We were lucky to catch up with Gretchen Bauer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gretchen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
With a mother and both grandparents being incredibly fashionable, I was influenced from a very young age. At the age of 12 fashion became my focus, passion and obsession. I can remember back to when I began planning my outfits and then becoming interested in searching for the most unique items that no one else had. While my classmates were heading to the mall I was diving into international fashion magazines. and hopping on a train to downtown Philadelphia to see what the street vendors were offering and treasure hunting in the out of the way hidden boutiques and thrift stores. And then throughout high school I worked at the most chic retailers to keep on the pulse of high fashion. I was aching to study fashion and proposed this idea to my parents. They were not keen on it. Unfortunately and fortunately I went to college and graduate school with my father encouraging me to study business. Looking back I am grateful for this.
Gretchen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I entered fashion design following two decades in the interior design field when it came to my attention that there was an under utilized number of artisanal women in our country who were not having their full potential realized and could blossom if given the proper opportunity to be creative and hone their skills hand crafting luxury accessories. Fast forward to now and my vision of becoming a player in the luxury fashion space has become a reality where we produce one of a kind handbags that are truly works of art and coveted by collectors What sets us apart is how beautifully unique each and every handbag we create truly is. We fearlessly pair rare exotic materials and our handbags stand up and take notice. What I am most proud of is the way we as a team have elevated our brand by continuously improving the quality and design in search of excellence while dazzling our collectors with even more exciting combinations.!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is knowing that what I am creating is being collected by women who can purchase any handbag in the world. They are selecting to carry a work of art, an original and valuing its beauty and craftsmanship. Everyday I approach design fearlessly and unconventionally. I search high and low for the most exquisite materials and continue to build relationships with my incredibly selective suppliers Seeing my vision realized and then coveted is the ultimate reward. I create with the goal of elevating the very women carrying our designs and allowing them to express themselves by creating the bespoke accessory of their dreams. What is unique about our brand is that it is uncommon for a client of ours to have only one of our handbags. They become collectors shortly after experiencing carrying our designs and we could not be happier about that.
My approach to design ” Be bold and be fearless, above all never ever be boring ”
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Pivoting comes natural to me and I am grateful. One of the most memorable examples was during covid when I received a call from a friend one morning asking us to step up and make masks. She shared that no one could find them and that there were so many in need. Within 3 hours I had downloaded patterns, purchased all of the materials and assembled my team. They were all in and insisted on volunteering their time knowing that we were planning on donating them. It was an opportunity to support our community by creating the most beautiful masks and donating them to hospitals, assisted living facilities and even the sheriff’s department. Our team took this on as they do any task, they wanted to be the best. I have always had the mindset that giving leads to everything and this was a perfect example. Not only did we serve those in need, but we received national recognition for our efforts..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bswanky.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bswanky/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSWANKY
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28122332/admin/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/bswanky
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkjLJQtWWOqDbQqulQwKiwg
- Other: BSWANKY’s mission is to become the luxury handbag design house that becomes synonymous with “true iconic works of art”. By retaining timeless traditions of bespoke craftsmanship, BSWANKY delivers style and performance while fearlessly pairing the rarest beautiful exotic materials. We aim to exceed our discerning customers’ expectations by continually elevating our quality and uniquely personal customer experience. Notable women who carry BSWANKY: Faith Hill Tori Spelling Jennie Garth Sara Blakely (SPANX Founder) Tiffany Cuban (Mark Cuban’s wife) Kate Connick (Harry Connick Jr’s daughter) Jill Goodacre (Ex-Victoria’s Secret Model, Harry Connick Jr. wife) Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta) Molly McNearny (Jimmy Kimmel’s wife) Rachel McCord Susannah Constantine Cynthia Marshall (CEO of Dallas Mavericks) Alexis Kanter (Accessories Editor for Vanity Fair Magazine) Demi Tebow (Miss Universe and Tim Tebow’s wife)
Image Credits
PHOTO CREDIT ALL Lamborghini and lifestyle photos by GW Burns EXCEPT Pink Hat photo by Cliff Roles