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| Three reasons why I love Amy Hall - Doesn’t complain; not a word about the delayed posting of this interview
- Accommodating; day of interview learned, famed L.A. retailer Fred Segal would carry her line and proceeded with interview as schduled (while driving to meet with them)
- Positive attitude; great outlook on life
One reason why you’ll love Amy Hall AmyKatherine handbags. The why, beyond beauty, function and eco freindly, each handbag embodies Amy's sunny disposition... kind of like carrying a little sunshine around with you every day!
Amy’s got a brand new bag, actually... an entire line of them! | 
Amy Hall and I have known each another since the late 90’s when we both lived in Phoenix - Scottdale, Arizona. Our introduction, by way of my friendship with her now sister in law, Elizabeth Peterson Hall, the Peterson half of the Peterson Hall Gallery (an ambitious 6000 sqare foot homage to art) and her brother, five time Olympic gold medalist (10 in total!), Gary Hall Jr. *Despite closing after Peterson and Hall (Gary) married & moved to Miami, the Peterson Hall Gallery remains my favorite gallery to date. Amy, who now lives in Los Angeles, recently popped back into my life via the NBC Today Show where she appeared in a segment about designers, celebrity endorsements and success. When the segment ended, I picked my jaw off the floor and ran to my computer to send her a congratulatory email. Several emails and phone calls later, Amy set some time aside for a brief Miami/LA phone interview where we got a chance to catch up on old times, talk inspiration, design and business. (After our interview I thought to myself, you know what's great about AmyKathryn handbags... Amy Hall) |
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 | AM: Congratulations on your Today Show segment, you looked great. AH: Wow, I’m so glad you saw it. Did Elizabeth and Gary tell you to watch?
AM: Actually no, but it’s funny because I don’t usually watch morning television, but that morning I just happen to turn on the TV and your segment had just started. Watching you on the tube got me to thinking about the first time we met and you telling me you hope to be a successful designer some day.... looks like you’re someday has arrived. I know how much you love art and design, how did that love come about? AH: When I was little I traveled to Africa with my family and I just loved the colors, the culture and the designs... all of it had a big impact on me. That trip was the reason I majored in anthropology and art history at the University of Arizona. AM: Is that where the AmyKathryn design aesthetic comes from? AH: Absolutely, each hand bag is hand-printed with beautiful patterns, rich colors and beautiful textiles influenced by Africa and Europe. The handbags I design incorporate colors found in nature with animal-friendly faux leathers. AM: You site your mom, Mary Hall, and grandmother, Mary Elaine Keating, as nurturing and guiding your aspirations in the world of art and design. How so? AH: Well, growing up I’d hang out and watch my mother, grandmother and aunt, as they designed, shopped and managed every little detail of the hotels owned by my grandfather (Charles Keating) | 
| AM: When I think of you, the one thing that always comes to mind is the Peterson Hall exhibit you hosted for the Mexican Consulate while Gary and Elizabeth were in Australia for the summer Olympics AH: Yea, I was really focused on a career in art at that time AM: And so how did you transition from a career in art to actual design? AH: I moved to Los Angeles enrolled at Otis College of Art and Design and just started working AM: In design? AH: No, when I first got to L.A. I worked for a gallery, an art deco store and a printing house (fabric), but I really wanted to get into the design community and it just kind of happened that I started meeting a lot of designers who would tell me they were looking for fabric, so I started designing and making custom fabrics for a lot of designers in L.A. and I really got into it, I loved it... sewing, draping, pattern making… I was really good at it and so I just started designing fabrics for furniture accessories like ottomans AM: Where did you start your business… from your apartment? AH: Yea... well actually from my house, the garage AM: Any friends or people in the biz help you get started? AH: I got constant help, when you really get to know the fashion community, it gets smaller and smaller |
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 | AM: How did you get involved in handbags specifically? AH: Honestly because it’s similar to upholstering furniture accessories... like ottomans. I thought, I could use the fabrics I design and upholster unique looks on handbags... but it was challenging. AM: And the concept for AmyKathryn? AH: Animal-Friendly and Eco-Friendly. Our signature look is created by mixing custom printed fabric and animal-friendly faux leather. Also, we work with the non-profit, Nothing but Nets and donate $10 for each bag purchased on the amykathryn website. AM: One can’t help but notice your line of handbags are all named after different flowers, how did you come to make that choice? AH: I love flowers, the femininity of them – the body style of the handbags remind me of flowers AM: When did you do your first show? AH: At LA fashion week a swimwear company used the my line in their show AM: I take it your collection made an impression? AH: Yea, everybody really loved them (amykathryn is one of the fastest growing brands on the market) AM: And as your Today Show segment pointed out amykathryn has quite a celebrity following, what's it like having celebrity clients... do you get to meet them? AH: It’s incredible. I’ve met Pink, Sarah Michelle Geller..., but honestly it’s more important to me that our customers love the handbags | 
| AM: How do you plan for each season... what inspires your work on a day to day basis? AH: I think design all day. I look at women’s handbags how they hold them, how they use them, how they function... if they are influenced by trends in fashion or if they are ahead of the curve. One of the things I noticed were boyfriends or husbands asking women to hold keys or wallets in their handbags... so I designed a handbag with a detachable man’s wallet – simple concept AM: Now that’s function! Where do you see AmyKathryn in the future? AH: I want to expand amykathryn into a lifestyle brand (home furnishings and accessories) incorporating the eco-friendly philosophy into all aspects of product and design. AM: Hence the throw pillows available on amykathryn.com... Well you are certainly paving your own way. AM: Any plans to come to Miami? AH: Yes, for thanksgiving and for Maria’s (sister) wedding AM: Great, we’ll have to get together
AM: I guess I’ll end where I started... last question, did the Today Show appearance help business? AH: Hugely, we got a lot of orders... we’re still getting back to all of them AM: Okay, that was the next to the last question, this is the last question... do you miss Arizona? AH: Not at all AM: Amy, thank you for taking the time, especially given the big news of Fred Segal. I am so happy for you and so incredibly proud... it isn’t often one gets to share in the realization of a friends big dream like this AH: Ah... thank you, it’s so great to talk to you again and I’m so happy you saw the show |
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Fans of amykathryn include a long list of celebs like: Hilary Duff, Selma Blair, Jessica Simpson, Audrina Patridge, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Gabrielle Union, Lisa Rinna, Nelly Furtado, Bridget Marquardt, Leann Rimes, and Darryl Hannah, to name a few | L3tv amykathryn on L3M |
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