Ever wondered how a brand can transform a personal story into a global success? Peter Gryson, co-founder of Joy Gryson, takes us through his remarkable journey from the corporate world to launching a thriving handbag brand that resonates deeply with consumers. His experiences navigating the complexities of fashion, production, and market dynamics reveal the essence of building a brand that stands out in a crowded industry.

"I wanted to be successful, and that became my objective." This determination fueled Peter’s rise from a retail job to becoming a vice president at Calvin Klein, where he honed his skills in trend forecasting and brand development. Together with his wife, Joy, they created Joy Grisen, a brand that not only reflects their passion for design but also adapts to the evolving demands of the market.

Key Takeaways:

Resilience in Adversity: The fashion industry is filled with challenges, but Peter’s story illustrates how perseverance and adaptability can lead to unexpected opportunities.

The Power of Partnership: Collaborating with talented designers and reliable manufacturers is crucial for maintaining quality and innovation in product development.

Market Awareness: Understanding consumer trends and preferences is essential for any brand looking to thrive, especially in a fast-paced global market.

🎧 Tune in now for inspiring lessons on building a successful brand and navigating the ever-changing landscape of fashion.

Our Guest: Peter Gryson is the co-founder of Joy Gryson, a handbag brand that has made significant strides in the Asian market. With extensive experience in the fashion industry, Peter has successfully combined creativity and business acumen to develop a brand that resonates with consumers worldwide.

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, dedicated to fostering creativity and craftsmanship in the handbag industry.

Explore 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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Ever wonder why it’s so hard to break into the accessories world? Karen Giberson, President of the Accessories Council, pulls back the curtain on an industry made up of specialized silos that rarely connect. From Macy’s competitive executive training program to navigating the stigma of QVC, her path shaped a mission to create meaningful connections across accessory categories.

"I’d rather put my product in the trash than sell it to you." That early rejection in television retail revealed the uphill battle Karen faced—but also pushed her toward building the Council, where for over two decades she’s been breaking down barriers, championing collaboration, and proving that networking is non-negotiable.

Key Takeaways:

• Fragmented Industry: Accessories thrive in silos—footwear sizing, eyewear regulations, jewelry sourcing—but collaboration sparks breakthroughs.
  
  
  
• Networking Is Power: With 100+ opportunities annually, Karen believes success depends on showing up, asking for help, and making connections.
  
  
  
• Cross-Pollination Wins: Innovation often comes when designers look beyond their lane—like handbags borrowing from jewelry hardware or even automotive design.
  
  
  

🎧 Listen now for insider lessons on breaking into—and thriving in—the world of accessories.

Our Guest:
 Karen Giberson is President of the Accessories Council, a non-profit trade organization supporting designers and brands across categories from handbags to eyewear. With decades of experience spanning retail, TV, and advocacy, she’s dedicated to uniting a fragmented industry and creating opportunities for designers to connect, grow, and succeed.

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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As we continue the journey of what it takes to build a luxury handbag brand from scratch the harsh realities of the industry, we pick up where we left off with Julie Deane, and her difficult choice to sell her company. This is precisely the thrilling journey Julie Deane, founder of the Cambridge Statue Company, unravels with us. We take a deep dive into the complex world of the handbag business, learning about the trials of selling, the betrayal of manufacturers, and the courage it took for Julie to take control and become her own manufacturer. This story of resilience and innovation shines a spotlight on the unexpected opportunity that a Google Chrome advert presented, reflecting the success of the company's adept use of technology. 

Does the thought of navigating various challenges such as Brexit, the pandemic, and the quest for the right investors sound daunting? Julie shares how she faced these hurdles head-on while establishing a luxury handbag brand. She also opens up about her ultimate decision to sell her company to a French group that values British manufacturing, ensuring job security for her employees. In our closing chapter, we engage in a heartfelt talk about the highs and lows of being a handbag designer. Julie shares some invaluable advice for anyone considering this career path and emphasizes the unique and exciting experiences it brings. These captivating insights are a must-listen for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes reality of the handbag industry. Don't miss out, and remember to leave us a rating and review!

