Shalon Owens: ‘I’ve gone from selling other peoples handbags to designing and selling my own’
Texas native Shalon Owens has always been good at two things: “Drawing and decorating.” So a career designing handbags came naturally. “When I’d sit down to draw a bag my decorating skills would kick in and when I’m done I’ve created yet another ‘It’ bag.”
Before making and selling her own creations, Shalon entered the handbag business on the retail side. “I started out running my own clothing and accessories boutique called Sha’lon & Co. with my older sister. I’ve gone from selling other peoples handbags to designing and selling my own.” She founded her current business, Shalon Handbags, this year and runs it full time. “Shalon Handbags is an all day (and sometimes all night) job for me. I live and breathe Shalon Handbags.”
Shalon describes her bags as “original, stylish, and fun for all ages.” She finds selecting the right color and materials to be the biggest challenge when creating a handbag. “You can design the perfect bag but if the colors and materials are not right you’re in trouble.”
Although Shalon has a flair for design, she is not hands-on when it comes to actually putting together the handbags. “I am not good at sewing!” she admits. “I almost immediately began to seek the help of manufacturers. I found a fabulous manufacturer in Italy who has worked and is working for Versace, Tods, and Dolce & Gabanna. I was lucky. They are great!” Shalon also uses a good manufacturer in India.
Of the big names in handbag design, Shalon says, “I am a big fan of Bracher-Emden’s uniqueness and boldness when creating their bags. I also enjoy Be & D’s bags. They have a way with colors that I admire.”
But however much she may admire the talents of others, the style of Shalon’s handbags is uniquely her own. “My greatest strength is originality. I don’t want to be like anyone else personally or design-wise. I have always felt very strong about being different and not falling in line with everyone else. When others are saying less is more not wanting to go any further I was always thinking, ‘Hey, Why not?’”
Shalon would encourage anyone with an interest in handbags to get into the business for themself. “Go for it. Follow your dream. The fashion world has yet to name the next great legacy which could carry on for years.”
The website for Shalon Handbags can be seen at www.shalonhandbags.com. In 2007, they will be at the WSA Show in Las Vegas. And Shalon tells us, “I am still ironing out the details with several stores. I want everything to be perfect. It takes time and a lot of patience. When you are dealing with manufacturers overseas and in a different time zone things take time and communication is limited.”
Shalon certainly seems optimistic about the future of her bags and her business. When asked to name her most unique bag, she replies, “I don’t think that I’ve created my most unique creation yet.”
