Handbag Designer 101: Independent Handbag Designer Awards Success Stories

We are very excited for our first Meetup! Emily Blumenthal, founder of Handbag Designer 101 and the Independent Handbag Designer Awards will provide the group with an introduction to Handbag Designer 101 and the vision for future Meetups . Our panel of speakers include past winners of the Independent Handbag Designer Awards (https://www.handbagdesigner101.com/winners_2010) that will share their success stories! The details are as follows:

6:30-7:30: Networking
7:30-8:30: Intro to Handbag Designer 101 and Q&A from our guest speakers
8:30: Meet & Greet

Speakers include:

Adriana Castro (https://adrianacastroonline.com/): With its inspiration from the natural beauty and color palettes surrounding the Amazon, Castro's first collection (Spring/Summer 2007) was aptly named Amazonia. Media attention soon followed with coverage in highly respected fashion publications such as Women's Wear Daily and Vogue. The fashion industry further recognized Castro's talent; in 2007 Gen Art presented Adriana with the Fresh Faces in Fashion Award for Accessory Design. In June 2009, Adriana received the Independent Handbag Designer Award for "Audience Fan Favorite." Adriana Castro was invited as a guest of honor to present a fashion show for the 20th International Footwear and Leather Show. Most recently, Adriana was nominated for The Fashion Group International Rising Star Award.

Castro's handbags are loved and carried by celebrities and fashion influencers including Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Audrina Patridge. Five of Adriana Castro Bags were featured in Sex and the City 2 Movie. The genuine, exotic collection is available exclusively at specialty retailers worldwide including Henri Bendel in New York City, Saks Fifth Avenue in Dubai, Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong as well as select boutiques in Russia and Mexico.

Catherine Meyer (https://follisny.com/): In 2002, FOLLIS designer Catherine Meyer left her hometown in the Midwest to submerge herself in fashion in New York City. The City afforded her opportunities to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology and eventually work for a boutique clothing line. But a few years into her dream career, her impressive wardrobe and portfolio lacked one key dimension – the perfect bag. At the time, handbags on the market were too flashy, too impractical for daily use, and too pricey. So, like a true designer, Catherine decided to make her own bags. And FOLLIS was born. FOLLIS, Latin for “leather bag,” combines the purity of high-quality, finely crafted basic leather bags with a sensibility of style. In addition to creating bags to compliment her own wardrobe, Catherine aspired to create bags that can take a girl from day-to-night, West Coast-to-East Coast, and everything in between. Void of flashy embellishments and excess price, but full of function and aesthetically pleasing design, the bags simply make sense. And Catherine’s wardrobe is trying to keep up!

Meyer won the 2010 Independent Handbag Designer Awards (2010 IHDA) for Best Handbag in Overall Style and Designer. The award is the first for the handbag line, launched in 2008. As part of her winnings, she received partnerships with with Saks Fifth Avenue, Kate Spade and participation in the WWDMAGIC Show in Las Vegas this August.

Michelle Vale (https://www.michellevale.com/index2.html): Founded by Michelle Vale in 2006, Michelle Vale Inc., is a privately owned fashion company that creates high quality handbags for luxury consumers seeking distinct style and harmony. The Michelle Vale product line appeals to fashion-forward women who realize the importance of expression through quality accessories. "We take great pains to ensure that every detail of our bags exemplifies superior craftsmanship," Michelle explains. Michelle's acute attention to quality control was one of the main drivers in the company's decision to produce her lines exclusively in New York City, the city she loves and lives in. This allows Michelle to both personally oversee all elements of the manufacturing process, including the creation of removable hardware components, and to ensure that only ethical and world-class production facilities are used to produce her collections. "We are proud to be one of a very small handful of designers who are made in New York City. This has always been and will always be very near to my heart. I am also proud that we offer women the unique ability to completely customize their own look by offering hardware components in both silver and gold. Our collection allows women to modify the color of hardware they want to wear on their bag and to change the way it is carried at any given moment. With fashion moving to a more polished and elegant look, the perfect bag now exists to help define that image."

