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Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons — Every episode — OmList
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Every episode
Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
30 episodes
The Luxury Handbag Patience Game on Building Siena Wolf | Emily Blumenthal & Lori Tyberg
25 min
What happens when customers love your handbag—but don’t buy it right away? In this episode, Lori Tyberg, founder of Siena Wolf, shares what it takes to build a luxury handbag brand around timeless design, Italian craftsmanship, custom hardware, and high production costs. From restarting her business after raising her children to embracing Instagram as a discovery engine, Lori opens up about the patience, discipline, and courage required to build a brand on her own terms. Key Takeaways: • Luxury…
Is the Handbag Dead? Jay Choyce Tibbitts on What’s Next for Luxury | Emily Blumenthal & Jay Choyce Tibbitts
34 min
Are handbags losing relevance—or are they simply evolving? In this episode, fashion creator and strategist Jay Choyce Tibbitts explores how changing lifestyles, rising luxury prices, resale, and Gen Z shopping habits are reshaping the handbag industry. We discuss why fewer people carry bags every day, how brands like Coach are thriving while others struggle, and why resale, boutiques, and curated retail experiences are becoming more important than ever. Jay also explains how AI and generative se…
Trade Shows, Future of Wholesale & How Handbags Changed Retail | Emily Blumenthal & Dorothy Belshaw
40 min
Handbags have evolved from everyday essentials into expressions of personal identity—and that shift is transforming the way retailers buy, merchandise, and discover brands. In this episode, Dorothy Belshaw, CEO and co-owner of NY NOW, shares how the wholesale landscape has changed, why trade shows remain essential in a digital world, and how independent designers can stand out with buyers. From the impact of the 2008 recession to post-pandemic consumer behavior, Dorothy explains why human connec…
The Business of Wearable Handbag Art | Emily Blumenthal & Elif Akaydin
28 min
What happens when a handbag is designed as a work of art instead of just an accessory? In this episode, Elif Akaydin, founder of Patent of Heart, shares how her journey from Istanbul to New York shaped a brand rooted in craftsmanship, storytelling, and purpose. She explains how hand embroidery, chain stitch techniques, and upcycled leather create bags that feel personal, while balancing one-of-a-kind artistry with the realities of production, pricing, and growth. Alifa also shares why pop-ups an…
Made in China vs. Made in Italy: What Luxury Brands Don’t Tell You | Emily Blumenthal & Karrica
60 min
Does "Made in Italy" always mean better quality? In this episode, designer and product development expert Karrica pulls back the curtain on luxury handbag manufacturing, revealing what really determines quality beyond the label. Drawing on years of experience developing handbags and footwear, she explains how global supply chains work, why finishing laws can be misleading, and what designers should look for in materials, construction, and factory partnerships. Karrica also shares her journey of…
From Recycled Plastic to a Global Bag Brand: How Got Bag Found Product-Market Fit | Emily Blumenthal & Kathrin Melchior
30 min
Can a backpack made from ocean-bound plastic become a global accessories brand? In this episode, Kathrin Melchior of Got Bag shares how thoughtful product development, customer insights, and sustainable innovation transformed a crowdfunding idea into one of the most recognizable bag brands on the street. From designing inside a fast-moving global retailer to helping scale a purpose-driven startup, Katrine explains why great products come from constant testing—not just great taste. She also revea…
Know Your Customer or Lose Your Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Alex Greifeld
41 min
What separates brands that grow from those that stall? In this episode, growth marketing consultant Alex Greifeld shares why defining your ideal customer is the foundation of every successful fashion brand. Drawing on experience at FIT, Jones New York, Tibi, and Tapestry, Alex explains how leading brands balance creative instinct with real market data. From building a clear unique selling proposition to understanding customer acquisition costs, unit economics, and digital marketing, she offers a…
Turning Leather Waste into Luxury Handbags | Emily Blumenthal & Cassandra Kane
35 min
