My name is Michelle Cravens, I actually go by Michelle Monroe which I am 90% of the time and is also my hand bag brand name. I have been designing hand bags for about 3 years. Before that I was designing and selling trendy belts, I am self taught in the fashion Industry from A to Z.  Education, School of Hard Knocks and a gift from above, I have always been artistic from designing custom drapes to custom pillow cases and clothing which I would love to play with. If I would see something I admired and wanted but seen it a bit different I would tell myself I can do this but even better. I am currently selling my product line to specialty department stores to specialty Boutiques, And with my online website. My spring 10 collection is complete and ready to go.

My hand bags are 100% made in the U.S.A. along with my custom hardware which I adorn my product with. Zippers, lining, is all purchased here in the U.S. I use quality leather mostly which is Imported from Italy, They have a way with there textures, But it is the American designers that truly do a complete detail on there bags, Recently I have Incorporated feathers in with my leathers which have gotten a lot of attention. I make all my pro to types from the cutting to the sewing, I am definitely a hands on designer ! My biggest compliment from my buyers are 2 key words, quality and uniqueness.

Years ago I was watching a famous newscaster who was a very trendy dresser and one day she wore this amazing belt and she would always talk about it and how much she loved it. So I decided to find this belt to own one of my own. I went into Los Angeles with hopes of finding the belt Instead I found the belt to be over priced and of poor quality, So off to the craft store I went (of course telling myself I can make this but even better) And so I did, I ended up making even different styles before I knew it I was selling belts out of my home. My son Brendan who is a stylist hair stylist in Los Angeles said you need to get these in some good stores here in Los Angeles, off we went to land a store in the Beverly center, Jennifer Kaufman, She took the line and ended up selling one of the belts to Christina Aguilera. After that I was hooked.  My quality and uniqueness of style gets stopped whenever I go, My pieces are definitely show stoppers. And this assures me that I am doing something right.

Gosh my design nightmare where do I start, Well if I have to narrow it down here goes, I was working with a chain store in the early part of my start, They ordered 100 bags for different locations When it came time for delivery they cancelled the order I was stuck with 100 bags, Not to mention these same bags that I hired an outside contractor to manufacture had problems with the structure of the bag I told him to stop until we got the problem resolved Instead he completed the 100 bags to end up with the same problem, I had to pay him for this and find other contractor to resolve the problem in the 100 bags before my ship date or they would cancel I made the ship date but they ended up canceling with no deposit

The greatest achievement would be to myself. My past life had consisted of doing things that I had to do or could not do. So when I first started a lot of friends, family thought I was crazy to dive into this business knowing how hard it is. But I said to myself this is my time and I want this for me. With no past experience or trade schools they said I was doomed, even other designers laughed behind my back at my designs no they were not perfect. In fact I have to admit I even look back and say "Gee, people actually paid me money for this." There were times I wanted to throw it all away and I would Just sit down and cry. But I was determined, I have never given up, with specialty stores, major magazine press doing write ups I say WOW I did this, And this is just the beginning.