Wearable Handbag Art: Holland Cox

HOLLAND COX

 

Holland Cox is an  independent handbag label based in the Washington, DC area., that specializes in beautiful  limited edition handmade classics, such handbags, clutches, Obi belts , and more.  I met the designer, Valerie Williams recently at the Crystal Couture event and fall in love with her collection. (www.hollandcox.com)  (photos courtesy of Holland Cox) Read our recent interview below:

Tell us about yourself and your business.

My name is Valerie Williams and I am the designer, owner and everything else behind my one-woman-shop, Holland Cox. Holland Cox is the home of  handcrafted fabric fashion accessories, including seven handbag styles and more than a dozen accessories. My collection of accessories is always growing, and I hope to add more for gentlemen in the coming year.

 What was your inspiration for starting your own business?

I love to sew, and craft, and make things. A few years ago, I was in a frustrating place with my job and my personal life, and I found myself relying more and more on sewing and crafting to keep my spirits up. I decided then that it would be amazing if I could just sew all the time, if it could be my JOB. I took some baby steps back then (2003), started my business officially in 2004, and have been working slowly on it ever since. I started doing Holland Cox full time in March 2009.

 

Your clutches and belts are beautiful, what is the inspiration behind your designs?

All of my designs come from items that I want for myself, but that I can’t find. The very first handbag I made for myself (the pre-cursor to the “classic” handbag in my current collection) was made because I really wanted a bag with a single strap, that wasn’t too long. I wanted it to sit right underneath my elbow, and be small enough to not overwhelm me, but big enough to carry everything I wanted.   It’s the same with all of my accessories…the obi belts, the headbands, the jewelry rolls…they are all things that I wanted for myself and decided to make exactly to my specifications, rather than hoping to find something mass-produced in a mall somewhere.

What one business tip would you provide to emerging designers, particularly in the retail accessory industry?

The most important thing when starting your own business is to be patient with yourself, and to give yourself permission to make mistakes. There is no way to know everything, and no way to get everything exactly right on the first try. Moreover, there is no NEED! Let yourself experiment, and go slow: it’s not a race.
 

You are a co-sponsor of one of Washington DC’s V-day events, Vagina Monologues, that benefits the House of Ruth (one of the nation’s leading domestic violence centers) Please tell us about the event and how we can help support the cause.

I feel very passionately about the work the V-Day Organization does, and what the House of Ruth does locally. I am really excited to be a part of the Vagina Monologues because I think it is an amazing experience, and conveys a really important message to women, girls, and the men that care about them.

The performance will be Friday, March 5 at Theater J in Dupont Circle.  Proceeds from the performance will benefit DC’s House of Ruth. I would love for everyone reading this to attend the performance or consider donating to the House of Ruth (you can do both here:
http://www.hollandcox.com/vday2010.html).  

If you are a local business owner, I would love to talk to you about co-sponsoring the event!  You can contact me by email: valerie@hollandcox.com