What happens when a designer steps inside the Italian luxury manufacturing system and sees how much material never makes it into the final product? In this episode, Cassandra Kane shares how a move to Florence transformed her understanding of craftsmanship, sustainability, and the hidden costs of luxury production. After years designing for major fashion brands, she discovered the staggering amount of leather waste generated during manufacturing and set out to create a different model. The resul…
Why Gen Z Buys Luxury Differently: Insights from Hitha Herzog | Emily Blumenthal & Hitha Herzog
40 min
What drives a generation to skip credit card debt yet confidently spend on a vintage Balenciaga or a Fendi Baguette? In this episode, Hitha Herzog, Chief Research Officer at H Squared Research, breaks down the economic and cultural forces shaping how Gen Z shops today. From the rise of resale and the circular economy to the growing popularity of buy-now-pay-later services, Hitha explains how younger consumers balance aspiration with caution. She also unpacks the concept of the K-shaped economy,…
From Financial Advisor to Handbag Inventor | Emily Blumenthal & Penny Crook
31 min
What happens when a sentimental handbag inspires an entirely new business? In this episode, Penny Crook, founder of Denault Handbags, shares how a purse gifted by her late father sparked the idea for a patented reversible handbag designed to simplify wardrobes and deliver two looks in one. Leaving behind a career in financial advising, Penny entered the world of product development, manufacturing, and patents to create a bag that blends functionality, versatility, and quality. She opens up about…
From Sail to Tote: How Beth Greenlaw Built Seabags Maine | Emily Blumenthal & Beth Greenlaw
33 min
What does it take to turn an environmental mission into a scalable accessories business? In this episode, Beth Greenlaw of Seabags Maine shares how she left a corporate career to help build one of the most recognizable upcycled handbag brands in America. By transforming retired sailcloth into one-of-a-kind bags made on Maine’s working waterfront, Seabags created a business rooted in sustainability, local manufacturing, and authentic storytelling. Beth discusses the realities behind "Made in USA"…
From Retail Collapse to Amazon Growth: How Shy Iland Rebuilt Through Handbags | Emily Blumenthal & Shy Iland
31 min
What happens when the retail world you built no longer works? In this episode, Shy Iland, founder of Daisy Rose and former owner of the indie-boutique chain Big Drop, shares how the 2008 financial crisis reshaped his entire approach to fashion. After watching handbags outperform most retail categories during the downturn, Shy pivoted from brick-and-mortar retail into handbag manufacturing, sourcing, and private label production. He opens up about the realities of running multi-store retail befor…
From Designer Dream to Financial Reality: Alexandra Satine on Building, Scaling, and Starting Over | Emily Blumenthal & Alexandra Satine
40 min
What happens when a strong handbag concept collides with the realities of pricing, production, and scale? In this episode, Alexandra Satine—former handbag designer and founder of YourCohort—shares her journey from creative ambition to business reinvention. From moving from Venezuela to the U.S. and breaking into fashion, to launching her own line and facing the hard lessons of trademarks, sourcing, retailer expectations, and margin pressure, Alexandra unpacks what founders often learn too late:…
Beyond Hype: Syl Tang on Sustainability, Strategy, and the Future of Accessories | Emily Blumenthal & Syl Tang
32 min
What happens when handbag design stops being just about trends and starts confronting bigger questions—materials, sustainability, and what happens after the hype fades? In this episode, Syl Tang joins us to unpack how the accessories world is shifting through the lens of fashion history, customer behavior, and future forecasting. From the scrappy late-90s NYC era—when emerging brands had to win customers face-to-face—to today’s conversations around sustainability, co-branding, and smarter growth…
Raffia, Color, And The New Bag Rules with: Ilia-Sybil Sdralli | Emily Blumenthal & Ilia-Sybil Sdralli
26 min
What happens when fashion stops following one trend cycle and splinters into thousands of micro-movements? We sit down with fashion editor Ilia Sib Zvalli to unpack why the old model of seasonal “must-haves” is breaking down—and what that means for designers, shoppers, and brands trying to stay relevant. Ilia explains how social media fractured trend forecasting, why niche aesthetics now shape consumer behavior faster than traditional fashion calendars, and how today’s smartest brands win by und…
