JUMP to read the complete transcript of our live chat with Monica Botkier!
Jun 3 2009, 6:59 AM
BagSnobTina: Good morning everyone! We’re live in one minute!
Jun 3 2009, 7:00 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Hi Tina, this is so exciting!
Jun 3 2009, 7:00 AM
BagSnobTina: I know, I’m all excited myself!
Jun 3 2009, 7:00 AM
BagSnobTina: How are you?
Jun 3 2009, 7:01 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Preety good very busy working on Spring 2010!!
Jun 3 2009, 7:02 AM
Beth (guest): Hi Monica! I’m so excited to meet you!
Jun 3 2009, 7:02 AM
BagSnobTina: I just updated twitter, facebook and our group page with this.
Jun 3 2009, 7:02 AM
Beth (guest): Monica, how did you get started?
Jun 3 2009, 7:02 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Hi Beth, thanks this is a new way to meet people for me, it’s fun. Hope I can type fast enough
Jun 3 2009, 7:03 AM
stephb: Hi Monica! I was wondering what the brown bag on the invite was? I love it!
Jun 3 2009, 7:03 AM
BagSnobTina: I love that bag, too! I want first dibs on it
Jun 3 2009, 7:04 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I was a fashion photographer in NYC and got obsessed with bags so decided to make my own. Models and editors got very interested on my shoots so I started taking orders and a few months later I was shipping to Barneys. It was a roller coaster ride that continues 6 years later…
Jun 3 2009, 7:05 AM
Beth (guest): How did you find all the resources, etc. I have always wanted to design bags, you are my inspiration
Jun 3 2009, 7:05 AM
MONICABOTKIER: The brown bag on the invite is a favorite for Fall 09, it’s called Taylor and will be out in September. Thanks so glad to hear people like it!
Jun 3 2009, 7:06 AM
MONICABOTKIER: The yellow pages believe it ir not! I found my first manufacturer and leather suppliers as well as hardware.
Jun 3 2009, 7:06 AM
Beth (guest): Wow! And how did you fund it?
Jun 3 2009, 7:06 AM
Beth (guest): Was it expensive to start a bag line?
Jun 3 2009, 7:06 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Thanks Tina, the Taylor will be in your life soon!
Jun 3 2009, 7:07 AM
stephb: What was the inspiration behind your first bag?
Jun 3 2009, 7:07 AM
MONICABOTKIER: At first it wasn’t very expensive because I sold every single piece I made which continued to fund the production. When the Barneys order came in I had to borrow some money from my Amex.
Jun 3 2009, 7:08 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): Hi Monica! This is fun, I love that you are on my favorite blog!
Jun 3 2009, 7:08 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): How did you get into Barneys?
Jun 3 2009, 7:09 AM
MONICABOTKIER: If you were to start a complete bag line and develop a truly thought out collection as we at Btkier do now yes this is expensie but I started with 1 bag, then 3 sizes and basically made one offs so I wasn’t purchasing huge bulks way before anything is sold as happens in a real business. Organic growth and cult following made it possible. I feel blessed, I didn’t know this was my dream and now I am living it.
Jun 3 2009, 7:10 AM
BagSnobTina: Cult following is putting it mildly. Botkier bags are on the arms of every hip New Yorker! That’s why I noticed your line. All my cool NYC girlfriends had them. They called me Grandma for not knowing back then
Jun 3 2009, 7:10 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): How many countries are you in now?
Jun 3 2009, 7:11 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): I’m in Australia
Jun 3 2009, 7:11 AM
MONICABOTKIER: The Trigger was my first bag and continues to be a classic Botkier. I wanted an edgy, sexy bag that I could drag with me all day into night and feel like I was making a statement. Plus I wanted to be organized so I created a lot of pockets for everything I needed.
Jun 3 2009, 7:11 AM
Beth (guest): Singapore here!
Jun 3 2009, 7:12 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Barneys is very supportive of new talent and they loved the line and jumped on it immediately. We are in over 20 countries now.
Jun 3 2009, 7:12 AM
Beth (guest): Can you give us a sneak peek of spring 2010>? what are the trends for the season?
Jun 3 2009, 7:13 AM
stephb: What was the inspiration for your Fall ’09 line?
Jun 3 2009, 7:14 AM
Beth (guest): Where are your bags made? The leather is so soft, I was in the States last spring and bought the trigger, I love it!
Jun 3 2009, 7:15 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Botkier is staying with our downtown cool rocker chic look that started with the Trigger. Tassels, zippers, and subtle studding but not overkill on the studs. Look out for Logan, Uma, Taylor – def the faves.
Jun 3 2009, 7:15 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): You have a big celeb following, do you guys send them bags?
