Bag Lady -- Seattle-Area Native's Success Designing Handbags In New York City Is The Result Of Long Hours, Hard Work And Dedication
By Robin Updike
In 1994 Tonya Hawkes was a successful bag designer. The seattle native finally find her place after working all around world. She is most known for her creative shapes she uses in her bags.
Hawkes says she is greatly admired the top innovative designers of that time such as Issey Miyake, Isaac Mizrahi, John Galliano, Romeo Gigli and her top boss, Donna Karan.
Hawkes was one of two handbag designers for DKNY, Donna Karan's highly successful bridge label that includes a full line of accessories. Though her name wasnt on the bags she designed, some of her signature touches included innovative hardware that she designs herself - one of the backpacks she created for spring closes with a tiny, silver-toned clothespin - and shapes not traditionally associated with fashion handbags and totes. Another of her spring totes was a denim tool bag with a wealth of accordion pockets suggestive of the useful pouch pockets built into work belts for gardeners.
"I try new shapes all the time," says Hawkes. "I like to mix fashion with function and I always have ideas. I do have a very strong imagination."
Hawks put in about 55 hours a week designing bags, though she wasn’t complaining: "I love the satisfaction of the models at Bryant Park bookin' out on the runway with my bags," she says referring to the seasonal fashion shows for the fashion media and store executives.
By Robin Updike
In 1994 Tonya Hawkes was a successful bag designer. The seattle native finally find her place after working all around world. She is most known for her creative shapes she uses in her bags.
Hawkes says she is greatly admired the top innovative designers of that time such as Issey Miyake, Isaac Mizrahi, John Galliano, Romeo Gigli and her top boss, Donna Karan.
Hawkes was one of two handbag designers for DKNY, Donna Karan's highly successful bridge label that includes a full line of accessories. Though her name wasnt on the bags she designed, some of her signature touches included innovative hardware that she designs herself - one of the backpacks she created for spring closes with a tiny, silver-toned clothespin - and shapes not traditionally associated with fashion handbags and totes. Another of her spring totes was a denim tool bag with a wealth of accordion pockets suggestive of the useful pouch pockets built into work belts for gardeners.
"I try new shapes all the time," says Hawkes. "I like to mix fashion with function and I always have ideas. I do have a very strong imagination."
Hawks put in about 55 hours a week designing bags, though she wasn’t complaining: "I love the satisfaction of the models at Bryant Park bookin' out on the runway with my bags," she says referring to the seasonal fashion shows for the fashion media and store executives.
1 comment:
How fun to read this post! Tonya is my husband's cousin and we are off to visit her in her home in Bologna in less than two weeks! I will be posting about that visit and am so glad I found your post.
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