Trust, Tech, and Truth: How Vidyuth Srinivasan Built Entrupy | Emily Blumenthal & Vidyuth Srinivasan
46 min
What happens when curiosity, risk-taking, and a refusal to follow the expected path collide? We sit down with Vidyuth Srinivasan, CEO of Entrupy, to explore his journey from India to New York, from journalism to entrepreneurship, and from outsider to innovator. Vidyuth shares how embracing his identity, thinking independently, and challenging conventional systems helped shape Entrupy—a company built to solve one of fashion’s biggest problems: trust. From navigating cultural identity to developin…
Luxury Without Compromise: Nancy Gale on Building a Brand That Stands for Something | Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Gale
36 min
What if luxury wasn’t about pressure—but about freedom to be fully yourself? We sit down with Nancy Gale, founder of JAMAH Handbags, to explore how a clear point of view shapes every decision, from materials to manufacturing. Nancy shares what it takes to build an ultra-luxury brand in the U.S., why she refuses to cut corners to hit price points, and how strong relationships—from factories to suppliers—can define both your strength and your risk. It’s a conversation about standing firm in your v…
When Handmade Stops Scaling: Andrea Pascual on Pivoting a Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Andrea Pascual
29 min
What happens when the way you start building your brand is the very thing holding you back? We sit down with Andrea Pascual to unpack the shift from early hustle to sustainable growth—when handmaking every piece, chasing quality, and saying yes to everything starts costing more than it gives. From her path through FIT and New York’s garment district to the realities of bespoke pricing and burnout, Andrea shares how designers navigate the tension between artistry and building a real business—and…
The Hermès Game, Decoded: Chloe Chen on Getting the Bag You Actually Want | Emily Blumenthal & Chloe Chen
31 min
Why is buying a Hermès bag so complicated—and is there a smarter way in? We sit down with Chloe Chen, known as Chloe Hermes Fairy, to break down the real mechanics behind scoring a Birkin, Kelly, or Mini Kelly—from purchase history and boutique politics to the reality of being offered a bag without knowing the specs. Chloe also pulls back the curtain on the resale and sourcing market, explaining how brokers secure exact bags, why prices fluctuate, and how paying for expertise can save time, mone…
The Leather Trail: Tanner Leatherstein’s Global Journey to Fame | Emily Blumenthal & Tanner Leatherstein
45 min
Meet Volkan Yilmaz, also known as “Tanner Leatherstein,” a leather artisan and entrepreneur whose journey spans continents. From his beginnings in his father’s tannery in Turkey to becoming a TikTok sensation in the U.S., Tanner’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and passion. After moving to Turkmenistan and Armenia with his family to run tanneries, Tanner eventually found himself in Chicago, working as a cab driver after winning a green card lottery. Despite language barriers and culture…
Real or Replica? Dani Smith on What Actually Makes a Bag Authentic | Emily Blumenthal & Dani Smith
35 min
What makes a luxury bag feel “real”—and why can even an authentic one sit unsold? We sit down with Dani Smith, senior authentication specialist at What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA), to unpack the fine details that drive trust in the vintage handbag market. From a Chanel bag mistaken as fake to the limits of resale photos, Danny explains why in-person evaluation still matters and how structure, scent, and subtle wear can make or break a purchase. He also shares how authenticators are trained,…
Designing Bags That Actually Sell: Holly Lauren Beedle on the Real Math Behind Handbags | Emily Blumenthal & Holly Lauren Beedle
33 min
Why do some beautiful bags fail the moment they hit the market? We sit down with handbag designer and consultant Holly Lauren Beedle—an industry “ghost designer” whose work appears under brands you definitely know—to unpack the realities behind successful bag design. Holly explains why pricing must come first, how ethnography shapes function, and why merchandising and material choices determine whether a bag survives real life or quietly disappears from shelves. Key Takeaways: • Price first, des…
Luxury Without Gatekeeping With Bags For Breakfast | Emily Blumenthal & Shay Prasad
29 min
