Finding Inspiration

How do you get inspired when deciding to create a new collection?  When I had my handbag line I always found the most inspiration in books about vintage handbags – not that I made many vintage inspired bags, but the I was always drawn to the vintage shapes and somehow my mind twisted them into a modern version!  Don't ask me how – it just seems to happen.  Was always one of those, "if I move this here, make this bigger, reshape the strap" it will be cool kinda thing……:O)

I also found inspiration in Museums, art books, fabrics, and trend reports.  I tried NOT to go into very many stores and look at actual bags as I found it confusing and would often feel like I needed to do what the haute couture designers were doing – which was so not my brand…… as a young designer at the time, I often was influenced in lieu of being inspired!

This image above of a 2013 Alexander McQueen Runway dress is something I derive tons of inspiration from as I find the floral trend exciting.  I love the mix with the sheer and the plaid.  The feminine played against the stark masculine plaid.  I would have made a plaid bag and mixed it with lace, flowers, leather, or perhaps floral buttons……..

How do you find inspiration to keep things fresh and exciting for yourself and your customers?

Written by Sarah Shaw

There are 3 comments

Grace Wieber says:

April 23, 2013 at 9:20 am

Poetry is my favorite avenue for inspiration

Reply

DeAnna Cochran says:

April 23, 2013 at 3:11 pm

I find inspriation in travel.

Reply

Jeannine Cavallo says:

April 24, 2013 at 6:22 pm

I find inspiration from art and textiles from around the world. India has amazing textiles and is one of my favorite countries to research for inspiration.

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