Meet Wendy Stevens | Stainless handbag designer and maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Stevens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, what do you attribute your success to?
Two things.

The first is the importance of passion for what you are doing/making. That passion can see you through so many of the challenges of creating an entrepreneurial enterprise.

The second is the longevity of the products I’ve created and made. I have never been trend driven with my work and the pieces don’t go “in and out of style”, as so many fashion accessories do.
After nearly 4 decades of making my bags, they are now being handed down to the next generation. That is my real success story.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My background was an elementary bilingual teacher. I love languages as much as making my handbags. I speak Spanish, French, some Italian and a little Portuguese.

My work with the handbags began in NYC, amidst a super creative environment in the early 1980’s. I was surrounded by friends in the arts, but wasn’t sure what or if I had any artistic talent in me.

NYC in that era, still had vestiges of industrial manufacturing going on. Canal Street was filled with scrap metal outlets where you could find pieces of sheet metal used in the subways and telephone booths. There were still tool shops in Soho where you could buy sheet metal equipment. Wandering around the city, I became aware of sheet metal being used everywhere.

Working in a night club in Tribeca, I would see women carrying enormous bags that they would want us to keep behind the bar for them so they could dance. I remember thinking how practical it would be to have a small, durable bag that would just hold a card, some change and a lipstick for going out.

That was the birth of the first sheet metal bag.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We live on an old farm property in a semi rural area in PA. There is a large stone barn which we converted to my handbag facility where I make my work. There are now many small businesses in this area that make and sell amazing breads, cheeses and organic produce, which I frequent as much as possible. We have to travel a bit to find a good restaurant.
Philadelphia is about an hour away and that is where I would take someone visiting me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband.

He has believed in me from the moment we met. He was making steel furniture and we had the same sales rep in NYC, which is how we met.
I am self taught and work intuitively. He is super mechanical and skilled, making things most of his life. I never made anything until I was 30.
He gives me have the freedom and support I need to explore my craft and I feel so fortunate to have been able to take my work to where it is today.

Website: www.wendystevens.com

Instagram: @WendyStevensHandbags

Facebook: @WendyStevensHandbags1

Image Credits
Photos by Lucia Stone, Stuart Tyson and Miana Jun.