1 of 2
Photo of Nancy Gonzalez by Gilles Bensimon
2 of 2
As I sat at lunch with accessory designer Nancy Gonzalez this afternoon, I couldn't help but notice her presence. She is soft-spoken, kind, articulate—but under her cool demeanor lies a force to be reckoned with—strong, determined, and brave. So brave that she decided as a mother of two in South America to start her own company over 20 years ago. Women in business were a rareity in Colombia, but Ms. Gonzalez pushed forward—at first with a collection of belts to what is now an internationally recognized luxury brand. Her impeccable style and subtle strength are beautifully illustrated in her luxe accessory line. Over lunch at Neiman Marcus in Plaza Frontenac, Ms. Gonzalez gave me a glimpse inside the her world.
What made you go into business for yourself? I was looking for something that came from inside me and I found it. I started creating belts and my friends asked, "What about handbags?" In 1998 I launched the brand with a line of belts, followed by a capsule collection of eight handbags which debuted at Bergdorf Goodman. Today my collections feature over 150 styles each season in over 200 colors.
You have created an accessory empire from scratch—what has been your biggest challenge? Our philosophy for design is based on the fundamental virtues of quality, craftsmanship, and value. When designing I always stay true to these principles and ensure we are listening to our customers as they are the heart of my buisness. The biggest challenge of designing handbags is achieving the perfect balance between function and creativity.
You've said nature is one of your biggest inspirations—where are your favorite spots to be inspired? My hometown of Cali is the third largest city in Colombia—we have blue skies 365 days a year, the largest number of bird species in the world, and an array of greens that is incredible. But although I am a proud Colombian, I am also very much a citizen of the world so I am inspired everywhere I go.
How do you maintain such craftsmanship and quality in your collections? We are vertically integrated and have an incredible team of artisans who create each of the bags by hand which allows us to oversee the entire process from start to finish. Precious skins are like gems—each must be cut and polished depending on its intrinsic form. Two hides are never alike, so in a way the skins tell me how they should be used.
What should people look for when buying an exotic bag? A handbag is a hint of who you are and what you value. It is a reflection of your personal style so I always encourage my clients to pick a style they can see themselves wearing forever and fitting in with their daily lifestyle. The quality of the skin and the way it has been placed—it should always be centered—is very important.
If you had to pick one handbag to carry forever, what would it be? I couldn't carry just one! But if I had to choose, I would say one of our classic styles such as the leaf tote or razor clutch.
The Nancy Gonzalez Collection is available at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314-567-9811, neimanmarcus.com
