What happens when a dream job disappears—and the real opportunity is right at home? In this episode, designer Ana Laverde shares how a Milan-trained industrial designer transformed a setback into a focused handbag brand rooted in Colombian leather, systems thinking, and disciplined edits. Ana explains how her background in luxury packaging shaped her approach to bags as functional objects for daily life, why sourcing in Bogotá’s Restrepo district became a competitive edge, and how proximity to production protects quality, margins, and brand DNA. From killing slow styles to leading wholesale with proven best sellers, she breaks down how testing through pop-ups, trimming color palettes, and partnering with a numbers-driven advisor turned creativity into repeatable wins—without losing identity.

Key Takeaways:

• Design is a system — Structure, function, and durability come before decoration.
• Edit to scale — Kill slow styles, lead with best sellers, and let data guide risk.
• Proximity is power — Staying close to production safeguards quality and cash.

🎧 Listen now for a grounded look at how craft, commerce, and clarity build resilient brands.

Our Guest:
Ana Laverde is a Colombian handbag designer and industrial designer trained in Milan. With a background in luxury packaging and a hands-on approach to sourcing and production, she builds leather handbags defined by sharp edits, functional design, and repeatable commercial success—proving that focus and systems can turn craft into scale.

Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.

Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com.

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