What makes a handbag truly worth carrying every day? We sit down with Shay Prasad of Bags for Breakfast to explore how years on the retail floor shaped her approach to bags as tools for life—not just status symbols. From writing deep-dive Substack essays to launching a curated vintage shop, Shay explains how storytelling, condition knowledge, and retail anthropology turn casual shoppers into thoughtful collectors. Along the way, she shares how to judge patina versus wear, why function matters as…
From Idea to Sample in 47 Days: Lauren Reed on going from burnout to bags | Emily Blumenthal & Lauren Reed
27 min
What does it take to turn a spark into a bag you can actually hold? We sit down with founder and designer Lauren Reed, who left corporate life, partnered with generational leather artisans in Guatemala, and launched her brand in just 47 days from idea to first sample. Lauren shares how retail experience shaped her product instincts, why vegetable-tanned leather and upcycled denim linings were non-negotiable, and how clear standards on craft, ethics, and function allowed her to move fast without…
Perception Is Profit: Matthew Lafargue on Making Bags Feel Important | Emily Blumenthal & Matthew Lafargue
34 min
What makes a bag feel powerful the second someone spots it across the floor—and why does that magic disappear when brands scale? We sit down with Matthew Lafargue of Accessory Think Tank to unpack lessons from the Macy’s sales floor to leading $1.8B in wholesale. Matthew explains how service, presentation, and training shape perceived value more than spreadsheets ever could—and why clarity in assortments, hero products, and tiering protects brands as they grow. Key Takeaways: • Perception drives…
Sell the Story, Not Just the Bag with WIlliam Brobston | Emily Blumenthal & William Brobston
34 min
Retail isn’t dying—it’s recalibrating. We sit down with William Brobston of the Brobston Group, to explore the shift from oversized, anonymous stores to smaller, neighborhood spaces where teams know your name and brands feel personal. Drawing from experience across luxury fashion, jewelry, beauty, and home, William explains why e-commerce owns convenience but human connection builds loyalty—and how brands that invest in people, not just product, are pulling ahead. Key Takeaways: • Convenience is…
She Learned the Rules. Then Built the Bag Brand, A by Anyah, That Breaks Them: | Emily Blumenthal & Anyah Sealey
27 min
What turns a love of making into an accessories brand people stop you on the street to ask about? We sit down with Anyah Sealey, founder of A by Anyah, to trace a path shaped by global training, hard critiques, and real market feedback. From early beading classes in Ghana to design school in Paris and rotations across major fashion houses, Anyah shares how craft, data, and adaptability combine to create bags that photograph beautifully and hold up in real life. Key Takeaways: • Detach ego from p…
Craft That Earns the Hand: Grant Anderson on Meaningful Building Bags | Emily Blumenthal & Grant Anderson
30 min
What makes a bag feel alive after years of use—not just intact? We sit down with Grant Anderson, founder of Uptown Common, to explore how hand sewing, vegetable-tanned leather, and solid brass hardware reshape durability into desire. Grant breaks down why quiet construction details matter more than logos, how pricing honestly protects makers, and what it takes to build products that improve—not disappoint—with age. Key Takeaways: • Craft is a practice, not a claim — True quality comes from repea…
Ana Laverde on Turning Colombian Craft into a Scalable Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Ana Laverde
29 min
What happens when a dream job disappears—and the real opportunity is right at home? In this episode, designer Ana Laverde shares how a Milan-trained industrial designer transformed a setback into a focused handbag brand rooted in Colombian leather, systems thinking, and disciplined edits. Ana explains how her background in luxury packaging shaped her approach to bags as functional objects for daily life, why sourcing in Bogotá’s Restrepo district became a competitive edge, and how proximity to p…
The Bag Man’s Blueprint: How Coach Built Democratized Luxury with Lew Frankfort | Emily Blumenthal & Lew Frankfort
41 min
What does it really take for a heritage brand to become part of everyday culture? In this episode, Lew Frankfort—former CEO of Coach and author of The Bag Man—shares how Coach scaled from a small leather workshop into a global brand by designing for real life, not runway moments. Lew breaks down why he focused on “share of closet” over one-hit wonders, how early DTC testing and customer data shaped collections, and the craft decisions—like lighter-weight leather and functional silhouettes—that t…
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