architect but my father didn’t believe in all that,” Charysyn said in a phone interview.

“He was blue-collar, a postal worker. I dreamed of being a designer,” which is ultimately how he made his living, and where he met his talented wife, Joan Charysyn, who likewise rose to the peak of her chosen trade.

They, in fact, established their own award-winning graphic design company in Greene County, eventually moving out of the Big City to the country.

Prior to that, “I floundered around a while,” Taris says. “I didn’t know what I wanted. I turned down an offer in the art program at Pratt Institute.

“I went into sculpturing. I rented a farm on Long Island as a studio, living in Jamaica, Queens at the time,” Taris says.

“One day my mom called me and said the farm was on fire. Some of the buildings were rented to truckers so there was a lot of gasoline around.

“That was the end of my sculpturing career,” Taris says, laughing. “Within a month, I was back into graphic design at one of top studios in New York City until I burnt out and now, here I am.”

Taris enjoyed hunting, hiking and fishing, retreating to the high hills on weekends before the couple decided they should stay permanently.

They restored an old Victorian farmhouse where, unbeknownst to Taris, he was about to stumble into automotive serendipity.

“I started getting into hobbies. I’ve always loved British cars so I got a 1951 Jaguar and thought, ‘gee, it would be great to have luggage for it.’

“I did some research, found a little old lady in Canada who had original luggage for Jaguars and copied it for my own car.

“That was 25 or 30 years ago,” Taris says. “To be perfectly honest, I just wanted to make luggage for my own car and then this happened.

“It’s become something I love, but I’m like the shoemaker’s son who never has shoes. I make luggage for everyone else,” often partnering on wood-framing with John Berger at Creamery Millworks.

Over the years, “I’ve never advertised. It’s been all through word of mouth. I didn’t plan any of this, but the philosophy behind it is, I simply have to do things with my hands,” Taris says.

“Part of it is the sculptor in me, and partly the designer in me. It becomes a combination of my hands, my head and my heart.”