BAG LADY
Celeb Designer Rebecca Minkoff Has Got a Handle on Paying it Forward
Often photographed or spotted in her requisite pair of shiny, skinny leather pants or jet-black, distressed jeans paired with a slouchy graphic tee embellished with studs, stones, and other fashionable hardware, the quintessential rocker chic of the fashion world apparently has a soft side for her fellow female entrepreneurs.
You know her as founder and edgy designer of her eponymous handbag, clothing, and accessories line, but veteran entrepreneur and female advocate Rebecca Minkoff is learning to lead by letting go – and empowering women in the process.
Before launching her latest initiative “The Female Founder Collective” last September, an organization that seeks to empower women entrepreneurs by creating awareness around female-owned businesses so that consumers and investors may support them, Minkoff was already well immersed in the female-forward movement. In August 2017, she was commissioned as a member of the first-ever New York State Council on Women and Girls, alongside notable female industry leaders, such as Refinery29 founder Christene Barberich, SoulCycle CEO Melanie Whelan, and Deloitte CEO Cathy Englebert.
Acquiring celeb-status as a top designer in the ever-discerning and highly-competitive fashion industry since her bestselling line’s launch in 2001, starting “The Female Founder Collective” was a complete career pivot for the beloved designer of statement-making handbags, edgy apparel, on-fleek footwear, cool, chic accessories, and jewelry. And, in doing so, she inadvertently learned to overcome her own debilitating bouts of self-doubt and “limiting” feelings, as well as finally procuring a competent staff that she could entrust to take care of the day-to-day operations of her famous fashion brand, while freeing up her time to take on the other demanding responsibilities of her life like launching new endeavors. Rebecca proves that leading with your values and empowering others is a win-win situation.
“The Female Founder Collective” is a network of women-led businesses that invests in women’s financial power across the entire socio-economic spectrum through enabling and empowering female-owned brands and businesses. In a nutshell, it’s “women working for women who are helping other women.” The Collective helps women to connect with other like-minded ladies in business in order to give vetted resources the proper capital, growing their business and operating it more efficiently. The Collective also provides an indispensable community for aspiring female entrepreneurs to converge and share advice, resources, and much-needed support.
Acquiring celeb-status as a top designer in the ever-discerning and highly-competitive fashion industry since her bestselling line’s launch in 2001, starting “The Female Founder Collective” was a complete career pivot for the beloved designer of statement-making handbags, edgy apparel, on-fleek footwear, cool, chic accessories, and jewelry. And, in doing so, she inadvertently learned to overcome her own debilitating bouts of self-doubt and “limiting” feelings, as well as finally procuring a competent staff that she could entrust to take care of the day-to-day operations of her famous fashion brand, while freeing up her time to take on the other demanding responsibilities of her life like launching new endeavors. Rebecca proves that leading with your values and empowering others is a win-win situation.
“The Female Founder Collective” is a network of women-led businesses that invests in women’s financial power across the entire socio-economic spectrum through enabling and empowering female-owned brands and businesses. In a nutshell, it’s “women working for women who are helping other women.” The Collective helps women to connect with other like-minded ladies in business in order to give vetted resources the proper capital, growing their business and operating it more efficiently. The Collective also provides an indispensable community for aspiring female entrepreneurs to converge and share advice, resources, and much-needed support.
Famous for her signature “studded” designs that can be seen on luxury handbags, totes, backpacks, shoes, accessories, and apparel, Minkoff developed an unrelenting propensity for fashion design while working in her high school’s costume department. After graduation, she moved to New York City at just 18 to pursue her dreams of designing. In 2001, after designing her own version of the iconic “I Love New York” tee shirt as part of a 5-piece collection, the eye-catching tee appeared on The Tonight Show, becoming an overnight sensation and catapulting Minkoff to designer stardom. In 2005, Rebecca expanded her designing talents to handbags, creating her first bag, “The Morning After Bag,” a.k.a. “M. A. B.,” igniting her career as a celeb-favorite handbag artiste extraordinaire. Her fun, flirty, feminine creations would grace countless catwalks, red carpets, magazine covers, and the arms of girls and women everywhere for years to come. With his savvy social media prowess, her brother Uri is an integral asset to the company’s pioneering social media efforts, solidifying Minkoff’s fashion icon status.
After four years of crafting star-studded handbags, accessories, and rocker chic leathers, Rebecca further expanded her design repertoire, launching a ready-to-wear collection in 2009. Today, her industry leading line encompasses apparel, shoes, accessories, tech, handbags, jewelry, and even a men’s accessory line aptly labeled under her brother, Uri Minkoff.
Dedicated to manifesting personal and professional creativity, as well as affecting positive change by bringing women together, Rebecca also savors her family time as a devoted wife and mother. She is married to actor and director Gavin Bellour. They reside in Brooklyn with their three children.