Stephanie Ignazio: Making “Flirty and Fresh and Fun” Handbags
As owner and designer at 2 fresh petunias, Stephanie Ignazio strives to make bags that are “flirty and fresh and fun.” She started collecting fabric in college and designed her first bag out of necessity to carry her children’s stuff in.
“I have always collected vintage fabric…since my college days. Originally I created little girls clothing, hand embellished overalls, skirt sets, etc. which started with the birth of my oldest daughter. One night I sat down with my fabric and said to my husband, ‘I am going to make myself a handbag’. Since I cannot follow a printed pattern to save my life I threw them out and created one of my own. After many hours of trying to make it work just the way I wanted it to, my first handbag was ‘born’. I carried it to a neighbor’s party later that month and by the time I left I had gotten suggestions, comments, interest and a business in motion. I have a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design so I have pattern drafting skills, but no handbag making experience.”
Stephanie explained how it went from this start to selling the handbags, “As I said before, my first handbag came with me to a neighborhood party. By the end of the night it was around town that I made handbags and I sold them…and people could design their own using fabrics that I had in my collection. My first, ‘can I have a handbag party?’ call came out of that night. What a surprise. If I hadn’t been thinking on my feet…I don’t think I would have gone anywhere. I still do those parties because it is a chance for me to connect with other women, listen to their needs, and ‘test’ new styles, plus they are a whole lot of fun! I wish I had known how difficult it was really going to be working at this business and having two small children. You hear about women working from home…but no one ever tells you that you will be working two full time jobs simultaneously…you just can’t shut it (business) off.”
Stephanie describes her bags as “feminine, pretty and eye-catching” and says, “When someone sees one of my handbags the best compliment I can hear is ‘Ooh, isn’t that just so pretty?’ I have found myself in the grocery store looking at someone’s bag only to realize after the fact that it’s one of my own…that’s a great feeling. I design each bag to be classic, simple, functional and stylish all with the emphasis on the beauty of the fabric.”
Stephanie urges her fellow handbag designers to “create what you truly love…if you are just re-creating something that is already out there…without your unique stamp, you won’t be happy and therefore you won’t be successful on so many levels. Take your newest creations around to other women…let them ‘test’ them out…and really listen to their feedback.”
