Throw It In The Bag: Gigee Marie

A good handbag to a woman is the same as a briefcase to the businessman. It's a staple, one of the power pieces us woman keep in our wardrobe aresnal. Purses tell a story about the woman it belongs to, and should match her attidude. Every woman walking this earth is a queen and should adorn herself with quality pieces. Gigee Marie, is a handbag line crafted for the woman who appreciates the details seen in simplicity. I have my eye on a few, what about you?

HH:Tell us about yourself, when did being a handbag designer enter your dreams?
AB:I am originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia but I currently live in the Washington, DC area. Becoming a handbag designer was actually never really part of my dreams lol; it happened so randomly. I bought a sewing machine couple years ago and just began experimenting. I started off making small pouches for a friend and then thought it would be cool to start making clutches. At the same time, I had been thinking about starting my own business but couldn't decide on what type of business I wanted. Then it eventually clicked that I could turn my bag making experiments into a business :-).

HH:From concept to product, what kind of creative process do you have for creating your bags ? (what inspires you and how do you translate it into a bag)
AB:I'm pull inspiration from various places, but primarily from trends in fashion. I love reading fashion blogs and magazines. I like looking at textures, patterns, colors, etc. and try to find ways to incorporate whatever catches my eye into my bags. Sometimes I might see a particular fabric that catches my eye, and while it may not necessarily work well for the actual bag, I might use it as the lining.

HH:Who is the "Gigee Marie" woman? What will she love about your line ?
AB:The Gigee Marie woman is the woman who appreciates the details in rather simplistic pieces. She likes classic silhouettes with understated details. The Gigee Marie woman will love that she is able to incorporate her Gigee Marie bag into her work outfit, casual Sunday outfit, or her Saturday night on the town outfit.

HH:What have you learned on your journey as a designer? What knowledge can you share with those who have similar aspirations ?
AB:The biggest thing that I've learned is to keep going. I've wanted to give up plenty of times because it is a lot of work and when something doesn't turn out the way you want or you don't see instant results, it's easy to get discouraged. But when you work hard and take pride in the quality of your work, people will notice and opportunities will come. I think a lot of people give up because they get frustrated (and that's normal), but you never know if you're one step away from a life changing opportunity. So, if being a designer (or whatever career path you choose) is what you really want, just keep working at it and perfecting your craft.

Also, if you're like me and have no design background (or even if you do have a design background), I would suggest finding a mentor who can help guide you in the right direction and answer questions as it relates to developing your line. I think my biggest struggle has been the fact that I don't have a background in design, so I was confused about where to start when it came to getting my line "retail ready". There are also so many [free] resources out there that emerging designers can take advantage of.

HH:Where can we keep up with you and your designs ?
AB:You can purchase bags (and other accessories) from gigeemarie.com.
You can also keep up with the brand's blog at gigeemarie.blogspot.com
Lastly, you can follow and like Gigee Marie on Instagram (@GigeeMarie), Twitter (@GigeeMarie), and Facebook (facebook.com/GigeeMarie)