Becky O’Neil: Handbags as “Art for Your Arm”
Becky O’Neil is a handbag designer based in New England, as well as a full time wife and mother. “Everything I do is full time,” she says. She started creating handbags at the age of five or six when she got hold of some of her mother’s scraps and has been making them ever since although her business “Becky OH!” only started in 2003.
Becky describes her handbags as “Curvy, angular and stylish!” and says that she thinks of them as “art for your arm”. She also collects fabrics and textiles and says “I have always had a passion for color and style. A handbag is just a practical manifestation of those artistic qualities—a work of art to carry my wallet and snacks in!” It is also this great sense of color and pattern combination that Becky feels is the unique strength that she brings to her handbags.
In coming up with ideas for her handbags Becky says “I start with the fabric and then I design for function. I like certain curvy shapes and I let the fabric guide me—silks, wools, cottons—they can really misbehave when I don’t treat them right…I collect fabrics wherever I travel and may put them away for months or years before I am inspired.”
To make her bags Becky uses a Bernina sewing machine, professional steam iron, a sharp pair of left-handed scissors and a needle & thread. Her designs are done using pen and paper. When asked what tools she wished she had her answer was “a new Mac powerbook and a gang of tidy-up elves so the studio is magically organized in the morning.”
Apart from her website Becky sells her handbags at parties: “I began and still do sell at home parties. My sister makes jewelry and our creations are a perfect match for each other,” in boutiques, at select shows and “girls’ night out events”.
Handbag designers whom Becky admires include “Lulu Guinness, Agnes & Hoss, and Range of Emotion, as well as many independent Japanese handbag designers.” Becky also really doesn’t believe in “working in a bubble” and has found many great resources. “I am always looking for other friendly and smart people”, she says and, “I am always asking questions and am open to everything.”
When asked about her plans for the future Becky said, “Someday I would love to start to design my own fabrics, but for 2007 I plan a ‘perfect-sized larger bag’ and a stylish computer sleeve.”
She offers this advice to aspiring handbag designers: “I would recommend a good course in basic sewing. If you know the basics then the whole world is open to you! If you can read a pattern, then you can design your own.”
And, before we go, what did she want us to know about her bags? “I really love what I do, and I think every handbag I make has a little bit of that joy in it.”
Those wanting to learn more about Becky’s handbags can visit her website at www.BeckyOh.com.
