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Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Emily Blumenthal
123 episodes
1 week ago
What if your content didn’t have to perform—just work? In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Hennessy to unpack how social media shifted from a scrapbook to a search engine, and what that means for founders building visibility without burning out. We break down why clarity now beats consistency, how “real work” content outperforms polish, and why the smartest creators treat their feeds like living systems—not highlight reels. Brittany shares how to build momentum with limited time, what ...
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Fashion & Beauty
Arts
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All content for Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons is the property of Emily Blumenthal and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
What if your content didn’t have to perform—just work? In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Hennessy to unpack how social media shifted from a scrapbook to a search engine, and what that means for founders building visibility without burning out. We break down why clarity now beats consistency, how “real work” content outperforms polish, and why the smartest creators treat their feeds like living systems—not highlight reels. Brittany shares how to build momentum with limited time, what ...
Show more...
Fashion & Beauty
Arts
Episodes (20/123)
Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Why Consistency Beats Virality in Today’s Creator Economy | Emily Blumenthal & Brittany Hennessy
What if your content didn’t have to perform—just work? In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Hennessy to unpack how social media shifted from a scrapbook to a search engine, and what that means for founders building visibility without burning out. We break down why clarity now beats consistency, how “real work” content outperforms polish, and why the smartest creators treat their feeds like living systems—not highlight reels. Brittany shares how to build momentum with limited time, what ...
Show more...
1 week ago
38 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Story Over Specs: Wale Sanni on Founder-Led Luxury and Hero Bags | Emily Blumenthal & Wale Sanni
What if the material doesn’t matter as much as the meaning? We go deep on the power of story to outsell specs, exploring why a polarizing point of view can create die-hard loyalty and how luxury falters the moment it tries to scale. With Wale Sanni—millennial product specialist with a razor-sharp lens—we break down founder-led allure, pricing psychology, and the difference between a bag that looks good and a brand that lives rent-free in your head. We pull apart The Row as a live case study i...
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2 weeks ago
39 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Purpose in Every Stitch: Mercado Global’s Ethical Accessories | Emily Blumenthal & Fabiola Bercasa Beckman and Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia
Heritage craft scales on design and strategy, not good intentions. Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia, founder of Mercado Global, and Emmy-winning filmmaker Fabiola Bercasa Beckman share how Guatemalan handwoven textiles become modern handbags that compete at Free People and Holt Renfrew. From labor hours to in-country design, they show how simplifying silhouettes increases artisan wages and perceived value, while embedding impact into the product—not a hangtag. This is a blueprint for ethical, beautiful a...
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3 weeks ago
33 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
How Salt Athletic Became the Cleat Bag Athletes Want (and Parents Trust) | Emily Blumenthal & Rafael de la Vega
A single on-field embarrassment became the spark for Salt Athletic—Rafael de la Vega’s patented cleat bag designed for the athlete who uses it and the parent who buys it. In this episode, Rafael shares how early missteps with PR, broad targeting, and hype burned cash, and how a hard pivot—economics first, accelerator support, and factory access in Mexico and India—turned the company around. A near-dead runway led to a bold performance-ad strategy that paid for itself, and a key insight reshap...
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4 weeks ago
32 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
What It Really Takes to Launch a Handbag Brand 💼👜| Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Forman
Think launching a handbag brand is as easy as designing a pretty product? Think again. In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, we’re joined by industry expert Nancy Forman, whose decades of experience—from Bloomingdale’s to Accessory Think Tank—have made her a trusted voice in fashion strategy, manufacturing, and merchandising. Nancy doesn’t sugarcoat it. Today’s market demands much more than a great idea—it requires a plan, a factory, and a deep understanding of your customer before you eve...
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1 month ago
37 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Scaling Smarter with Nicole Levy from Baikal Handbag Manufacturing | Emily Blumenthal & Nicole Levy
Ever wonder why some emerging handbag brands thrive while others stall before launch? In this episode, Nicole Levy of Baikal Handbag Manufacturing breaks down the real operations behind successful accessories brands—from timelines and tariffs to minimums, materials, and distribution strategy. Nicole explains why your first collection should be three or four tightly connected styles (not 15), how a repeatable signature builds brand recognition faster than trends, and why military olive is this...
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1 month ago
41 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Dr. Jessica Quillin & The Power of Cohesive Luxury Brand Storytelling | Emily Blumenthal & Dr. Jessica Quillin
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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1 month ago
38 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
🎙️ Carrying Craft and Clarity: How Adriana Castro Built a Lasting Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Adriana Castro
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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1 month ago
41 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
🎙️ From Soho to Sustainability: How Steven Alan Built—and Rebuilt—a Lasting Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Steven Alan
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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2 months ago
42 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Quitting Marc Jacobs to Create an Iconic Brand: The Story of Joy Gryson | Emily Blumenthal & Joy Gryson
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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2 months ago
49 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Clare V and The Art of Intentional Growth: Part 2 | Emily Blumenthal & Clare Vivier
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 real legacy. Starting with a 500-square-foot shop in Silver Lake, Claire 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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2 months ago
37 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Inside NY Now: Why Wholesale Still Matters for Independent Designers 👜🛍️| Emily Blumenthal & Matthew Mathiasen
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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2 months ago
42 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Inside the Handbag Machine: How Cathy Schwartz-Shino Defines Real Brand Power | Emily Blumenthal & Cathy Schwartz-Shino
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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3 months ago
39 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
From Boutique Dreams to QVC Star: Dawn Del Russo’s Reinvention Story | Emily Blumenthal & Dawn Del Russo
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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3 months ago
35 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Building Handbag Joy: How Peter Gryson Turned Vision Into a Global Label | Emily Blumenthal & Peter Gryson
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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3 months ago
54 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
From Macy’s to QVC: Karen Giberson’s Accessories’ Journey | Emily Blumenthal & Karen Giberson
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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3 months ago
37 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Julie Deane CBE: The Post-It on the Factory Wall to the Sale of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 2 | Emily Blumenthal & Julie Deane
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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3 months ago
26 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Julie Deane’s Tale from Kitchen Table to British Handbag Empire: The Creation of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 1 | Emily Blumenthal & Julie Deane
“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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4 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
From Courtroom to Catwalk: Jimena Suarez’s Vegan Handbag Revolution | Emily Blumenthal & Jimena Suarez
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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4 months ago
32 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
How Sujin Osatarayakul Builds Bags Like Buildings | Emily Blumenthal & Kazumi Takahashi & Sujin Osatarayakul
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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4 months ago
25 minutes

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
What if your content didn’t have to perform—just work? In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Hennessy to unpack how social media shifted from a scrapbook to a search engine, and what that means for founders building visibility without burning out. We break down why clarity now beats consistency, how “real work” content outperforms polish, and why the smartest creators treat their feeds like living systems—not highlight reels. Brittany shares how to build momentum with limited time, what ...