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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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When Handmade Stops Scaling: Andrea Pascual on Pivoting a Handbag Brand | Emily Blumenthal & Andrea Pascual
Tuesday, 14 April, 2026
What happens when the way you start building your brand is the very thing holding you back? We sit down with Andrea Pascual to unpack the shift from early hustle to sustainable growth—when handmaking every piece, chasing quality, and saying yes to everything starts costing more than it gives. From her path through FIT and New York’s garment district to the realities of bespoke pricing and burnout, Andrea shares how designers navigate the tension between artistry and building a real business—and why pivoting is often the hardest, but most necessary, move.Key Takeaways: • What works early won’t scale — Growth requires letting go of old processes. • Handmade has limits — Time, margins, and energy must be protected. • Production is strategy — Factories, tech packs, and backups are critical to survival.🎧 Listen now for an honest look at what it takes to evolve from maker to brand.Our Guest: Andrea Pascual is a handbag designer with experience spanning handcrafted leather goods and scaled production. With roots in Canada and training at FIT in New York, she brings a practical perspective on sourcing, sampling, and navigating the complex transition from artisan to entrepreneur in the handbag industry.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. Subscribe, share this with a designer friend, and leave a review so more people can find Handbag Designer 101.Support the showYoutube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner TikTok: / Handbagdesigner | Twitter: / Handbagdesigner
