After graduating in 2004 from The University of Delaware with a degree in Fashion Merchandising , Sara entered into the Fashion industry accepting a management position with Nordstrom’s. In 2005 Sara was ready for a life change, she packed her bags and moved across the country to San Diego.
It was in California that Sara discovered her true passion. Feeling inspired by her roommate who was designing a collection of jewelry and handbags, Sara began creating her own collection, making them by hand, literally. “I had to hand stitch each handbag as I did not have the resources to purchase a sewing machine,” Sara says. “ I then realized the potential in using popular social networking sites to display my work and I realized there was a demand for my product. My clutches were a huge hit with my girlfriends and I knew I had stumbled into something special.” The orders began to increase and the first investment into her business was the purchase of a sewing machine by her supportive parents.
“I knew I found a niche when I discovered Etsy.com an online handmade market place,” she explains. “Etsy allowed me to market and sell my product online to millions of consumers worldwide. It also served as a great resource for acquiring the raw materials needed to produce the products. When sales began to taper off due to the crash in the economy, Sara was searching for new ideas on who to market her product to when she discovered the Wedding Industry.
Sara found a niche in the virtually recession proof Wedding Industry and she began to design custom handmade bridal clutches. “I have always been in love with weddings since I was a child watching a Wedding Story on TLC so to be a part of this industry felt right. She started marketing her pieces as “custom made to order” which allowed for her clients to select different styles, colors and embroidery options to create their own purse and coordinate with the rest of their look. The concept was a huge hit and Sara received instant demand with this market, creating custom pieces for brides, bridesmaids, mothers and friends. Etsy not only brought individual clients to Sara but also specialty boutique owners, fashion editors and bloggers who were looking for fresh styles from up and coming designers. Her pieces are now being sold in stores throughout the country and are receiving press from blogs, print magazines and online publications.
Sara has an amazing eye for detail. You can come in the store and enjoy her special trunk show now through May 3rd.
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