It’s Saturday and the outfit for a night on the town is chosen. The top effortlessly shows off all your assets and complements the pumps that your feet will hate you for wearing when 1 a.m. rolls around. You’re almost out the door, but wait, where will your things – credit card, ID, lip gloss and all the other necessities for an evening of fun – be stored?
Bringing out a purse is a tricky business. Clutches are preferable because they’re compact and chic, and who doesn’t look fashionable tucking one under their arm? But they’re a dangerous accessory. So many of us have had the unfortunate experience, especially after a cocktail or two, of leaving our precious goods behind.
About eight years ago, Brandy Goldberg, 26, was just another teenager hanging out with friends and going to clubs in the Tempe area. She too found it inconvenient to lug a purse around with her while out partying.
Goldberg, a red-haired rocker sporting a green corduroy jacket and blue nail polish Tuesday evening, spoke to a group of about 15 in the Pima Community College fashion design program about how she took the initiative to create something that suited so many women’s needs.
“”I didn’t want to wear a waist pack,”” Goldberg said.
Dipping into some DIY style, she tried looping a chain through a small change purse. When her efforts were successful, the thought about designing an already put-together piece came to the surface.
“”I thought, how hard can it be?”” she said.
And so began Goldberg’s handbag line, Bisadora – the initial of her first name and her middle name combined. It was not as easy a feat as she imagined: “”Designing can be a very difficult endeavor,”” she said. But Goldberg has accomplished a significant venture, especially with no formal design education.
Her signature piece, the hip purse, comes in an array of materials, colors and patterns. Ranging from $13 to $23 (without the chain), the hip purse exudes practicality.
“”I wanted to create a hip purse that would be sleek and avoid using Velcro or zippers,”” Goldberg said, which resulted in a patent of the unique closure mechanism she produced in 2003.
With pressure to make it in the accessories industry, Goldberg has since expanded her line to include handbags, clutches, messenger bags and baby bags. Although the rest of her line is not nearly as innovative or chic as the hip purse, Goldberg maintains functionality in all pieces she produces.
Her flame bag, for instance, at $49, makes a statement while storing a cell phone and pen in their own respective compartments.
“”It’s for someone who’s a little on the wild side,”” Goldberg said.
Goldberg, one of the presenters in a series of events going on at PCC for the fashion design program’s fashion week, spent about 45 minutes explaining the challenges of establishing a start-up company, dealing with manufacturers and marketing oneself.
She foresees designing a wider variety of apparel in the future, but for now she will stick to her handbag line, which can be found on her Web site, www.bisadora.com, or www.eBags.com.
“”I’m still trying to grow as a businesswoman and a designer,”” Goldberg said. “”It’s the beginning of a journey.””
