Rebecca Minkoff

Sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned, a case in point being Rebecca Minkoff handbags. While the San Diego-born Minkoff has always aspired to be a designer, it was clothing that she initially focused on when her brand launched in 2001. But when actress Jenna Elfman asked her to design a handbag for an upcoming movie in fall ’05, the Morning After bag—and an entire accessories line—was born. Today, Minkoff is the “it” designer for young Hollywood, and her arsenal of styles includes the Morning After Mini, Nikki hobo, Matinee and the classic Morning After shape. As Minkoff plans her fall ’08 season, she tells WSAToday.com about her visions for a footwear line and a return to ready-to-wear. Below is an extended, Web-only version of our exclusive interview, which appeared in the April 2008 issue of WSAToday.

What can we expect from the Rebecca Minkoff fall 2008 collection?

Clutch, shown here in persimmon

There are going to be totes of different shapes and lots of structure. I also thought it was time to change the lining. Right now, we have a black and white damask-inspired print. For fall, we are developing signature prints that pick up on the travel theme and pay homage to different historical buildings from around the world.

What were your design inspirations for fall 2008?
Paris and Italy! I love seeing new places and seeing the world. The culture there really made me want to do a throw back to older times. So for fall, you’ll see influences from the early 20th and even the 19th century in terms of shape and design.

What materials and colors did you work with?

Henri, shown here in white croc

Grays and plums and lots of prints. Prints are really big for me for the coming season. There will also be patent, canvas, patches and possibly fur. The fur is fun and new for the Rebecca Minkoff collection. I like to keep pushing the envelope, and I think our girls do, too.

What trends are hot right now, in terms of women’s accessories?
The big trend right now is totes and prints.

Describe the Rebecca Minkoff woman for us.
She is a downtown girl with a bit of edge who likes to travel and is independent and successful.

What have you found are some of the most important ways to reach your customers?

Eros in dark brown

We’ve had a really amazing response from editors and also celebrities like Hayden Panettiere, Rachel Bilson and Lindsay Lohan, who enjoy wearing Rebecca Minkoff bags. But I think a lot of it has also been word of mouth, blogging and online sites.

What makes the Rebecca Minkoff brand different from other women’s brands?
You get a great bag that has style and attitude, and it lasts a long time. I also know that our customers love the utilitarian pockets because they are always on the go, jetting around the city.

What’s next in women’s accessories? What trends do you see on the horizon?
As far as trends, I see more versatile fabrics being used in creative ways.

What other designers do you admire?
I love Nicholas K and her sense of detail. I also think that Maison Martin Margiela is a genius, as well as Alexander McQueen.

How do you strengthen your relationships with buyers and retailers?
I like to take them out to dinner. I meet them at all my shows and do as much as I can to really know them well so that it is a deeper relationship than just business. It’s the old fashioned way.

What are you hearing from them as of late?

The Steady, shown here in Iris

They love the classics like the Morning After Bag and the Nikki, but also the newer ones like the Matinee, which premiered in fall ’07 and the Steady, which is new for spring ’08.

What’s next for your brand? Any category expansions?
Yes. I plan to revisit clothing, which is how I started. That’s going to be the next big expansion. I also plan to do shoes and then take over the world.

Do you have a vision for what Rebecca Minkoff shoes will look like?
Again, I would go with a vintage-inspired look and totally lush materials and colors. And the shoes would match in some way with the bags.

If you could change something about the footwear/accessories industry, what would it be?
I would make things more comfortable. I found out through research that it costs $1 to make a shoe comfortable, $1 to insert a special element into a shoe, and it’s never done. I’ll make it a point to produce comfortable shoes so my customers can wear them all night without complaining.

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