Follow Julie:

https://www.instagram.com/julie_deane/

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“Have you ever wondered what it takes to create and scale a handbag brand? Quickly? Well, prepare to find out in this fascinating chat with our guest Julie Deane, the brains behind the Cambridge Satchel Company. Julie shares her journey from a humble start, fueled by her mother's support, to making a mark in the world of handbags, focusing on the satchel's practical appeal. Join us to explore her intriguing life, living between Cambridge and the West Coast of Wales, where her garden's quince tree has become a community hub.

The conversation takes a twist as Julie offers insights into the business side of her handbag journey. She opens up about identifying a gap in the market for school satchels and how her mother’s early endorsement of her work-from-home lifestyle paved the way. Listen in as she recounts fascinating tales of convincing a skeptical manufacturer to produce her satchels, and the subsequent rush to find additional manufacturers to meet the demand for her bags.

In the final part of our chat with Julie, we delve into the complexities of scaling a handbag brand. She shares stories of her challenges, ranging from photographing bags for her website to dealing with knockoffs of her designs. Tune in to hear about her ingenious solution for showing the size of her bags using a banana for comparison and the defining moment when the New York Times labeled her bags a 'street style bag'. Julie's story is a testament to the power of determination and entrepreneurship, providing a wealth of inspiration for aspiring designers and entrepreneurs.” This is only Part 1. Stay tuned for the second half of Julie’s journey of what happens next.

Connect with Julie Deane:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cambridgesatchel/ 

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What happens when an environmental lawyer trades the courtroom for the world of fashion? For Jimena Suarez, founder of From Sentient, it means creating vegan handbags that blend Mexican craftsmanship, innovative materials, and ethical values—without sacrificing style. Sixteen years after going vegan, she saw a gap in the market for beautiful, high-quality accessories that align with her values.

Her path took her from advocating for gender equality and animal rights to studying social entrepreneurship at Berkeley, where From Sentient took root. Today, her brand redefines sustainable luxury through thoughtful design and artisan collaboration.

Key Takeaways:

• Desirability Drives Success: Purpose alone isn’t enough—people must want the product.
  
  
  
• Innovation Takes Time: Like the iPhone, great design evolves through research, iteration, and patience.
  
  
  
• Craft + Ethics: Partnering with skilled artisans transforms vegan materials into luxurious, culturally rich handbags.
  
  
  

🎧 Listen now for a story of innovation, ethics, and style converging in fashion’s future.

Our Guest:
 Jimena Suarez is the founder of From Sentient, a Mexican-based vegan handbag brand merging ethics with aesthetics. Formerly an environmental lawyer, she collaborates with artisans trained in traditional leather craftsmanship to create elegant, innovative vegan bags like the flagship Raíz (“roots”) collection.

#WomenInBusiness #FashionInnovation #VeganHandbags #SocialEntrepreneurship #HandbagDesigner101 #MaterialInnovation #LuxuryAccessories

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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For Sujin, handbags aren’t sewn—they’re constructed. Trained as an architect, she approaches her brand, Elemood, with the same principles she’d apply to a building: structural integrity, simplicity, and form as function. With no fashion or sewing background, she pioneered designs like the Mono bag—crafted from a single piece of material—and the Expert, made from one repeated pattern, creating sculptural pieces unlike anything in the market.

After a decade of success, Sujin nearly walked away from her business—until an Italian brand strategist and Japanese designer Kasumi reignited her vision. Now, their partnership blends Japanese minimalism, Thai craftsmanship, and architectural precision into award-winning designs like the Blossom Series, while navigating a shift from traditional exports to U.S. wholesale.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• An outsider’s perspective can be a creative advantage.
  
  
  
• Structural thinking leads to distinctive, lasting designs.
  
  
  
• Collaboration works best when partners fill each other’s gaps.
  
  
  
• Revitalizing a brand sometimes means rethinking the business model.
  
  
  

🎧 Listen for a story of reinvention, partnership, and pushing the boundaries of handbag design.

Our Guest:
Sujin Osatarayakul is the founder and creative mind behind Elemood, an award-winning brand merging architectural construction with functional accessories. Her work, with her partner Kazumi Takahashi challenges traditional handbag-making by treating each design as a building—crafted for beauty, utility, and longevity.

#Elemood #ArchitecturalDesign #HandbagDesigner101 #WomenInBusiness #DesignInnovation #FunctionalArt #CreativePartnership #LuxuryAccessories

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

Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner

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For Odoba Nnani, building her brand became a masterclass in trusting instincts and weaving cultural heritage into every creation. Born in Nigeria and moving to the U.S. at eight through the visa lottery, she balanced family expectations with a growing creative drive. When the pandemic hit, she traded law school dreams for crafting accessories that blend beauty, function, and heritage.

