My birthday in 2007 marked the conception of Marissa Designs and the brand name Marissa del Rosario. I’ve always had the desire for fashion & design as a career but I never really pursued it because of my interest & the stability offered in (surgical) nursing profession. A few fashion design classes at a local college in ’02 revived this interest but the timing was not quite right. Then when my schedule slowed down in ‘07, I decided to go out on a limb and started my handbag business. Currently, I have finished the first collection with three different styles of different sizes and added clutches & wristlets. This way, I can cover a range of price points as well as styles for a variety of women with different needs and what not.

As for the handbag material, I chose leather because of its durability and its tactility. I also like to mix different textures of leather in my designs because together they create beauty on a different level. As I put that mixture to “package” a design, it is only then do I feel that a unique and timeless piece is complete. So far, I have used suede with embossed leather calfskin, suede with patent leather and patent embossed calfskin. An interesting tidbit about my collection is that I use names of places that I have visited or ate at. It helps give meaning to each and every design that I create. My inspiration comes from a variety of sources—fashion magazines to man-made and natural landscapes. My target market is the fashionable, career-minded, family-minded women who appreciate beautiful, quality handbags.

A nightmare story that involved the manufacturing phase taught me some valuable lessons. When dealing with a very busy manufacturer, it is good to have all your materials, hardware, etc. shipped together and labeled. The first order took double the time it’s supposed to take. But organization, experience and a positive outlook will cut this time in half the next go around. It is also good to have two manufacturers to help with delays, unforeseen or not.

It is rewarding to see a drawing turn into a 3D arm candy and even more rewarding, on an arm of a friend! But the most rewarding experience is when I receive valuable help & advice from fellow design entrepreneurs and artisans I’ve met along the way. Fashion is a tough business to be in especially during the recession but the camaraderie that I’ve experienced makes it all worthwhile!