Bag Lady: Our Interview with Rebecca Minkoff
The handbag doyenne responsible for much of young Hollywood's arm candy offered us some insights into her covetable collections. From staples such as the now-classic, slouchy Nikki bag (we're craving one in wine) to seasonal styles like her French Tote, there's something to keep us happy, season after season. Minkoff goes above and beyond to fit her customers' lifestyles, offering additional strap, chain, and scarf add-on options that allow a girl to customize the bag any way she fancies. It's this kind of versatility and attention to detail that make a Minkoff bag a standout, and probably the reason so many women have flocked to her designs. 
Can you tell us a little bit about how you started your own company?
My handbag line really started when I was designing clothes and my friend Jenna Elfman was shooting a movie and asked me to design a bag for her. I have been sewing since age seven and had been educated in design, so that helped get things started. I used my savings and with hard work, it took off.
Was the move to step away from the clothing line and focus on the handbags a reflection of your own interests, or did the momentum of the bags' success just take you in that direction.
The momentum!
Your designs are regularly seen on the arms of celebs. While it's hard to deny the role celebrity plays in building buzz, some designers embrace the exposure, while others shun it. Where do you stand, and how do you feel about about the efforts of new designers to get famous faces on board?
I think support from celebrities can be positive and it always has been in my situation. It really helps propel the brand and get women liking the bags.
How do you feel about using green materials versus leather? We want the truth from a working handbag designer. Do you really feel it's possible to create products of a look and quality similar to the leathers used for most high end handbags?
PVC for example is much more harmful to the environment than leather is. Hemp and organic canvas are the only real environmentally substitutes for leather. I used canvas for my eco-tote, the bread and wine bag.
At the age of 27, your collections have been sold in boutiques the world over and worn by bold-faced names. What was the key to successfully managing such a fast-growing business?
A combination of great PR, marketing and sales teams, and persistence!
