PB: That is a great next step. I was going to ask if you were going to expand what you thought your next step might be.
Be: Steve is obsessed with eye wear. He is probably the only person with a complete collection from the 50 cent barrel to eBay to who knows. He probably has over 100 and he switches all the time. To him a what a woman’s handbag can be to a woman or a macho car can be to a guy, sunglasses and sneakers are to him.
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PB: It is pretty funky.
Be: Ya, it is influential. You can’t help but pick up on it.
PB: What are your challenges when it comes to working together? Since you are very different do you think that is a challenge or does it help?
Be: There are several challenges that lead up to something great. In the beginning you always have a view of what you want. It is like a marriage. In the beginning you are trying to figure out how to be civilized but you are obsessed – with being in love. That is like our company – it is our small child. You have the day to day trying to come to the middle ground. Those extreme differences from season to season you arrive at a point where all of that was worth it. You’ve built a household and rules. We’ve fought so much in the single vision for a handle or a single vision for a silhouette. I don’t care what people say, you need to have challenges.
PB: We like to ask that question because we work together and we are married.
Be: I was just going to ask you that.
PB: We are recently married. We work together, live together.
Be: Also what I have realized, when things are really good you sit there and think “really, you have no comment?” I think the mind always seeks the problem to get security. I think insecurity can be okay. Just because you have the perfect company, the perfect product, that doesn’t mean that it stops there. Your mind constantly wants to be challenged. Learn to listen to your body. Learn to listen to your psyche. That’s what I’ve learned in working with a partner who shares my focus. With our operation it includes Steve’s father and I work with Italy – I see a lot of wives, husbands, daughters, grandfathers work together. I see this from a small shop to a huge factory so I think we have practice and are able to work with them.
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PB: Being in NYC, and you have a huge following, is it something to see people on the streets carrying your bags?
Be: I do I get excited sometimes. But I think my friends get more excited than I do. I was in a restaurant about a year ago and we saw someone carrying one of the bags. My friend was like, “you should totally go up to her”. But I didn’t think I could do that. I get stupidly excited, but at the same time I hide, they don’t have to know I made it. I mean, I’d love to be in a room surrounded by our handbags, belts, whatever to see the reaction. It made me happy that day that I designed it, but I did it for you – for your closet.
PB: Did you imagine that you would become one of “the brands”? I mean, it has become a household name.
Be: No, not at all. This started from passion, from a place that was so unexpected. The spark that started this thing is still there – still off of that kitchen table. I think yes, as a business now, yes. But there is still a part of me that can’t believe it.
