Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
By Emily Blumenthal
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Category: Fashion & Beauty
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Episodes: 138
Description
Master the handbag trends, fashion retail, and brand building fashion strategies that define the luxury goods industry. Each week on Handbag Designer 101, host Emily Blumenthal—the ultimate resource for fashion entrepreneurs—explores the art of brand storytelling and accessories design.
As the author of Handbag Designer 101 and founder of The Independent Handbag Designer Awards (the most prestigious fashion award in the category), Emily goes behind the scenes of your favorite handbag brands. From fashion startup founders to fashion craftsmanship experts, this podcast features exclusive designer interviews and insights into iconic handbag history.
Whether you’re an aspiring designer, a collector, or a fashion executive, join us to discover the business savvy and creativity required to succeed in the handbag market. Get the inside scoop on leather goods manufacturing, fashion wholesale, and the journeys of visionary creators.
Our episodes serve as a living designer biography, covering everything from bag collection design to scaling a global brand.
Tune in every Tuesday to "Handbag Designer 101" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, or watch full episodes on YouTube, and highlights on TikTok.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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When Handmade Stops Scaling: Andrea Pascual on Pivoting a Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Andrea Pascual
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Apr 14, 2026 |
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The Hermès Game, Decoded: Chloe Chen on Getting the Bag You Actually Want | Emily Blumenthal & Chloe Chen
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Apr 07, 2026 |
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The Leather Trail: Tanner Leatherstein’s Global Journey to Fame | Emily Blumenthal & Tanner Leatherstein
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Mar 31, 2026 |
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Real or Replica? Dani Smith on What Actually Makes a Bag Authentic | Emily Blumenthal & Dani Smith
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Mar 24, 2026 |
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Designing Bags That Actually Sell: Holly Lauren Beedle on the Real Math Behind Handbags | Emily Blumenthal & Holly Lauren Beedle
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Mar 17, 2026 |
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Luxury Without Gatekeeping With Bags For Breakfast | Emily Blumenthal & Shay Prasad
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Mar 10, 2026 |
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From Idea to Sample in 47 Days: Lauren Reed on going from burnout to bags | Emily Blumenthal & Lauren Reed
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Mar 03, 2026 |
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Perception Is Profit: Matthew Lafargue on Making Bags Feel Important | Emily Blumenthal & Matthew Lafargue
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Feb 24, 2026 |
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Sell the Story, Not Just the Bag with WIlliam Brobston | Emily Blumenthal & William Brobston
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Feb 17, 2026 |
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She Learned the Rules. Then Built the Bag Brand, A by Anyah, That Breaks Them: | Emily Blumenthal & Anyah Sealey
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Feb 10, 2026 |
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Craft That Earns the Hand: Grant Anderson on Meaningful Building Bags | Emily Blumenthal & Grant Anderson
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Feb 03, 2026 |
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Ana Laverde on Turning Colombian Craft into a Scalable Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Ana Laverde
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Jan 27, 2026 |
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The Bag Man’s Blueprint: How Coach Built Democratized Luxury with Lew Frankfort | Emily Blumenthal & Lew Frankfort
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Jan 20, 2026 |
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The Birkin Playbook: Inside Handbags as an Asset Class | Emily Blumenthal & Dana Auslander
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Jan 13, 2026 |
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From Clutches to Community: Boutiques are Back | Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Forman
|
Jan 06, 2026 |
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Why Consistency Beats Virality in Today’s Creator Economy | Emily Blumenthal & Brittany Hennessy
|
Dec 30, 2025 |
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Story Over Specs: Wale Sanni on Founder-Led Luxury and Hero Bags | Emily Blumenthal & Wale Sanni
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Dec 23, 2025 |
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Purpose in Every Stitch: Mercado Global’s Ethical Accessories | Emily Blumenthal & Fabiola Bercasa Beckman and Ruth Álvarez-DeGolia
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Dec 16, 2025 |
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How Salt Athletic Became the Cleat Bag Athletes Want (and Parents Trust) | Emily Blumenthal & Rafael de la Vega
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Dec 09, 2025 |
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What It Really Takes to Launch a Handbag Brand 💼👜| Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Forman
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Dec 02, 2025 |
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Scaling Smarter with Nicole Levy from Baikal Handbag Manufacturing | Emily Blumenthal & Nicole Levy
