Meet Jane August
Published on June 16th, 2008.
PB: J.Lo was seen wearing your bag, did you see that have a great impact on sales?
Jane August: Celebrity is huge. I don’t know how long it lasts. It can be the flavor of the month, but I definitely saw a sales growth. The nice thing about it: It was one of my Number One bags, so it just made it that much stronger. In New York I see that bag a lot. Between Linda Dresner, Bergdorf Goodman and Kirna Zabete, I have probably sold about 1,500 pieces of that bag within a two-year period. Obviously it’s not all sold in New York, there are travelers, but I see that bag all the time. People also started getting on the bandwagon before Jennifer Lopez, we would be getting a lot of calls to the showroom prior. Also internationally the interest spiked up, that is how I opened in the store on King’s Road in central London.
Two and a half years ago, the New York Times ran it as the Bag Of The Century. The fashion editor wrote that this was chic and happening and they credited Linda Dresner because that is where they had found me. There was only 250 of these bags in a small store on Park Avenue at the time. 5 more big editorials picked it up and even with those you would see a spike in sales. Jennifer Lopez had an amazing impact.
PB: Speaking of celebrities, is there a particular one you would love to have wearing your bags?
Jane August: I can see Gwyneth Paltrow wearing my bags because I think that she is very, very understated. Other than that I like Jennifer Lopez. I cannot really see young, trashy Hollywood wearing my bags because that’s a really quick flash. It fades. Vanessa Carlton wears my bags, she seems very grounded, her music is great. I think anybody that’s very classic. I wish that Jackie Kennedy was still alive. When I was young, I used to play that I was her. If she was alive today, I would love her to wear my bags. It’s the iconic feel for me that I like.
PB: If someone could only carry one bag, what would be the perfect bag and why?
Jane August: This is a tough one. Nobody only has one personality… but I think I am going to go with … can I give you two? The 57th Street, it can be very hip, it can be uptown, it can be downtown, especially if it’s in black patent. It’s an “anybody bag”. The other one, I would say, the King’s Road. Jennifer Lopez wore it to hide her baby bump, she wore it hand-held and it completely changes its shape, character. When you wear this bag on your shoulder, it makes you look taller and thinner. I just think it’s so pretty!
PB: What has been your most memorable moment as a designer?
Jane August: Positive or negative? Most memorable time is getting into a factory to doing an inspection of 500 bags and nothing being there. That was pretty memorable. But then there are the memories of getting a huge order and opening up with Harvey Nichols Dubai. When you get your biggest order and it all grows from there. The nicest memory was probably getting into the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog with a bag that I loved. I had been in magazines and I don’t love the photograph or I don’t love the bag, but I did the catalog with Neiman’s and I loved the way it turned out.
Basically, it always goes back to an order, an ad, a photo, a magazine editorial. Very recently I was sitting at an Italian airport as I received a phone call from my assistant saying that I may want to get a copy of the February Vogue because she thought there was a bag in there! So I got the magazine, saw my bag and I got up and did what I call my “book dance”. I just wanted to go around to everybody saying “look, that’s my bag!”. It’s just an incredible accomplishment.
Thank you very much for sharing this interview!
I hadn’t heard of this designer before and look forward to seeing more of her collections.
I love her 57th Street bag! That is a beauty. We will be bringing more news from her to you all
You have some absolutely beautiful bags.
I just saw the hand bags you have some really beautiful bags.
HOT AUGUST!!!
One is not enough. After my first Kings Road I thought it doesn’t get any better than this. Wrong!! I wouldn’t carry any other designer. I collect them. As a buyer in High End fashion, I have been stopped in Paris and Milan so often that I keep going back for more. Her 57th Street bag is another of my favorites. The quality, and fine attention to detail in her designs are so chic. I have seen “Big” name designers try to copy them. They simply can’t. She is an original. I look forward to her new resort collection so that I can put in my reserve at Linda Dresner. If you want “real” style and quality
treat yourself to one of her bags. Lux leathers, incredible pythons, shapes and colors. So you may not be a celebrity, carry a Jane August bag. You will feel and quite possibly look like one. BRAVO for Jane August!!!!!
Her handbags are fabulous! I loved reading this blog and learning about her.
such a great post on blog, I love this blog
Don’t want to seem too commercial but For Jane August fans, want to let you know, PorteroPrivate is having a 48 hour sale event on 5/27/09. http://www.PorteroPrivate.com – wouldn’t normally post a sale but if you are in the hunt for a Jane August bag our merchants are offering some great items at fantastic pricing.
I just found an invite to the Jane August private sale today on stylemaven:
http://stylemaven.typepad.com/styleagenda/2009/05/jane-august-exclusive-invite-only-shopping-event-special-invite-for-stylemaven-readers.html
if you click on the link on their site – it takes you to a Portero Private website and you have to type in the code STYLEMAVEN. Then you get the invite. They have great stuff and it is pretty cheap for python! I HEART Jane August bags. I have the Kings Road in lipstick red shiny croc!
My only wish in life is to be surrounded by Jane August bags. My closet is full and I am going though Jane withdrawls. She is the best! Oh and then there is always Charo…….
I too have been designing handbags for 20 years and produce them all by hand, Many of mine are one of a kind. You are welcome to see some on my website (felicerobindesigns.com)–which is a work in progress. When I saw Jane’s bags I was blown away. Some of the nicest I have ever seen. I’ll be checking back from time to time to see what she is up to. Best wishes!