I am a former corporate recruiter turned “bag lady.” My business started in Las Vegas and is now based in Kansas City. I designed my first bag, the diaper clutch, after the birth of my second son when I realized that I needed a bag to keep my diapers and wipes organized. Having two boys in diapers, I was always grabbing the wrong size. Now, they each have their own clutch. My line has since grown to include handbags, totes, and diaper bags.

I really like working with decorator fabrics the most as they are easy to work with and can really hold up over time. My life has been my inspiration lately as my bag needs seem to change as my boys grow older. Having two toddlers still in diapers, I needed a big bag to carry diaper clutches and sippy cups, as well as my wallet, make-up bag, keys, etc. Thus, the birth of the Box Tote. When I’m doing a show or presentation, I like to use the Bucket Tote. I still remember toting jars of baby food and bottles when my boys were babies, so I have another bag in the works for that! I just know that there are other moms out there like me, so I try to design for them based on what I look for in a bag.

While running an online accessories boutique featuring handbags from other designers, I was often asked when I was going to start making my own. A year later, I designed my first bag, the diaper clutch, after the birth of my second son...needing something to keep all those diapers and wipes organized! Since then, my line has grown. From small handbags to diaper/activity bags, each byKimLane DESIGNS handbag is a handcrafted original. Currently, I don’t like to stock an inventory when I’m not doing shows, so when an order comes in, each bag is handmade with that customer in mind. Plus, if the client has any special requests, I can accommodate them. In most cases, my bags ship to the client within 2 days. My fabric selection changes constantly, so what may be there one day, may be gone the next.

My design nightmare story actually became a success. I was just starting out and experimenting with different interfacings, when I decided to make a bag with fusible Peltex. I wanted the bag to be stiff, but not THAT stiff! I had such a hard time working with it, that I didn’t even finish it until I decided to use it to hold my papers for my first show. Customers saw it hiding off to the side of the table and started asking me how much it was. Wouldn’t you know…I sold 5 that day, so I decided to make the Bucket Tote available for all. Situations like this is something that all handbag designers go through.  However, when I got my first retail order suddenly, it became clear that maybe I really could make something out of this and have fun with it. All the late nights, nerves, and stress are worth it when I get to spend more time with my family doing something that I really enjoy.