We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrea (ange) Carol-libman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrea (Ange) below.

Andrea (Ange), looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was in elementary school, my class went on a field trip to another elementary school to see a concert. There was a band of young kids on the stage. They played the song from Hawaii 5-0, which was a popular show at that time. The drummer was great, and I thought, that’s what I want to do! I started learning the drums soon after, and I spent the next 30-something years playing the drums. It was my living for many years. When I was in my 20’s, I got a call to play a gig in the south of France, which seemed like a great experience. I loved it so much there, that I ended up living in France for a year, playing gigs in Europe and absorbing everything. I had always dabbled in art as a hobby, but traveling and playing in Europe was making me look at things differently. All the art, fashion and rich culture was so inspirational.
I decided to come back to the US after a year, and I got a gig on a nationally syndicated TV show called, She TV, where I played in the house band on camera. That gig was short-lived, and I started thinking about doing something besides music. I continued playing music, but I started experimenting with art and design. I always loved original handbags, and I decided to design my own bags inspired by European design and desserts.

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

Once I decided I wanted to design a bag, I had to figure out how I could get help to make what I was envisioning. I didn’t know how to sew, so I started by making mock-up bags out of poster board, staples, and tape. I knew I wanted my bags to be structured and modern like some of the French and Italian bags I had admired. I also knew I wanted to use glitter vinyl, which I had seen used for 50’s style handbags, diner booths, and bicycle seats, but never for a structured bag. I thought that would be so cool to make a sophisticated bag out of that sparkly shiny material. It looked like candy to me. I kept thinking about candy and French pastries. I wanted to make something sleek but fun.
I bought the material I wanted and took it to a variety of people to see if they could help me make my bag. I first went to a design school student, but he found it too difficult to work with the material. I tried a sewing teacher, but that didn’t work either. I tried several other craftsmen, upholsterers, seamstresses, and I talked to many designers for advice. I found a fashion design graduate who was working at a shoe repair shop. He made my first prototype! Then I found an Italian designer on the internet who had some success with his own line of bags. He was able to help me refine my bag to what I had envisioned, but he wasn’t able to pull his resources to help me to get the bags made. I went to another fashion designer who was working in downtown LA, and she helped me produce my first run of bags that I could sell.
Once I had the bags, I thought they’d be perfect for museum stores, so I started making appointments with museum store buyers. My first museum store was the Palm Springs Art Museum store. It’s a great store, and I was so proud! From there I got my bags into the Laguna Beach Art Museum store, and then San Diego, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fort Worth, Kansas City, and the Bowers Museum store here in Orange County. I have also had them sold in several retail stores in New Mexico and here in California.
I have a new collaboration bag with a San Diego artist named, Sarah Stieber that just came out. She’s becoming very popular. She’s painted several murals all over San Diego, and she has her own gallery every summer. She’s heading to New York in April for an exhibit where she’ll be showing her new work as well as the bag we designed together. I was able to have an interior fabric for the bag printed from one of her water paintings, and it came out so cool. Each bag comes with a signed certificate of authenticity by Sarah and me.
My main goal was to make something fun, beautiful, and creative. I think I did it! It’s not easy to get something made. You need to be persistent and keep your vision. Right now, my bags are really dialed in. I have my favorite versions of all my bags and wallets. That makes me happy, and I hope that others will find joy in them too.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing about being a creative person is creating. I’m the most happy and peaceful when I’m working on a project. Once you make your product, you need to sell it, and that’s the hardest part. It calls on a completely different side of a creative personality. It’s important to find ways to be creative in the selling process. I struggle with this part the most. I prefer to create and not sell, but how else can I share my joy with others? I want to make my ideas available. They need to be seen, and if I don’t get them out there, it’s like they don’t exist.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I like the idea that people should purchase what they like. It doesn’t matter who else is wearing it or who else likes it. Pick things that make you happy. Don’t be afraid to make your own choices when you’re finding your style. It’s always nice to support creative people when you’re looking for something special. I love purchasing things from real people who have creative ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: ange.libby
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SparklingHandbags/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-carol-libman-b833435b/

Image Credits

The main picture is Sarah Stieber (@sarahstieber on IG) Photographer Jeff Lancaster

The next pics in order 1. @afashionnerd on IG 2. @judithbradl on IG 3. @therealdiamanda on IG 4. All the bag photos I took myself 4. Sarah Stieber again