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PODCAST

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons

Emily Blumenthal

What does it take to create an iconic handbag brand? Each week, Emily Blumenthal—author of Handbag Designer 101 and founder of The Handbag Awards—dives deep into the stories behind the handbags we love. From world-renowned designers and rising stars to industry executives shaping the retail landscape, Handbag Designer 101 brings you the inside scoop on the creativity, craftsmanship, and business savvy it takes to succeed in the handbag world.Whether you’re a designer, collector, entrepreneur,

arts fashion & beauty

All Episodes

38:14

Dr. Jessica Quillin & The Power of Cohesive Luxury...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/11/18

What if the real engine of modern luxury isn’t loud marketing—but meaning delivered consistently across every touchpoint? In this episode, Dr. Jessica Quillin, fashion strategist and PhD in 19th-century poetry, breaks down how elevated storytelling creates brands that feel unified on the site, in the feed, and in the store. She shares her journey from studying the philosophy of beauty to advising global fashion houses, revealing how emotions become experiences—and how experiences become commu...

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41:17

🎙️ Carrying Craft and Clarity: How Adriana Castro...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/11/11

What if the secret to growth isn’t chasing the next trend—but carrying a dream with enough grit to outlast them? In this episode, Adriana Castro shares how she turned Colombian craftsmanship and business discipline into a timeless accessories brand. Leaving a safe corporate path for design school, she transformed professors into mentors and built her first collection—and its production—from the ground up in Barranquilla. Adriana breaks down her hybrid strategy of pairing indigenous natural fi...

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42:16

🎙️ From Soho to Sustainability: How Steven Alan...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/11/04

What if the difference between a forgettable line and an enduring brand came down to a handful of details and a few brave decisions? In this episode, Steven Alan unpacks how a small Soho storefront became a global showroom, why discovery will always trump trade-show buying, and how clean distribution keeps both the magic and the margin intact. From recognizing Claire V’s voice in five self-sewn bags to cultivating independent designers who’d later define the modern accessories space, Steven s...

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49:53

Quitting Marc Jacobs to Create an Iconic Brand: The...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/10/28

What happens when you walk away from Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein—and bet on your own name instead? In this episode, Joy Gryson shares the bold pivot from corporate fashion to building a modern handbag brand that exploded in Korea and won a loyal global following. She reveals how consulting bridged the leap, why she and her husband chose small Italian workshops over legacy factories, and how a park meetup with Steven Alan unlocked their sales pipeline. From the “It Bag” craze to mastering ret...

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37:41

Clare V and The Art of Intentional Growth: Part 2 |...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/10/21

Ever wonder what it takes to turn a small retail dream into a lasting fashion empire? Clare V, founder of her namesake brand, proves that steady growth, not viral fame, builds a real legacy. Starting with a 500-square-foot shop in Silver Lake, Clare turned local roots into a thriving retail network by prioritizing people over transactions. From matching a friend’s salary to open her first boutique to hosting in-store events and community-driven experiences, she redefined what modern brick-and...

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42:03

Inside NY Now: Why Wholesale Still Matters for...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/10/14

In an era dominated by DTC, what role do trade shows still play in building a fashion brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, we sit down with Matthew Mathiasen, Show Director of NY Now, to unpack why wholesale isn’t just relevant—it’s essential for emerging accessory brands looking for long-term growth, especially now with The “It Bag x NY NOW” new program. With over 100 years of history, NY Now has evolved from a traditional gift show to a curated marketplace where boutiques and inn...

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39:10

Inside the Handbag Machine: How Cathy Schwartz-Shino...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/10/07

Ever wonder why some handbags turn heads while others disappear into the crowd? Cathy Schwartz-Shino—veteran of major handbag licenses and founder of Edit Accordingly—pulls back the curtain on what truly makes a brand unforgettable: a strong identity, the right partnerships, and attention to detail. Today’s shopper doesn’t wait for department stores to declare what’s in; they chase meaning and individuality. Whether it’s vintage, upcycled, or a fresh new silhouette, Cathy explains how licensi...

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35:53

From Boutique Dreams to QVC Star: Dawn Del Russo’s...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/09/30

For Dawn Del Russo, building a career in fashion has been a journey of resilience, adaptation, and staying true to herself. With just $10,000 in savings—partly from communion money she’d carefully saved—she launched Bella Dawn boutique without formal training, diving into trade shows and pricing with sheer determination and countless hours of research. A surprise feature on Fox Good Day New York brought her first big sales surge, along with a crash course in scaling without infrastructure. Wh...

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54:17

Building Handbag Joy: How Peter Gryson Turned Vision...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/09/23

Ever wonder how a personal story becomes a global brand? Peter Gryson, co-founder of Joy Gryson, shares his journey from corporate fashion to building a handbag label that stands out in a crowded market. From retail floors to a VP role at Calvin Klein, his path reveals how determination, adaptability, and vision can turn obstacles into opportunity. "I wanted to be successful, and that became my objective." That drive fueled Peter’s rise—and later, the creation of Joy Gryson with his wife, Joy...

