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Doctor Bag Compendium
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The Doctor bag is a style of bag that has really intense detail and construction--there's always a point in the sewing of them where I find myself wrestling with the bag, puffing and perspiring. But the result is worth it, as I don't know of anybody else that makes a bag as elaborate as this one. It's also super practical, being what I call a "big little bag"--compact but with surprising capacity. When you unzip it, it opens right up like a bucket, and it stands up on its own.
Up until September of 2008 I was finding great success in selling my wares online, and was able to reinvest in lots of beautiful leather to keep making big bags. But the global economic downturn along with changes in my selling venue, and way more competition, have squeezed my income down to a shadow of it's former self. That's why I haven't been making the most beautiful shoulder candy I can make, and focussing more on smaller goods. Unfortunately I think I'm keeping myself small by making small things, so I've decided to invest in my future by cranking out some big bags again! And this time, I'm opting for more sophisticated prints, no more bunnies or birdies. Right now there are two gold leather doctor bags will the Wallpaper print available in my shop here (fifty dollars savings if you buy one here instead of my etsy shop) and coming up are one or two (depending on how much leather I have) in caramel brown leather with the leaves embossed into it (perfect for autumn).
Here's the first doctor bag I made:
It was grey wool with a red tree and black leather trim. Then I went on to make these (among others):
I hope you enjoyed looking at them, and I look forward to showing you future doctor bags!
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5 Comments
You read my mind! I need to carry over the look of these bags and cut a bunch of time-intensive details so I can lower the price. I don't want to sacrifice quality with the materials, but could definitely simplify the construction. I'm curious to see what kind of things you design!
--ellen
Anne says...
Forgot to say that people are still buying bags. Bigger bags too. I find that instead of making smaller items to reduce cost I simplify the process to reduce production cost. I use a lower cost eye catching process and sometimes use a less expensive material in certain areas but make it look good and unexpected.
I used to design clothes in downtown Los Angeles. I see that production-wise, your bags are expensive in labor. Your main selling point is your unique screen art in interesting color combos on leather. Your new bags have great shape and style that are not too often found. Some of those are so labor intensive that I don't know how you can turn a living profit from them.
I'm a big fan of yours. I only have one bag from you from a few years ago and it's still one of my favs. Unique and fresh as ever. You have a great eye. I'd love to see you sell big.
I have been designing jewelry for the last 8, 9 years. I needed to be around for my kids so I opted to sell online. You can see my site in the email address above.
I know one of my fatal flaws is in packing too much detail into pieces for what I think I can charge for them. It's even worse when I make clothing--just one more row of buttons, or ruffles, or whatever!!! But you're absolutely right that I need to keep it simple and rely on the colors and prints and materials to add up to awesomeness, and awesome value.
As for living in southern California, I would love to spend winters there...did go down to Palm Springs one February for ten days and loved it. My parents go down every winter for a few months. It feels like my second spiritual home! One of the reasons I need to be more successful is so I can finance going down there every winter too, in a few years.
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