Accessories

With a mission to create all products using various sustainable methods of production, fashion label The Sway’s goal is not just to produce edgy jackets and handbags, but to promote honorable business practices to other developing countries around the world. As Australian designer Belinda Pasqua started her handbag and biker jacket brand in 2010, she had a [...]

Although Jamie Lim, founder and designer of KAYU, is a born Texan, it was her time spent in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong that truly shaped the kind of designer she is today. Lim knew that starting her own label would be anything but easy, however she had the perseverance and strength to prevail and show the [...]

Animal fiber is nothing new to fashion- from mink coats to lambswool sweaters. And while fur can be shocking due to its controversial standing, as a material, it isn’t exactly groundbreaking. In a contemporary fashion scene where we’ve managed to spin thread from mammals, bugs and wood, what is the next step? Is it possible to push [...]

“I have 10 pairs of shoes that I’ve never worn. I just open the box and smile from time to time.”  That’s the description I wrote in the About Me section on The Cools, a new social marketplace that has recently launched.  With that insight, and the other details that I filled out in my [...]

In recent years the fashion industry has taken strides towards promoting philanthropy, social good, and saving the environment. Sustainable products are becoming more popular as designers are embracing the idea of designing for a cause. Brands such as TOM’s, FEED Projects, Falling Whistles, and Organik have been promoting design for a cause for a few [...]

Many people have the desire to design and launch their own collection of accessories but they don’t know where to start. Meca McKinney, designer and author, just released her first book, Envision: The Young Accessory Designer’s Guide to Collection Development. The book is meant to guide aspiring accessories designers on how to launch their own [...]

A few days ago I had the pleasure of being a preliminary judge for this year’s Independent Handbag Awards. Myself, along with a handful of other influencers in the fashion writing world, were invited to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon at the beautiful Paramount Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, looking at handbags, nibbling on treats, sipping [...]

You may or may not know this, but we here at StartUp FASHION are working very hard to become a resource destination for emerging and independent designers.  Currently, we are working to expose new designers to boutiques, both brick-mortar and digital, that love to support and highlight independent brands. Recently, we were introduced to Pink [...]

Watch and hear how original art transforms to original fashion. An inspiring way to build a sustainable and unique business model. Will we see you at tomorrow’s event? [...]

  We just received word of a fashionable event taking place in NYC on April 28th: Marla Cielo Spring Awakening Event at Bond 07. And we knew we had to share. By now you know we love this brand. We think the designer’s approach to the art behind fashion is something that should be highlighted and [...]

Jewelry Designer Kirsten Muenster will showcase her ethically produced line at a Trunk Show in San Francisco in late April. [...]

Handbag Designer Andrea Tobin of Marla Cielo gives a small glimpse of what it's like to be an independent design in New York. [...]