Ever wonder how an idea for a handbag becomes this season’s IT bag? Or how to break into the handbag designing biz? Well while for some it may mean studying what makes a Birkin a Birkin and how to spot a knock-off a mile away, for a collection of students it means designing a bag and entering it in the Independent Designer Awards sponsored by InStyle Magazine and created by HandbagDesigner101.com.
The contest provides the chance for unknown designers — including a student designer – to break into the world of handbag designing to become the next big name in the world of accessories. Past winners have been featured on fashionable shows like Sex and The City and Gossip Girl and sell at huge stores like Saks.
While the contest has nine categories (including best green handbag and best red carpet ready bag) we were most interested in best student made handbag — since here at Her Campus we’re always interested in spotlighting entrepreneurial-minded students like those competing in this category.
Her Campus wants to congratulate the five finalists in the Best Student Made Handbag, who designed their bags while still in school: Kaitlyn Doherty of Kaitlyn Doherty who attended Philadelphia University, Menelaod Theodosiades of Theom Design who attended University of Frederick, Ming Yan Leung of Ming Yan who attended London College of Fashion, Mengdi Wu of mengdi3wu who attended Parsons The New School for Design and Christine Selvia of Selvia who attended Savannah College of Art and Design.
Menelaod Theodosiades
Christine Selvia
Kaitlyn Doherty
Mengdi Wu
Ming Yan Leung
Founder of the awards Emily Blumenthal, explained, “This is a unique opportunity to allow design students to become brands overnight. Handbags is such an oversaturated market and to be able to stand out right out of university is something that can happen for a first round draft pick — not a handbag designer what is exactly what the IHDA does.”
Check out the amazing designer’s innovative bags below and vote for your favorite Student Made Handbag (and the eight other categories) by June 6!
The 2009 winner of the Best Student Made Handbag, Rachel Esswood, praised the contest and how it has furthered her career as a designer. “I have relocated from London to New York City, to take the position of Accessory Design Assistant at luxury design house Devi Kroell. During this time, I have been given the opportunity to further my technical skills, master footwear design, and visit our European factories. The competition aided my public awareness as a designer, and over the last two years, I have also had the opportunity to secure many freelance design roles, including www.queridainc.com
To get a taste for the whole Independent Handbag Awards, check out the video below!