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Nov 25, 2025 |
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Dr. Jessica Quillin & The Power of Cohesive Luxury Brand Storytelling | Emily Blumenthal & Dr. Jessica Quillin
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Nov 18, 2025 |
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🎙️ Carrying Craft and Clarity: How Adriana Castro Built a Lasting Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Adriana Castro
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Nov 11, 2025 |
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🎙️ From Soho to Sustainability: How Steven Alan Built—and Rebuilt—a Lasting Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Steven Alan
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Nov 04, 2025 |
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Quitting Marc Jacobs to Create an Iconic Brand: The Story of Joy Gryson | Emily Blumenthal & Joy Gryson
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Oct 28, 2025 |
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Clare V and The Art of Intentional Growth: Part 2 | Emily Blumenthal & Clare Vivier
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Oct 21, 2025 |
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Inside NY Now: Why Wholesale Still Matters for Independent Designers 👜🛍️| Emily Blumenthal & Matthew Mathiasen
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Oct 14, 2025 |
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Inside the Handbag Machine: How Cathy Schwartz-Shino Defines Real Brand Power | Emily Blumenthal & Cathy Schwartz-Shino
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Oct 07, 2025 |
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From Boutique Dreams to QVC Star: Dawn Del Russo’s Reinvention Story | Emily Blumenthal & Dawn Del Russo
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Sep 30, 2025 |
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Building Handbag Joy: How Peter Gryson Turned Vision Into a Global Label | Emily Blumenthal & Peter Gryson
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Sep 23, 2025 |
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From Macy’s to QVC: Karen Giberson’s Accessories’ Journey | Emily Blumenthal & Karen Giberson
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Sep 16, 2025 |
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Julie Deane CBE: The Post-It on the Factory Wall to the Sale of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 2 | Emily Blumenthal & Julie Deane
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Sep 09, 2025 |
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Julie Deane’s Tale from Kitchen Table to British Handbag Empire: The Creation of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 1 | Emily Blumenthal & Julie Deane
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Sep 02, 2025 |
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From Courtroom to Catwalk: Jimena Suarez’s Vegan Handbag Revolution | Emily Blumenthal & Jimena Suarez
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Aug 26, 2025 |
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How Sujin Osatarayakul Builds Bags Like Buildings | Emily Blumenthal & Kazumi Takahashi & Sujin Osatarayakul
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Aug 19, 2025 |
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How Odoba Turned Heritage Into a Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Odoba Nnani
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Aug 12, 2025 |
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Motherhood Meets Handbags: The Story of Misenver | Emily Blumenthal & Shinyoung Park
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Aug 05, 2025 |
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Healing Through Handbags: Chelli Look’s Journey of Creativity and Loss | Emily Blumenthal & Chelli Look
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Jul 29, 2025 |
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From Walmart Fabric to a Multi-Million Dollar Brand: Jessy Dover’s Bold Blueprint | Emily Blumenthal & Jessy Dover
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Jul 22, 2025 |
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What Really Makes an It Bag in 2026? Beth Goldstein Breaks It Down 🎒📊| Emily Blumenthal & Beth Goldstein
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Jul 15, 2025 |
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From One Bag to a Global Brand: Rebecca Minkoff on Building Fashion That Lasts 👜🌍| Emily Blumenthal & Rebecca Minkoff
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Jul 08, 2025 |
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What It Really Takes to Launch a Handbag Brand in 2024 💼👜| Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Forman
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Jul 01, 2025 |
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How Kerri Quigley Built a Fashion Empire—One Kid at a Time 🧵✨| Emily Blumenthal & Kerri Quigley
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Jun 24, 2025 |
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Inside Clare V.: How a DIY Laptop Case Sparked a Handbag Empire 🧵👜 | Emily Blumenthal & Clare Vivier
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Jun 17, 2025 |
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How Monica Botkier Turned a Side Hustle into a Handbag Legend 🔥👜| Emily Blumenthal & Monica Botkier
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Jun 10, 2025 |
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Inside NY Now: Why Wholesale Still Matters for Independent Designers 👜🛍️| Emily Blumenthal & Matthew Mathiasen
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Jun 03, 2025 |
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From Street Interviews to Red Carpets: How @TheeFashionMix Became Fashion's Digital Insider 🎤👠| Emily Blumenthal & Michaela “Ms. Mix” Cacho-Negrete
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May 27, 2025 |
