OMG. More Handbags.

Apparently, we all need more handbag content. Now it's here.

20 Years of Handbags

For someone who has been behind the scenes for so long, I have often had (many) requests to do more content with me involved. I have always avoided putting myself in videos or talking about my own personal life. When I started the website Handbag Designer 101 in 2007, my sole intention was to highlight independent designers, and then it took off with a mind of its own.

1. Why this, why now

The life of a small business, let alone a designer, is complex, lonely, and often isolating. It’s the one comment I talk about in my Handbag Designer 101 courses that I get “nodding heads” from everyone.

Even with my Handbag Designer 101 Podcast, I have had requests to talk more about my own life and share what I know about the industry, manufacturing, and all of these historical patterns that are taking place with handbag trends. So now - you can find this information to help your handbag obsession, grow your brand, and learn something - about handbags, of course.

2. Handbag Designers Unite

Fun fact: That was my initial goal when I started this platform. I always felt like I had missed the mark by creating a platform for independent designers to be discovered instead of established brands that really didn’t need my help. This is what we are about, and without maintaining this community, we cannot celebrate our collective successes of brand growth.

3. What to Know

My goal is to post every week. I will talk about my weekly podcast episodes as there is so much good information covered. I will also review handbag collabs (because there are so many of them), my obsession with handbag history (which should be yours), and finally - small business advice and best practices we should all follow.

4. Get Excited.

See! Here is one of the collabs I created as a reference. (Image credit: Ethan Covey - because we always have to give credit where credit is due.) This is one of my personal favorites. I knew this would sell. Combining people’s obsession with pickleball AND pickles - I created this partnership between B&G and Made by Alex, and now its content is gold. See the WWD feature!

There is so much more to come, and I hope to see you next week. :)

xoxo

👜 Emily

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