What does it take to turn one handbag into a worldwide fashion brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with the iconic Rebecca Minkoff to unpack the journey from her first design to building an empire that changed the handbag industry forever.

It all started with the Morning After Bag—a now-legendary design born from a chance encounter with actress Jenna Elfman and fueled by early internet buzz. From there, Rebecca’s brand exploded, capturing the spirit of modern femininity and defining what it meant to build fashion with both form and function.

💡 Key Takeaways
 👜 Romance Meets Utility: How the Morning After Bag hit a cultural nerve and made Rebecca Minkoff a household name.
👩‍💼 Founder Real Talk: Why working with her brother required “business couples therapy”—and how that transparency built a stronger brand.
⏳ Work-Life Wisdom: How motherhood sharpened her leadership skills and helped her build a powerhouse team.

With nearly two decades of experience, Rebecca shares how passion, innovation, and resilience shaped her brand—from early influencer marketing to “buy now, wear now” runway shows. 🎧 Listen now.

Our Guest: Rebecca Minkoff is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, podcast host, and mother of three. Her namesake brand is known worldwide for accessible luxury and trailblazing innovation in the handbag space and beyond.

Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.

Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com. 

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