Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
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.
Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons
Latest Episodes
From Designer Dream to Financial Reality: Alexandra Satine on Building, Scaling, and Starting Over | Emily Blumenthal & Alexandra Satine
What happens when a strong handbag concept collides with the realities of pricing, production, and scale? In this episode, Alexandra Satine—former handbag designer and founder of YourCohort—shares her journey from creative ambition to business ...
Beyond Hype: Syl Tang on Sustainability, Strategy, and the Future of Accessories | Emily Blumenthal & Syl Tang
What happens when handbag design stops being just about trends and starts confronting bigger questions—materials, sustainability, and what happens after the hype fades? In this episode, Syl Tang joins us to unpack how the accessories world is s...
Raffia, Color, And The New Bag Rules with: Ilia-Sybil Sdralli | Emily Blumenthal & Ilia-Sybil Sdralli
What happens when fashion stops following one trend cycle and splinters into thousands of micro-movements? We sit down with fashion editor Ilia Sib Zvalli to unpack why the old model of seasonal “must-haves” is breaking down—and what that means...
Trust, Tech, and Truth: How Vidyuth Srinivasan Built Entrupy | Emily Blumenthal & Vidyuth Srinivasan
What happens when curiosity, risk-taking, and a refusal to follow the expected path collide? We sit down with Vidyuth Srinivasan, CEO of Entrupy, to explore his journey from India to New York, from journalism to entrepreneurship, and from outsi...
Luxury Without Compromise: Nancy Gale on Building a Brand That Stands for Something | Emily Blumenthal & Nancy Gale
What if luxury wasn’t about pressure—but about freedom to be fully yourself? We sit down with Nancy Gale, founder of JAMAH Handbags, to explore how a clear point of view shapes every decision, from materials to manufacturing. Nancy shares what ...