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

Kirsten , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Our story originates with Bessie Bagwell Andrews, 1917. Daughter of parents born in slavery, a cotton sharecropper in Georgia until the late 1960s, a domestic worker until her “retirement”, and a lover of all things luxurious. Although outside the realm of her reality she always dreamed fearlessly, a quality that shines through her entire family. Kirsten Geter a twenty year public educator, the founding partner and designer of Bagwell Collection, witnessed her grandmother’s adoration for fashion, and purses that accentuated her style.

As a woman of little means, Bessie’s daily duties did not allow for frills or fashion, so Sundays were really her day to dress up and express herself. She loved purses and accessories. Even after her grandmother became ill with Alzheimer’s Disease, she refused to travel without her purse. Her daughters continued to make sure to dress her as she would have wanted, her color of choice was pink, and always with a handbag to match.

The Bagwell Collection is to honor Grandma Bessie Bagwell. Kirsten Geter, co-owner and designer of the Bagwell Collection, wanted to create a line that embodied her grandmother with the sleek, sexy modern designs while also celebrating Black culture with bold colors and unique designs. Bagwell Collection is for the Black women and men who have oftentimes felt excluded or isolated from a world of luxury can now carry accessories crafted by and for us. Furthermore, it fills the spaces that women like Bessie could only dream of in their lifetime — a space for black, female consumers and producers of luxury fashion and accessories.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My fiance, who is also my business partner, and I always loved fashion and accessories. We are inspired to share our touch and vision. Back in 2020 while the world was in seclusion, we launched our marketplace that catered to other black businesses and provided them a platform on which to sell their products, Fillenoire Life. During this time, we primarily focused on our vendors on the site. We then began brainstorming on our signature items for the site. From there, the idea for Bagwell began to form and eventually became a separate entity from Fillenoire Life. It took us a little over a year of initial designing and revising to create our debut line.

We knew we wanted a brand that used luxury materials crafted with high quality materials and classic yet innovative designs. Each of our bags in the Bagwell Satchel Line and wallets are made of genuine leather with exquisite crocodile texture and beautifully crafted gold finished hardware. Additionally, every Bagwell Collection bag is lined in beautiful purple velvet.

Our follow up line coming soon is our vegan line, but like the first we were determined not to lessen the quality of the design. So we sought out soft high quality microfiber to mimic the feel of leather while providing our customers with options for vegan pieces. The follow up line is called The Bagwell Palm Collection, green inspired ecologically friendly vegan leather totes and clutches.

Our brand blends elegance and creativity with black cultural traditions and modern innovation.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Communicate clearly and regularly: Make sure to be clear and transparent in your communication with your team, and try to keep them informed about any changes or updates. This will help them feel included and valued.

Set clear expectations: Establish clear goals and expectations for your team, and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed. This will help them feel empowered and motivated.

Encourage collaboration and teamwork: Foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork by encouraging open communication and actively promoting the sharing of ideas and knowledge.

Show appreciation: Recognize and appreciate your team members for their hard work and contributions. A little bit of appreciation can go a long way in boosting morale.

Provide opportunities for development: Encourage your team members to learn and grow by providing them with training and development opportunities. This will help them feel invested in their work and career.

Foster a positive work environment: Create a positive and supportive work environment by promoting a healthy work-life balance, encouraging breaks and relaxation, and addressing any issues or concerns that may arise.

Practice active listening: Make sure you are truly listening to your team members and taking their ideas and feedback into consideration. This will help them feel heard and valued.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As a single teen mother who finished college, obtained an undergraduate and graduate degree and is only one step away from completing my doctorate, I have had to pivot and adapt to many changes and challenges in my business, career, and personal life.

One specific example of a time when I had to pivot was when I had to close my collaborative publishing company as the world went digital with e-books back in 2012. This was a difficult decision to make, but it allowed me to adapt and find success in a new area with my current business.

Another example of a time when I had to pivot was when I experienced manufacturing issues with my current business, which resulted in loss of money and time. However, I was able to overcome these challenges and come out with a successful line of handbags that I am proud to have designed and present to the world. This showed my resilience and determination, as well as my ability to problem-solve and find creative solutions to overcome setbacks.

Overall, I have a strong track record of adapting and pivoting in response to changes and challenges in my business, career, and personal life. This is a valuable skill that has helped me navigate difficult situations and find success in the face of change.

Contact Info:

• Website: bagwellcollection.com
• Instagram: instragram.com/thebagwellcollection
• Facebook: facebook.com/thebagwellcollection

Image Credits
Image Credits for black dress images and couple photo: Jasmine Geter Image Credit for all other photos: Keesha Hook of KVP Production