We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lara Van Slyke . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lara below.

Lara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Growing up, I devoured fashion magazines tearing out pages and pasting them to my walls, dreaming of the designs I could create. I realized fashion design, pattern making and graphic arts needed be my educational background to achieve my dream of creating handbags and accessories. I enrolled in design school in Los Angeles and this paved the way to a variety of fashion positions, yet, I still had a passion to create the lara b. brand.

In spite of many obstacles, people telling me no and I couldn’t do it, I maintained my determination and kept going. I found a local manufacturer and resources for leather and hardware to develop my designs. Step by step, I went from fashion positions to selling my collection to contemporary boutiques around the country. Seeing all of this come to life, I realized my dream could become a reality … lara b. designs was born.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Fulfilling my creative spirit and passion for leather handbags and accessories, I started my business in Los Angeles after design school. Years of designing and selling to retail boutiques nationwide, my life brought me back to the east coast to continue to grow lara b. designs and develop new skills and styles. My company has truly been a labor of love. In addition to designing, I decided to do some of my own cutting, sewing and manufacturing. So, I purchased an industrial sewing machine and was on my way – everything being handcrafted by me.

I’m inspired by color, shape and texture. My designs reflect this with clean lines and classic practicality. Lara b. shines through its unique leathers transforming everything from your little black dress to your ripped jeans into a fashion statement. Leathers handpicked from around the world ensuring the buttery, soft texture that’s adored once touched, each skin develops into a cherished work of art, turning heads and capturing followers!

I’m often asked what the b. stands for in lara b. designs: During an evening of brainstorming on paper napkins with a dear friend, the name lara b. designs came to life. Many ask what the b. represents. The b. is for my Dear Westie, Basil. He was the sweetest, kindest, most gentle soul who cared only about food, his Bear and being by my side day and night, while I designed and developed the business. The butterfly was added to the logo in 2014 as a sign of his continued flight…

I love designing something that is adored and cherished, something you love!
Smile. Hug. Love.
Lara
xx
Lara B. Designs has been recognized by NBC Boston The Hub | Boston Globe Magazine | British Vogue | Elle | Cosmopolitan

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I sell from the www.larabdesigns.com website to my retail and wholesale customers. I have found this keeps my orders in one place and easily organized with inventory and shipping. Before having my own website, I used the Etsy platform where I was able to gain exposure. Now that my business has grown, I prefer to have more control over my own URL and my website.

I find Faire and Abound platforms helpful in finding new wholesale accounts across the country.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I stay connected with my clients in a variety of ways: • In-Person Events – Juried Craft Shows, Local Pop Up Shops and Trunk Shows

• Social Media – I use Instagram and Facebook primarily to connect w my audience as much as I can, opting for reels vs. static images to make my feed more fun to look through!

• Weekly Email – I sent out weekly newsletters to my email subscribers informing them of new products, events, discounts and styling and storage ideas.

• Workshops – I’m offering Handbag Workshops for a one-on-one designer experience in my Rhode Island studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.larabdesigns.com
• Instagram: @larabdesigns
• Facebook: lara-b-designs

Image Credits
Mia Andreoli