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From Ghost Designer to Brand Builder: How Karen Cardoso Created Bolsa Nova 👜🇮🇹 | Emily Blumenthal & Karen Cardoso
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May 20, 2025 |
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Luxury with a Past Life: How Evey Amery Built a Global Pre-Loved Handbag Empire ♻️👜 | Emily Blumenthal and Evey Amery
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May 13, 2025 |
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Reimagining Leather: How Gen Phoenix is Transforming Waste into the Future of Luxury 🧪♻️| Emily Blumenthal and Elyse Winer
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May 06, 2025 |
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Making Luxury Bags in America with GiGi New York’s Tom Glazer and Alexia Nelson 👜✨| Emily Blumenthal & Tom Glazer and Alexia Nelson
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Apr 29, 2025 |
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Elyce Arons from Crafting Kate Spade to Launching Frances Valentine | Emily Blumenthal & Elyce Arons
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Apr 22, 2025 |
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From Ziplocs to Luxury: The Hudson Bleeker Journey | Emily Blumenthal & Eram Siddiqui
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Apr 15, 2025 |
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From Saks to Startups: Marketing That Sells with Ernest Moore🎯🛍️ | Emily Blumenthal & Ernest Moore
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Apr 08, 2025 |
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Evolve or Perish: Retail Insights with Bernadette Giacomazzo 👜✨| Emily Blumenthal & Bernadette Giacomazzo
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Apr 01, 2025 |
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Mastering Venture Capital with Rachel Johnson 💼✨| Emily Blumenthal & Rachel Johnson
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Mar 25, 2025 |
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Branding, Storytelling & Handbag Success with Idalia Salsamendi 👜✨ | Emily Blumenthal & Idalia Salsamendi
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Mar 18, 2025 |
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40+ Years of Handbag Mastery with Frank LaMendola 👜✨| Emily Blumenthal & Frank LaMendola
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Mar 11, 2025 |
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Navigating Global Fashion: Oleg Chebotarev’s Creative Journey from Russia to China | Oleg Chebotarev & Emily Blumenthal
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Mar 04, 2025 |
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From Hollywood to Entrepreneurship: Reinventing Your Brand with Dana Bowling | Emily Blumenthal & Dana Bowling
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Feb 25, 2025 |
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Navigating Creative Burnout and Embracing New Beginnings with Ginna Christensen | Emily Blumenthal & Ginna Christensen
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Feb 18, 2025 |
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Jessica Minor and the Rise of Handbag Dupe Culture | Emily Blumenthal & Jessica Minor
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Feb 11, 2025 |
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From Waitress to Handbag Innovator with Bogg Bag Founder, Kim Vaccarella | Emily Blumenthal & Kim Vaccarella
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Feb 04, 2025 |
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Revolutionizing Sustainable Fashion: How Fish Skin Leather is Redefining Ethical Luxury with Stanley Major: | Emily Blumenthal & Stanley Major
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Jan 28, 2025 |
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Redefining Sustainable Fashion: Nancy Rhodes’ Journey to Innovation and Impact | Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Rhodes
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Jan 21, 2025 |
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What You Don’t Know About Marketing with Petia Abdur-Razzaaq of the Stylista Group | Emily Blumenthal & Petia Abdur-Razzaaq
|
Jan 14, 2025 |
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The Crochet Hobby Turned Handbag Brand with Treniece Green of Covered by T | Emily Blumenthal & Treniece Green
|
Jan 07, 2025 |
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The Legacy of Famed Dutch Handbag Brand, Hester van Eeghen with Roberta Oriani
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Dec 31, 2024 |
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How to Make and Manufacture a Handbag with Nicole Levy of Baikal Handbags
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Dec 24, 2024 |
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Mastering American Manufacturing with Kim Thomas
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Dec 17, 2024 |
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Ukrainian Passion and Persistence with Olena Wills
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Dec 10, 2024 |
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From Data to Design, How PR Shapes Handbag Brand Success with Danika Daly
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Dec 03, 2024 |
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E-Commerce strategies, insights, and content creation with Amber Katz
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Nov 26, 2024 |
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Navigating Handbag AI Tech Authentication with Entrupy’s Vidyuth Srinivasan
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Nov 19, 2024 |
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Ori Lehavi on Creating a Legacy Handbag Brand
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Nov 12, 2024 |
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Revolutionizing Fashion Technology with Launchmetrics’ Alison Bringé
