Handbag Designer 101 is a place where bag designers from all over the world come together and celebrate their bag lines! I applied to be a part of it all and just got an e-mail back saying that they would love to Showcase me as the Handbag Designer of the Day! Love! How nice is that? Plus, I might be eligible to go to NYC to the 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Awards presented by InStyle and Handbag Designer 101!
I had to fill out a few more questions through e-mail to let people get to know me and my brand a little better. Check them out with my answers! :)
1. Please give an overview about you and your bag and where you are at with your line now.
I'm a Bag & Accessories designer based in Western New York. I"ve always had a huge heart for anything to do with bags! In the fall of 2009 I decided to take some design/sewing classes at The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. Since then I've made almost over 50 bags (that's a lot for one person). Everything I design & make is 100% handmade by me alone. August 2010 is when Tracy Larish the brand was born! I specialize in custom bags, but I am currently working on a line of Baby Bags due Summer 2011, because even Mommas need to be stylish!
2. Please explain how did your line get started & why.
I am new to the business world of bags, so I am currently running my brand out of my home and selling online. In the near future I hope to expand into my own studio and get a couple assitants. Pretty soon I won't be able to keep up on my own!
3. Please mention something interesting about your line that you want people to know about.
As I previously mentioned, each bag is designed and handmade by me. Each bag is original, no two bags are exactly the same. I do have a bunch of bags that are ready made, but I specialize in custom. I think custom is important. This way, you know you're getting exactly what your little heart desires!
4. Please discuss a design nightmare story.
A big nightmare for me would have to be with the first crossbody/messenger bag I made. I was so nervous, because it was my very first order. I literally made the whole bag upside down! Of course, I didn't realize until I was completely done! Basically, I kept that bag as a memory to laugh at and started fresh again! It hasn't happened since!
5. Finally, please share your greatest achievement in this process & the reason why it is all worth it.
My greatest acheivement so far is probably how many bags I have sold. It's tough working with one person and relying on your family and friends to spread the word to really get out there. To me, my family and friends are my greatest motivator. I've had some moments of disbelief of my brand, but then I realized I'm really doing this for myself. This has been a huge dream of mine since I was so young and I am lucky to even be where I am today. I love dreaming up a new design or seeing the faces on my customers when they have a Tracy Larish bag in their hands, just for them. It's a wonderful feeling and I will never give this up! My mother always told me, "You can do anything you want to do and be whatever you want to be!" And I plan on it.
Good, right? ;) This is pretty exciting! I just had to share! Wish me luck! :)
xo TL