In 2010, Vale won the Most Innovative Handbag Inspired by Mark. by Avon. She is in the process of creating a limited edition bag for Mark. to be launched worldwide.

Lorna Nixon (https://www.swarovski-elements.com/Content.Node/index.php?/en/experience/handbagdesigner/lornanixonwinner): At 19, London-based Lorna Nixon won The Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements category at the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. From here, Nixon created the 'Raveneli' collection that has been sold in in London, New York and Shanghai. In 2010, she was a finalist in the Most Innovative Handbag inspired by Mark. by Avon. Her unique aesthetic and sheer talent landed her a position designing for Isabella Fiore in NYC upon graduation from the London College of Fashion.

Aimee Kestenberg (https://www.swarovski-elements.com/Content.Node/#/en/experience/handbagdesigner/kestenbergwinner): Australian-born Aimee Kestenberg, was exposed to design at an early age, learning to sew and bead from her grandmother at the age of 5. At the same time, Aimee was exposed to the business & marketing side of the industry by her father, a Giftware Importer and wholesaler, where Aimee assisted in the sales and buying throughout Asia and having worked over 3 trade shows in Hong Kong alone by the age of 15.

After graduating from high school, Aimee studied Industrial Design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. In her final semester, she discovered a key interest in fashion design and applied to the prestigious Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. Aimee was of the very few accepted in to the college in July 2007 and majored in Accessory design for the following 3 and a half years. Key pieces of Aimee’s thesis collection were hand picked by a panel of fashion design experts in New York City and showcased at the Parsons New School for Design Benefit Show hosted by Vera Wang & William F Fung. On May 23rd, at the same time as her graduation, Aimee launched her couture accessory brand “Jatalika” based off her thesis collection.

In 2010, Aimee won the Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements category at the Independent Handbag Designer Awards for her Tammi Tales collection that will sold at Swarovski stores worldwide.

Rachel Esswood (https://www.rachelesswood.com/index.html): London/New York based accessory designer Rachel Esswood, is re-conceptualizing the male form to provide differentiation and alternative product offer for the modern man. Graduating with a First Class Honours degree from Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, her collection 'The Cell of Virility', directly targets male consumers who possess a daring nature, are insatiably experimental and exude a bold confidence.

Esswood was exposed to a variety of art disciplines from an early age and through this she acquired a high appreciation and understanding for classical music. Esswood was trained as a ballet dancer until she was 16 years of age, at which point her focus began to turn towards design. Theatrical performance continued to be a main point of influence, as Esswood became more captivated by the evolution of dance styles, elaborate costume design, and how sound evokes feeling. More recent influences have been developed from armour, protection, binding, medieval architecture and experimenting with depth and proportion.

Esswood believes each step within the design process is of great importance, and must display a clear visionary concept. Her passion for dramatic costume and the desire to create a visual narrative through design, continues to be the main reference within her work. The collection 'The Cell of Virility', is manifested through myriad forms and focuses on accessorizing with a clean and refined design, that utilizes innovative construction techniques created by both leather and yarn.

Esswood gained experience with Jacobson Group, in Manchester, where she completed a years apprentaship designing for Gola Classics as well as non-branded products for commercial high street retailers. Esswood also has experience in product production with Mulberry and Temperley London.

Upon graduating, Esswood was awarded The Curriers’ Travel Scholarship during the London College of Fashion Award Ceremony 2009. Esswood's unique vision for experimental, innovative product also led her to winning two competitions, ASOS Ltd. 100 2009 in London, of which Esswood won the accessory category, resulting in her product being sold online. Secondly, The Independent Handbag Designer Awards 2009 in New York, which gave her an apprenticeship opportunity in accessory and footwear design, with luxury design house Devi Kroell in New York. Esswood now holds a full-time position as Accessory Design Assistant at Devi Kroell.

These achievements, plus freelance design opportunities, features by vogue.com, magazine articles and editorials, has led to Esswood being named as one of London’s creative talents to watch in the future.