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Nov 05, 2024 |
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The Making of Anima Iris Handbags from Grief to Glamour
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Oct 29, 2024 |
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From Puerto Rico to NYC, Victoria Sanchez-Lincoln’s Fashion Editorial Success
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Oct 22, 2024 |
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Become the “It Bag” creator of Nigeria with Zashadu’s Zainab Ashadu
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Oct 15, 2024 |
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Fashion, Trend, and Media Insights with Lauren Parker of Fairchild Studios
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Oct 08, 2024 |
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3D Printing Handbag Innovation and Affordability with Jonathan Romero of Romero New York
|
Oct 01, 2024 |
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Turning Friendship into Fashion: The FTL Bags Success Story of Ryan Lane and Xander Chase
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Sep 24, 2024 |
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Manufacturing in Colorful Handbags in Morocco with Karima Bidar of Isli Studio
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Sep 17, 2024 |
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Strawberry Bags Made in El Salvador to Berlin, Marta Torres Journey With Martania Bags
|
Sep 10, 2024 |
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Building a Socially Responsible Handbag Brand, Soli and Sun with Clare Hynes
|
Sep 03, 2024 |
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Leaving Venezuela to a Fresh Start in Miami: Maria Gabriela Duque Albornoz’s Handbag Designer Journey
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Aug 27, 2024 |
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The Art of Thrifting and High-End Handbag Authentication with Shelby Wilder
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Aug 20, 2024 |
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Lili Radu’s Hustling Journey to Create a Global Handbag Empire With Vee Collective
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Aug 13, 2024 |
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Transforming The Sustainable Luxury Handbag Market with 1 Atelier and Stephanie Sarka
|
Aug 06, 2024 |
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From Nursing Babies to Working Moms: Sarah Well’s Handbag Revolution
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Jul 30, 2024 |
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Creating Digital Fashion Week with Clare Tattersall
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Jul 23, 2024 |
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From Chanel to Dior: The Art of Authentication with Dani Smith
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Jul 16, 2024 |
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Tamara Rappa’s Story of Making It Rain
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Jul 09, 2024 |
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The Secret Sauce of Resale and Handbags with Koyaana Redstar
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Jul 02, 2024 |
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Building Dagne Dover: The Story of Jessy Dover, Small-Town Dreamer to NY Designer
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Jun 25, 2024 |
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Understanding the Accessory Market Where Fashion Meets Function to Sale with Amanda Cross
|
Jun 18, 2024 |
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Sustainability and Fashion: Everything You Need to Know with Mary Gehlhar
|
Jun 11, 2024 |
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The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Powerful Personal Brand with Social Media Guru, Stephanie Cartin
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Jun 04, 2024 |
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How to Create a Fashion Empire with Nicole Giordano of STARTUp Fashion
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May 28, 2024 |
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What it Takes to Create a Successful Handbag Brand with Handbag Legend, Bobby Williams
|
May 21, 2024 |
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Decrypting The Handbag Business With Glossy’s Jill Manoff
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May 14, 2024 |
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Betty & Paulina’s Beamina Brand Story of Courage and Craftsmanship
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May 07, 2024 |
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Mergers, Mindsets, and the Magic of Brand Mastery with Richard Kestenbaum
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Apr 30, 2024 |
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Expanding Your Handbag Empire with Government of Quebec
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Apr 23, 2024 |
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The Tale of the Arizona Handbag Hometown Hero with Sage Aubrey
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Apr 16, 2024 |
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From Wall Street Wizard to Handbag Heroine and the Pop-Up Retail Revolution
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Apr 09, 2024 |
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Tola Adeagbo’s Florian London Journey from Lagos to London
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Apr 02, 2024 |
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The Accidental Legacy of Pre-Owned Luxury Bags with Charlotte Staerck of The Handbag Clinic
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Mar 26, 2024 |
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The Historical Saga of Handbags, Artifacts, and Royalty with Dr. Katrina Marchant
