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Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry IconsAuthor: Emily Blumenthal
What does it take to create an iconic handbag brand? Each week, Emily Blumenthalauthor of Handbag Designer 101 and founder of The Handbag Awardsdives deep into the stories behind the handbags we love. From world-renowned designers and rising stars to industry executives shaping the retail landscape, Handbag Designer 101 brings you the inside scoop on the creativity, craftsmanship, and business savvy it takes to succeed in the handbag world.Whether youre a designer, collector, entrepreneur, influencer, or simply passionate about handbags, this podcast is your front-row seat to the journeys of visionary creators, the origins of iconic brands, and the cultural impact of these timeless accessories. Discover valuable insights, expert advice, and the inspiration to fuel your love of handbagsor even launch your own 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. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Fashion & Beauty Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Luxury Without Gatekeeping With Bags For Breakfast | Emily Blumenthal & Shay Prasad
Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
What makes a handbag truly worth carrying every day? We sit down with Shay Prasad of Bags for Breakfast to explore how years on the retail floor shaped her approach to bags as tools for life—not just status symbols. From writing deep-dive Substack essays to launching a curated vintage shop, Shay explains how storytelling, condition knowledge, and retail anthropology turn casual shoppers into thoughtful collectors. Along the way, she shares how to judge patina versus wear, why function matters as much as heritage, and how understanding the history behind iconic houses helps buyers make smarter, more sustainable choices.Key Takeaways: • Function beats fantasy — A great bag works with your real life. • Patina has value — “Loved” pieces often carry more character than pristine ones. • Context sharpens taste — Knowing a brand’s history leads to better buying decisions.🎧 Listen now for a thoughtful look at vintage handbags, collecting, and choosing pieces that truly earn their place in your rotation.Our Guest: Shay Prasad is the founder of Bags for Breakfast, a platform dedicated to thoughtful handbag collecting and vintage discovery. Drawing on years of retail experience and deep research into fashion history, she blends storytelling, education, and curation to help buyers appreciate craftsmanship, condition, and the cultural stories behind the bags they carry.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 TikTok: / Handbagdesigner | Twitter: / Handbagdesigner