Jun 3 2009, 7:15 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I combined Fall and Spring answers – those bags are Fall – we are in the middle of designing Spring 2010. Slouchy sexy and edgy
Jun 3 2009, 7:16 AM
stephb: Monica how do you handle being a mom and a fashion designer?
Jun 3 2009, 7:16 AM
BagSnobTina: Yes, I asked her that when we met. Monica– I can barely handle being mom and blogger, how do you do it?
Jun 3 2009, 7:17 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Through the years several celebs have become fans and they reach out to us. Joy Bryant, Michelle Trachtenberg, Angelina Jolie have been amazing and they look great in Botkier.
Jun 3 2009, 7:18 AM
Beth (guest): Can you give a hint of the color scheme for Spring ’10?
Jun 3 2009, 7:18 AM
Maive (guest): How did you get started with your own line?
Jun 3 2009, 7:19 AM
BagSnobTina: Hi Maive! If you scroll to the top, Monica answered that question earlier
Jun 3 2009, 7:19 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I have to say ladies, our jobs as a working mom is definitely tough. Somehow the guys have it easier. That said you have to find a balance and put your mind and heart into the moment. If you are at work focus on that and same at home – don’t combine because then everything gets half the attention it should. It’s not easy but I feel that my work makes me a better mother and gives my kids the best of myself
Jun 3 2009, 7:20 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): Before you started your own bag line, who was your favorite bag designer? And what designer do you wear most (clothing wise)?
Jun 3 2009, 7:21 AM
MONICABOTKIER: color scheme for ss10 – we are looking at dusty neutrals, nudes, whites and then gorgeous soft browns and tangerines as well as deep blues and pop fuschia
Jun 3 2009, 7:22 AM
Heather (guest): Hi Monica!
Jun 3 2009, 7:22 AM
stephb: What is a day in the life of Monica Botkier?
Jun 3 2009, 7:22 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Fav bags designers still, Mui Mui clothing Philip Lim, Barbara Bui, Rag and Bone, Top Shop just opened around the corner from our office and I love it!
Jun 3 2009, 7:23 AM
Heather (guest): This is cool, how did you get with Bag Snob and plan thsi VPA? I’ve always wanted to attend one of your PAs but alawys have to work. I’m at work now actually , heehee
Jun 3 2009, 7:23 AM
BagSnobTina: Oh!! Kate Moss for Top Shop is the best. I used to wait for my London trips but now NYC!!!
Jun 3 2009, 7:23 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): Do you carry Miu Miu bags still?
Jun 3 2009, 7:24 AM
MONICABOTKIER: hectic! Wake up at 6:30 with baby boy, daughter gets up at 8 off to school by 9, work for me at 10 till 6. Anything goes at work Rush home for 6:30 have dinner with kids put them to bed by 8 hopefully have some fun until 11:30 then it’s my bed time!
Jun 3 2009, 7:25 AM
BagSnobTina: Wait, how old is baby boy? I thought you only had one daughter!
Jun 3 2009, 7:25 AM
MONICABOTKIER: sometimes I buy them to have in my archive but not so much. love the store experience though so I walk through their Soho store from time to time.
Jun 3 2009, 7:25 AM
Beth (guest): What about the design process. Do you have a ritual?
Jun 3 2009, 7:25 AM
stephb: You are also the CEO of your company as well as the creative director? How many people work at Botkier? and what do you feel makes a strong team?
Jun 3 2009, 7:26 AM
MONICABOTKIER: 6 mos old Saige is his name. My daughter is 4.5 years old already, she is a little lady now. LOVES clothes and shoes.
Jun 3 2009, 7:27 AM
Beth (guest): What is you favorite city to vacation in?
Jun 3 2009, 7:29 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): Any plans to launch ready to wear? I notice a lot of bag designers do that now.
Jun 3 2009, 7:29 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Design process is about building and editing. Usually start with an inspiration board – cut outs of great images from magazines – art photographs, style icons past and present. From there we s=tart to talk about what our girl wants and needs and where she will be wearing these bags. It is about fantasy and reality and function, always that because we are busy modern women kicking butt in the world and looking good while we do it.
Jun 3 2009, 7:30 AM
BagSnobTina: Yup, we discussed this last time. Monica knows what a girl wants and fulfills the functional with the stylish!
Jun 3 2009, 7:30 AM
Beth (guest): Kicking butt while looking good, I love it! lol
Jun 3 2009, 7:32 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Favorite city is Mexico City. Usually prefer to vaca on gorgeous beaches, I need some R&R. PLus with 2 kids you can’t sight see until they are older so we build sandcastles and drink pina coladas until then. Back in the day I would travel extensively: Bangkok, Pnom Penh, Hing Kong amazing cities…
Jun 3 2009, 7:32 AM
BagSnobTina: Sorry for leaving for a minute but I was browsing the Botkier site and noticed the Venice clutch, HOT! What was the inspiration for that? I’m trying to include the link but we disabled that due to spammers
Jun 3 2009, 7:33 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Tina rocks and we love BagSnob – thrilled to be doing this VPA and connect with you guys!
