What does it take to turn a childhood dream of glamour into a global luxury handbag brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with Taya Bonicos, founder and creative director of Serena-B, to trace her journey from Soviet Russia to Norway and into Europe’s elite handbag workshops. Taya shares the production challenges, cultural shifts, and fearless pivots that shaped her brand—from early manufacturing in Ukraine to working with master artisans in Spain to create sophisticated, timeless handbags.

Key Takeaways:

• Adaptability builds resilience — Navigating change and uncertainty can become a founder’s greatest strength.

• Craftsmanship matters — The right production partners can elevate an emerging brand to luxury standards.

• Take the leap — Organic opportunities, relationships, and unexpected milestones can move a brand forward.

🎧 Listen now for an inspiring story of resilience, global craftsmanship, and building a luxury handbag brand from the ground up.

Our Guest:

Taya Bonicos is the founder and creative director of Serena-B, an Oslo-founded luxury handbag brand known for sophisticated design and European craftsmanship. Named after her daughter, Serena-B has been showcased at Oslo Runway and worn by prominent figures, reflecting Taya’s vision of creating timeless luxury with an international point of view.

About the Host

Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, founder of The Handbag Awards, and host of Handbag Designer 101. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily has spent years helping emerging designers understand the business, strategy, production, and marketing behind building successful handbag brands.

How can artificial intelligence transform the way we shop for luxury secondhand handbags? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with Chris Lucas, CEO and founder of SecondSense, to explore his journey from Stanford computer science and Instagram to building an AI-powered platform for luxury resale. Chris shares how competitive dance shaped his resilience, how an unexpected viral moment with Alex Earl opened doors, and why transparency, data, and technology could change the way consumers navigate the secondhand handbag market.

Key Takeaways:

• Discipline drives innovation — The resilience learned through competitive dance can translate directly into building a startup.

• AI meets luxury resale — Data and transparency can help consumers better understand pricing and the secondhand market.

• Seize the moment — Being ready to pitch and capitalize on unexpected opportunities can accelerate growth.

🎧 Listen now for a conversation about AI, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the future of luxury handbag resale.

Our Guest:

Chris Lucas is the CEO and founder of SecondSense, an AI-powered platform focused on the luxury secondhand handbag market. A Stanford computer science graduate and former Instagram engineer with an MBA from Harvard, Chris brings a unique combination of technology, business, and luxury expertise to the resale space.

About the Host

Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, founder of The Handbag Awards, and host of Handbag Designer 101. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily has spent years helping emerging designers understand the business, strategy, production, and marketing behind building successful handbag brands

Why do independent designers struggle to land and keep retail accounts? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with industry expert Karrica for a no-nonsense look at what it really takes to sell into boutiques and department stores. From production-ready samples and retail compliance to EDI, chargebacks, fashion shows, and the ego traps that can drain a young brand’s money, Karrica breaks down the mistakes designers make—and what buyers actually expect when they’re ready to place an order.

Key Takeaways:

• Your sample matters — If it doesn’t look production-ready, buyers won’t take you seriously.

• Know your retail reality — Department stores come with compliance, EDI, manuals, chargebacks, and demands that can overwhelm an unprepared brand.

• Check the ego — Vanity shows and industry hype don’t build a business; listening to buyers and knowing your numbers does.

🎧 Listen now for the unfiltered truth about getting retail-ready, avoiding costly mistakes, and building a handbag business that can actually scale.

Our Guest:

Karrica is an independent brand expert and longtime industry voice who brings straight-talk insight into the realities of handbag production, wholesale, retail, and fashion. A recurring guest on Handbag Designer 101, Karrica shares the operational lessons and hard-earned advice emerging designers need to hear.

About the Host

Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, founder of The Handbag Awards, and host of Handbag Designer 101. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily has spent years helping emerging designers understand the business, strategy, production, and marketing behind building successful handbag brands.