I am a New Yorker by way of California and have always been a designer, whether or not it was my profession at the time.  Emily by Emily bags have become a staple to so many women (THANK YOU WOMEN!!!)  Now I am maintaining my line, working on new design ideas all the time as well as expanding into other areas of design.  Bags have always been super important to me, like an old friend.  Now that I have been a bag designer for a few years I know how important bags are to all women.

Most of our ::Emily:: bags are made from very soft supple lamb leather and some are a distressed version of lamb as well.  I am now introducing some less expensive bags made from a mixture of canvas and leather.  I am inspired by so many things, a great fabric, an old photo, walking in NYC, but more than anything I find inspiration in my everyday routine of getting ready for the day.  When I get dressed I always think what would be the most perfect bag for what I am wearing.  Sometimes creativity is truly founded by necessity as that is how I got started.

I attended Parsons in NYC and then I hit the ground running.  In 2000, I started a line of apparel with a great friend of mine, then moved on to a few other various jobs both fashion and non-fashion related.  I realized it was time to start a line of my own handbags when I couldn't find the right bag to suit my everyday life.  It was then that Emily by Emily (appropriately named) was born.

Every handbag designer has had an idea that seems so interesting and so innovative and when it is all sewn up you realize some things are better left in a sketchbook.  Much like my design for a drawstring bucket bag.  The look was so cute and the strap was so pretty...in my mind, that is.  When it was made - it looked like a giant leather DIAPER! (Which I don't think is a good look for anyone.)

My greatest achievement is the fact that I have created an idea that expanded into a known and desired line of handbags.  One day it just seemed right and I went for it.  And now, we are expanding into commerce on our site, I have written a book about bags and working on a line of products for infants and toddlers.  To me, risking it all for a dream is a huge accomplishment in itself.