Jun 3 2009, 7:34 AM
BagSnobTina: www.botkier.com/swappid/87/pcpage/371468
Jun 3 2009, 7:34 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I love Kate Moss too, wearing a KM for Top Shop shirt right now…an early one when they launched at Opening Ceremony
Jun 3 2009, 7:34 AM
BagSnobTina: Haha, I handtyped that link. I beat the system.
Jun 3 2009, 7:35 AM
BagSnobTina: I have the gray leather jacket from KM for TopShop. Love!
Jun 3 2009, 7:35 AM
Beth (guest): Monica, do you have plans to visit Asia soon?
Jun 3 2009, 7:35 AM
Sydneylovesbags (guest): Who is your style icon? Do you have one?
Jun 3 2009, 7:36 AM
Heather (guest): Sounds like Kate moss, lol
Jun 3 2009, 7:38 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Shoes shoes and shoes.They are my second love next to bags. Botkier launched shoes a couple seasons ago and this is a labor of love that is going very well. Very complicated actually the development is extremely technical but we want sex appeal and comfort. I am obsessed with bags and shoes so I think RTW will be on the back burner for now.
Jun 3 2009, 7:38 AM
guest (guest): Hi Monica! I love your bags so inspiring that you have really built this brand from the ground up!
Jun 3 2009, 7:39 AM
stephb: What is your favorite shoe from your Fall ’09 collection?
Jun 3 2009, 7:39 AM
Heather (guest): I love the platform Julia shoes!
Jun 3 2009, 7:39 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I am so overwhelmed by the reaction to Venice. This was a group for SS09 that has just gone crazyy so we are bringing it back for SS10 in January. I felt like I needed to get in touch with my inner bad ass and feel cool so I wanted a lot of zips and tassels…
Jun 3 2009, 7:39 AM
guest (guest): Have there been alot of bumps in the road to get where you are today?
Jun 3 2009, 7:40 AM
BagSnobTina: I think it’s our age– I am a Pat Benatar freak, even my 4 year old son sings “hit me with your best shot” while he’s playing. I love the 80s bad ass rocker chic stuff!!!
Jun 3 2009, 7:41 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I can’t bring myself to sit on an airplane for 15 hours right now so Asia will have to wait. But as soon as I either have 1 free month to travel or can bring my kids on such a journey I would jump at the chance.
Jun 3 2009, 7:42 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Fall 09 shoe Marnie boot is my fave. Especially in black. It is a slouchy 75mm so good every day height and it has zips all around the trunk. Love it.
Jun 3 2009, 7:42 AM
BagSnobTina: I hear ya, I have yet to bring my son back to Asia, I’m dreading the flight… and it’s more like 24 hours door to door from NYC.
Jun 3 2009, 7:43 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I don’t really have a style icon – I love to see what women are wearing in their daily lives in NYC and when I travel. That is inspiring.
Jun 3 2009, 7:44 AM
SaraC (guest): Hi Monica! So nice to see you on BagSnob!
Jun 3 2009, 7:44 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I LOVE Pat Benatar, glad we can relate Tina
Jun 3 2009, 7:45 AM
SydneyLovesBags (guest): Pheww, computer froze for a minute. What have I missed? Oh, would love to hear about the bumps on the road to bag stardom, too.
Jun 3 2009, 7:46 AM
stephb: How do you come up with the names for your lines? Are any of your bags “named” after someone or something?
Jun 3 2009, 7:46 AM
Heather (guest): Yeah, how did you come with “Trigger”. ?
Jun 3 2009, 7:46 AM
Julie (guest): What exactly is it about NYC that inspires you, in terms of your designs?
Jun 3 2009, 7:47 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Going back a few questions: The balance between CEO and Creative Dir are about being organized and using both sides of your brain. Not easy but I have no choice. At design time I ignore everyone’s business dilemnas for spells so I can stay in creative mode.
Jun 3 2009, 7:47 AM
BagSnobTina: Girls, please be patient as Monica goes through the list of questions She will get to them all… please stick around!
Jun 3 2009, 7:48 AM
Heather (guest): ok
Jun 3 2009, 7:49 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Names of the bags are actually quite fun. We create alter egos for the bags through the design and editing process and then we find something that fits the vibe and personality of the bag.
