Handbag Designer 101: Everything You Need to Know About Designing, Making, and Marketing Handbags

by Emily Blumenthal

Handbag Designer 101 is the bible for handbag designers or women who aspire to make their own bags. Included in the book are instructions for creating the fifteen essential bag styles—clutch, hobo, tote, and more—made simple with easy-to-follow how-to illustrations, suggested difficulty levels, and color photography. Advice from famous bag designers and today’s hottest indie designers accompany each pattern.Also included is the inside scoop on turning your handbag hobby into a successful business. From designing, to making, to marketing, Handbag Designer 101 teaches you everything you need to know.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Design, Crafts, Sewing, Art, Fashion Design

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2011

Reviews

[Ida Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems a bit outdated

If you’re looking to make your own bags (not leather) on a machine at home, this might be a good book. Details for manufacturing and starting an actual business are not very helpful, and the marketing part seems very outdated. The book also solely focuses on selling through large department stores etc.

[Daria]

Clear and comprehensive overview of handbag design for folks with some sewing experience; photos need better contrast, especially muslin/canvas mock-ups. Good info re fabric reinforcement, Pelon, etc.

[Trudy Bodwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great book as a starting place to learn to do your own designs. I would personally recommend it only to people who have done a lot of sewing. It's definitely not for beginners. It's what I was looking for : bags that don't look like craft projects. (Not that there's anything wrong with crafty bags - some of them are very cool) The only problem with this book is that there are errors and pictures that don't go with the text. If you know what you're doing, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to work around. I'm not looking to sell bags. If you are, the book has marketing info as well.

[Dinh Hong · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good source for making bag business , all information in it, just one star less because does not have real size patterns, have to enlarge and requires to have enlarge parts and glue together, very time consuming, beaides some patterns dont match with the design. But overall lots of information to go for business.

[Aurora Leos · Rating 5 out of 5]

All-in-one book

A comprehensive book for all handbag designers. I learned so much! I couldn't put it down. A great reference book.

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to learn how to make a bag, this might be helpful. If you want to look at lots of beautiful bags, this book is not helpful. I wanted to look at lots of beautiful bags.

[Simba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paljon hyvää tietoa erilaisista laukkumalleista. Pari ohjetta avuksi omiin projekteihini.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book on how to get into the handbag design business, it categorizes handbags into general groups and shows a mock-up in plain twill of each design type. Color photos of design inspiration are included, as well as a section on the business end of handbag design. Recommended.

[Pam Novack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellently written & has great diagrams and photographs. It has a well organized and thoughtful presentation ,

[Shirley Duah]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading it

I was absorbing all the information in this book, very precise and helpful.it makes you want to get out there and do something.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you need to know with patterns for 15 types of bags. Part 2 is about the business of selling your bags.
Helpful for the business of making and selling.

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with in-book templates. Lots of resources. Extensive detail on sewing and designing.

[Nguyen Thi · Rating 3 out of 5]

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