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37:33

From Macy’s to QVC: Karen Giberson’s Accessories’...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/09/16

Ever wonder why it’s so hard to break into the accessories world? Karen Giberson, President of the Accessories Council, pulls back the curtain on an industry made up of specialized silos that rarely connect. From Macy’s competitive executive training program to navigating the stigma of QVC, her path shaped a mission to create meaningful connections across accessory categories. "I’d rather put my product in the trash than sell it to you." That early rejection in television retail revealed the ...

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26:46

Julie Deane CBE: The Post-It on the Factory Wall to...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/09/09

As we continue the journey of what it takes to build a luxury handbag brand from scratch the harsh realities of the industry, we pick up where we left off with Julie Deane, and her difficult choice to sell her company. This is precisely the thrilling journey Julie Deane, founder of the Cambridge Statue Company, unravels with us. We take a deep dive into the complex world of the handbag business, learning about the trials of selling, the betrayal of manufacturers, and the courage it took for J...

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64:15

Julie Deane’s Tale from Kitchen Table to British...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/09/02

“Have you ever wondered what it takes to create and scale a handbag brand? Quickly? Well, prepare to find out in this fascinating chat with our guest Julie Deane, the brains behind the Cambridge Satchel Company. Julie shares her journey from a humble start, fueled by her mother's support, to making a mark in the world of handbags, focusing on the satchel's practical appeal. Join us to explore her intriguing life, living between Cambridge and the West Coast of Wales, where her garden's quince ...

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32:23

From Courtroom to Catwalk: Jimena Suarez’s Vegan...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/08/26

What happens when an environmental lawyer trades the courtroom for the world of fashion? For Jimena Suarez, founder of From Sentient, it means creating vegan handbags that blend Mexican craftsmanship, innovative materials, and ethical values—without sacrificing style. Sixteen years after going vegan, she saw a gap in the market for beautiful, high-quality accessories that align with her values. Her path took her from advocating for gender equality and animal rights to studying social entrepre...

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25:37

How Sujin Osatarayakul Builds Bags Like Buildings |...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/08/19

For Sujin, handbags aren’t sewn—they’re constructed. Trained as an architect, she approaches her brand, Elemood, with the same principles she’d apply to a building: structural integrity, simplicity, and form as function. With no fashion or sewing background, she pioneered designs like the Mono bag—crafted from a single piece of material—and the Expert, made from one repeated pattern, creating sculptural pieces unlike anything in the market. After a decade of success, Sujin nearly walked away ...

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33:43

How Odoba Turned Heritage Into a Handbag Brand |...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/08/12

For Odoba Nnani, building her brand became a masterclass in trusting instincts and weaving cultural heritage into every creation. Born in Nigeria and moving to the U.S. at eight through the visa lottery, she balanced family expectations with a growing creative drive. When the pandemic hit, she traded law school dreams for crafting accessories that blend beauty, function, and heritage. Her design philosophy? A great bag works anywhere—sweatpants to store runs, dressed up for church, or taken t...

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30:50

Motherhood Meets Handbags: The Story of Misenver |...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/08/05

What happens when you mix a mischievous spirit, versatile design, and a new baby? For Shinyoung Park, it led to the creation of Misenver —a handbag brand born at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurial ambition. In this inspiring episode, Shinyoung shares her path from fashion school in Korea to working in LA’s clothing industry, and how pregnancy became the push to finally launch her own brand. With Misenver priced in the $200–$300 range, she’s found the perfect sweet spot b...

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30:51

Healing Through Handbags: Chelli Look’s Journey of...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/07/29

Chelli Look’s story is as inspiring as it is emotional. A self-taught designer since high school, she began making handbags after her sister challenged her to “figure it out yourself.” What started as a creative outlet became a livelihood—and later, a lifeline through unimaginable personal loss. In this moving episode, Chelli opens up about losing her best friend and business partner in a tragic accident, and how creating bags became her meditative way to process grief. Her journey, captured ...

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48:10

From Walmart Fabric to a Multi-Million Dollar Brand:...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/07/22

When Jessy Dover sewed her own hot pink prom dress from Walmart fabric, she had no idea it would spark the vision for Dagne Dover—now one of the most functional (and stylish) handbag brands on the market. In this episode, Jessy shares her journey from Parsons to co-founding a powerhouse trio with Melissa Mash and Deepa Gandhi. From winning a Coach design competition with zero handbag experience to building a company culture where feedback actually works, Jesse proves that scrappy beats perfec...

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35:03

What Really Makes an It Bag in 2026? Beth Goldstein...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/07/15

Think you know what defines an “It Bag”? Think again. In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Beth Goldstein, Executive Director of Footwear & Accessories at Circana, joins Emily Blumenthal to unpack how social media has transformed the handbag market—and why a $299 Trader Joe’s tote can now claim the title. From viral hits to lasting brands, Beth explains how today’s fragmented market is shifting power away from legacy labels and toward innovative independents. With names like Coach, Ve...

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39:16

From One Bag to a Global Brand: Rebecca Minkoff on...

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag... ·

2025/07/08

What does it take to turn one handbag into a worldwide fashion brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with the iconic Rebecca Minkoff to unpack the journey from her first design to building an empire that changed the handbag industry forever. It all started with the Morning After Bag—a now-legendary design born from a chance encounter with actress Jenna Elfman and fueled by early internet buzz. From there, Rebecca’s brand exploded, capturing the spirit of m...

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117 results

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