Jun 3 2009, 7:50 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Sometimes we name bags after fab people like Bianca (Jagger) and celebs we love (Bryant) as in Joy. But their names have to work with the bag.
Jun 3 2009, 7:53 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Trigger came about from the dogleash hardware. Actually an industrial piece, I found it in hardware catalog and it was a Trigger swivel snap or something. It was spontaneous and just sounded right to me. It ‘triggered’a new career for me.
Jun 3 2009, 7:53 AM
BagSnobTina: I think Julie had a question about NYC and how it inspires you
Jun 3 2009, 7:54 AM
SydneyLovesBags (guest): Interesting, I always thought it had to do with triggering your camera since you were a photographer
Jun 3 2009, 7:55 AM
stephb: It definitely triggered a great line that we all LOVE!!
Jun 3 2009, 7:55 AM
SaraC (guest): I’m staring at that brown bag in the postcard below. FAbulous, how much will that bag retail?
Jun 3 2009, 7:56 AM
MONICABOTKIER: NYC has so many different types of people, the diversity is amazing. Many cultures, foods, history is around every corner and you feel it. Our offices are on Crosby St which is a cobblestone street tucked away and it has old converted factory buildings, it’s fancy now but was a total mess in the 80’s. All that mashed up energy inspires me. PLUS people dress in NY, that is always fun to watch.
Jun 3 2009, 7:56 AM
Heather (guest): Where are you from?
Heather (guest): Did you have any formal training in design?
Jun 3 2009, 7:57 AM
MONICABOTKIER: Taylor will be $545 for the satchel pictures and a larger version for $595. It will come in brown, black and a pearl taupe.
Jun 3 2009, 7:58 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I am born and raised in NY, Brooklyn actually. Live there now again actually.
Jun 3 2009, 7:58 AM
SydneyLovesBags (guest): Your pries are so reasonable. I hope you keep it that way…
Jun 3 2009, 7:59 AM
SaraC (guest): How many people work for you?
Jun 3 2009, 8:00 AM
stephb: Because you were a photographer, are you involved in the shoots for your lines?
Jun 3 2009, 8:00 AM
SaraC (guest): And are you a hands on CEO? I imagine it’s difficult to make business decisions about certain designs that are personal to you. Like if a bag you love and are attached to is not well received and you have to pull it off the line, is it difficult?
Jun 3 2009, 8:01 AM
MONICABOTKIER: No formal training in design, studied photography at NYU and then worked in fashion from magazines to photo assisting and production with some of the world’s best fashion photographers. On those shoots I was able to see amazing clothes, accessories, shoes things that aren’t even available in stores so it was something to behold. I guess it took me by storm and led me to a parallel path, instead of shooting I am designing. I still shoot our campaigns though.
Jun 3 2009, 8:01 AM
Julie (guest): The trigger was n/a for a while, no? Did people flip when they couldn’t find it to buy? Will it be going away again–I need to get a new one before that happens…
Jun 3 2009, 8:02 AM
Beth (guest): That’s really cool! So you are CEO, Designer, Photographer for your own line. No wonder you can keep the prices low, you save a lot of money that way no? Hehe
Jun 3 2009, 8:03 AM
Amanda (guest): I read that when you started you made your bags in nyc, where do you get them made now?
Jun 3 2009, 8:03 AM
Natalie (guest): I love your shoe line! What inspired you to start the line? I’m noticing them everywhere- is your shoe line as successful as your bag line?
Jun 3 2009, 8:03 AM
MONICABOTKIER: I design with these price points in mind. It is happy luxury where the sensibility is very designer and detailed as is the quality and leather BUT it hovers around the $595, max $695 price. I am very comfortable with this so thanks for appreciating. I feel Botkier is unique in that.
Jun 3 2009, 8:04 AM
BagSnobTina: It’s also the most requested price range from our readers. Honestly, other than your line and maybe two others, there are very few Snob Worthy bags at that price range!
Jun 3 2009, 8:05 AM
MONICABOTKIER: My team is very important. We have several different departments ranging from Sales, Customer Service and Design to Marketing, Shipping and Accounting. I always say we are a little big company and a big little company. Our office is like a family.
Jun 3 2009, 8:05 AM
SydneyLovesBags (guest): I agree, the below $600 bags out there are pretty sad. Which is why I love Botkier and Rebecca Minkoff. Otherwise we have to resort to Coach, blech!
Jun 3 2009, 8:06 AM
Heather (guest): Do you have any business background? Like while you were at NYU?
Jun 3 2009, 8:07 AM
MONICABOTKIER: It is difficult to pull bags we love off the line but by now I usually know. There are certain silhouettes that while very edgy and cool are just not understood and I am prepared for when they will get kicked out! That said occassionally I will produce a small run of limite