Her design philosophy? A great bag works anywhere—sweatpants to store runs, dressed up for church, or taken to a club. Versatility, paired with leather linings, magnetic closures, and thoughtful craftsmanship, transforms each piece into functional art.

By working with The Accessory Think Tank, she skipped costly mistakes and launched Romanian-made handbags that fuse global influences with Nigerian roots—designed for real life, across all settings.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Career pivots can unlock your truest calling.
  
  
  
• Versatility is a branding superpower.
  
  
  
• Small details create lasting luxury.
  
  
  
• Expert mentorship saves years of trial and error.
  
  
  

🎧 Listen for a story of risk-taking, reinvention, and cultural pride in design.

Our Guest:
Odoba Nnani is the founder of her namesake brand, crafting luxury handbags that merge Nigerian heritage with modern functionality.

#AdobaTheBrand #HandbagDesigner101 #LuxuryDesign #WomenInBusiness #CulturalHeritageInFashion #VersatileDesign #EntrepreneurJourney #FunctionalLuxury

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. 

Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner

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What happens when you mix a mischievous spirit, versatile design, and a new baby? For Shinyoung Park, it led to the creation of Misenver —a handbag brand born at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurial ambition.

In this inspiring episode, Shinyoung shares her path from fashion school in Korea to working in LA’s clothing industry, and how pregnancy became the push to finally launch her own brand. With Misenver  priced in the $200–$300 range, she’s found the perfect sweet spot between fast fashion and luxury, creating simple, versatile silhouettes paired with playful touches like her signature bunny sunglasses charms.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Sometimes life’s biggest changes spark your boldest moves.
  
  
  
• Smart pricing and standout details can define a brand.
  
  
  
• Pop-ups and boutique partnerships build authentic connections.
  
  
  
• Building a business alongside parenthood is messy—but worth it.
  
  
  

Our Guest: Shinyoung Park is the founder and designer behind Misenver, a handbag brand that blends simplicity, versatility, and playful details. Her journey from fashion school graduate to mompreneur highlights the grit, creativity, and balance required to grow a brand while raising a family.

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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Chelli Look’s story is as inspiring as it is emotional. A self-taught designer since high school, she began making handbags after her sister challenged her to “figure it out yourself.” What started as a creative outlet became a livelihood—and later, a lifeline through unimaginable personal loss.

In this moving episode, Chelli opens up about losing her best friend and business partner in a tragic accident, and how creating bags became her meditative way to process grief. Her journey, captured in the documentary Dawn Dusk, shows the power of creativity as both healing and self-discovery.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Creativity can be a profound tool for processing grief and hardship.
  
  
  
• Entrepreneurship is all-consuming—know when it’s time to step back.
  
  
  
• Closing a chapter can bring unexpected peace and perspective.
  
  
  
• Sharing your story can transform pain into connection and healing.
  
  
  

🎧 Dawn Dusk premieres on Amazon Prime and Tubi August 15th.

Our Guest: Chelli Look is a self-taught handbag designer whose journey of resilience and creativity became the subject of the documentary Dawn Dusk. Through her candid story, Chelli reveals how making bags was both her profession and her path to healing.

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. 

Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner

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When Jessy Dover sewed her own hot pink prom dress from Walmart fabric, she had no idea it would spark the vision for Dagne Dover—now one of the most functional (and stylish) handbag brands on the market.

In this episode, Jessy shares her journey from Parsons to co-founding a powerhouse trio with Melissa Mash and Deepa Gandhi. From winning a Coach design competition with zero handbag experience to building a company culture where feedback actually works, Jesse proves that scrappy beats perfect—and color is anything but soft.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Solve real problems first—then design.
  
  
  
• Find partners who challenge and complement you.
  
  
  
• Color = quiet rebellion.
  
  
  
• Why translating feedback matters more than giving it.

🎧 Listen now for one of the most refreshingly honest convos in fashion today.

Our Guest:
Jessy Dover is the co-founder and creative director of Dagne Dover. A Parsons grad with a passion for functional design, she brings a refreshingly practical approach to fashion—grounded in problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and a fearless use of color.

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. 

Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner

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