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Mar 19, 2024 |
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Navigating the Glamour and Grit of Handbag Sales with Handbag Industry Veteran, Jaime Levy
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Mar 12, 2024 |
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Abe Chehebar: A life story told in a legacy of handbags
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Mar 05, 2024 |
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Handbags at the Half-Time Show Featuring Famed Comedian Sarah Colonna
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Feb 27, 2024 |
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Balancing Act of a Fashion Mogul and Motherhood with Rebecca Minkoff
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Feb 20, 2024 |
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The Making of a Modern Classic with Elyce Arons from the Kate Spade Empire to the Legacy of Frances Valentine
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Feb 13, 2024 |
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Hirra Babar: An Unconventional Handbag Fairytale in Pakistan of WARP
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Feb 06, 2024 |
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Behind The Glamour: Darshan Gress’ Styling Secrets for Fashion
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Jan 30, 2024 |
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Inside Scoop of Handbag Trends and Sustainability: Beth Goldstein’s Insights into the Ever-Evolving Handbag Industry
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Jan 23, 2024 |
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Edalou Paris NFT, Web3, and Puerto Rico: Eda Lourdes’ Journey from Handbags to Virtual Fashion
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Jan 16, 2024 |
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Julie Deane CBE: The Post-It on the Factory Wall to the Sale of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 2
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Jan 09, 2024 |
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From Venezuela to the U.S. to Italy: Genesis Warner’s Handbag Journey of Leisara
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Jan 02, 2024 |
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Quality, Cost, and Craft: Alexandra Klimek’s Fashion Journey in Handbag Design
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Dec 26, 2023 |
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Building a Successful Handbag Business: Christina Langbort’s Approach
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Dec 19, 2023 |
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From the Phillipines to Nine West: Rafe’s Inspiring Journey Through Handbag Design
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Dec 12, 2023 |
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A Handbag Industry Deep Dive of Innovation and Price Sensitivity with Arthur Zaczkiewicz of WWD
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Dec 05, 2023 |
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Risk and Resilience: Coral Chung’s Inspiring Entrepreneurial Journey with SENREVE
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Nov 28, 2023 |
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From Shanghai to Madrid to CARAA: Aaron Luo’s Life-Changing Journey into Handbags
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Nov 21, 2023 |
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Julie Deane’s Tale from Kitchen Table to British Handbag Empire: The Creation of The Cambridge Satchel Company Part 1
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Nov 14, 2023 |
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Sherrill Mosee’s MinkeeBlue: Transforming a Layoff into a Handbag Entrepreneurship Triumph
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Nov 07, 2023 |
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From Pockets to Handbags: Catherine Buckland takes us on a journey of the History of Handbags and Trends
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Oct 31, 2023 |
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Adrian Furstenburg: Creating a Luxury Handbag Brand from South Africa to Singapore
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Oct 24, 2023 |
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Stitching Sustainability: The FabScrap Story with Camille Tagle
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Oct 17, 2023 |
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Turning Dreams into Design: The ASHYA Story with Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece
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Oct 10, 2023 |
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Doris Izquierdo of DOIZPE: From Mexico to Australia in Pursuit of Making the Perfect Bag
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Oct 03, 2023 |
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Unzipping the Art of Handbag Design and Branding with Industry Leader, Nancy Forman
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Sep 26, 2023 |
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TikTok and Handbags: Jada "Afropuff" Holmes Life-Changing Inspirational Journey
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Sep 19, 2023 |
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The Unconventional Route to Handbag Success with Antoine Manning of Homage Year | Emily Blumenthal & Antoine Manning
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Sep 12, 2023 |
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The Leather Trail: Tanner Leatherstein’s Global Journey to Fame | Emily Blumenthal & Tanner Leatherstein
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Sep 12, 2023 |
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A Handbag History: Monica Botkier’s Tale of Transition and Triumph | Emily Blumenthal & Monica Botkier
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Sep 12, 2023 |