We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony Luciano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I would have to say that the thing that I do differently than most industry standards is the fact that I am not monetarily driven. With the realization that everyone needs money to live, I have never been propelled to become a millionaire by creating my own business. It was the joy of doing what I loved and the freedom that came with being self-employed that kept me motivated and evolving.

Anthony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Many years ago I studied fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology here in NYC and worked in that industry for a very short time before I discovered that I was not well suited for that world… (I sucked, actually.) When I started to explore the accessories side of the business I knew I had found my passion for leather work.

24 years ago I started my eponymous custom leather goods business out of my apartment from which I moved to my current studio in the heart of the NYC Garment District. What we do is an intimate experience of creating beautiful pieces that reflect the client’s specific needs and wants. I’m the guy you come to when you can’t find what you’re looking for, if you can imagine it I can probably make it happen.

Over the years of selling to major retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and other specialty boutiques around the globe, I decided about 10 years ago to step out of the retail side of the business siting too much corporate nonsense… The landscape of that world has changed so much that it is not a healthy environment so you can only purchase my work directly from me in the studio, my website, and social media platforms.

I can say the one thing that I am most proud of is that I still, after all these years, enjoy walking through the door of my studio where I am lucky enough to do what I LOVE and have a very loyal clientele who appreciate it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As would be expected during my almost 1/4 century in business for myself I believe that one of my best qualities is my ability to adapt. I don’t really see myself as a smart business person per se but I am always willing to make changes and pivot to keep my door open.

The only way I could have survived the crash of 2008, which was brutal, and then COVID, which was even more devastating, was by reinventing myself every time I was faced with adversity.

My journey has been relatively easy compared to others in the industry but I think it’s because I have always created without letting my ego get in the way. Life is way too short and throws you things that you can never anticipate so it’s how we deal with those inevitable obstacles that makes the difference.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I am the manufacturer. One of the things I’m most proud of is that I, along with a very small team, make each piece that comes out of the studio. I have always resisted scaling because I never felt the need to mass-produce my work for two of the following reasons:

1. I find it necessary to never overproduce anything to make a quick buck. It’s horrible for the environment and unnecessary. I feel like I was a sustainable designer before that was a trendy thing.

2. If I had someone else produce my work, I would lose the part of my job that I love the most, which is creating with my hands. Making something from start to finish with my hands is a magical experience that brings me the most joy and I never want that feeling to disappear.

Contact Info:

• Website: anthonyluciano.com
• Instagram: anthonylucianohandbags
• Facebook: Anthony Luciano handbags
• Linkedin: Anthony Luciano

Image Credits
Mauricio Zelaya