She Learned the Rules. Then Built the Bag Brand, A by Anyah, That Breaks Them: | Emily Blumenthal & Anyah Sealey

episode

Previously titled “She Learned the Rules. Then Built the Bag Brand, A by Anyah, That Breaks Them: | Emily Blumenthal & Anyah Sealy” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 3, 2026

Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons

The Luxury Handbag Patience Game on Building Siena Wolf | Emily Blumenthal & Lori Tyberg 24 min · 11 Aug 2026

Is the Handbag Dead? Jay Choyce Tibbitts on What’s Next for Luxury | Emily Blumenthal & Jay Choyce Tibbitts 33 min · 04 Aug 2026

Trade Shows, Future of Wholesale & How Handbags Changed Retail | Emily Blumenthal & Dorothy Belshaw 39 min · 28 Jul 2026

The Business of Wearable Handbag Art | Emily Blumenthal & Elif Akaydin 28 min · 21 Jul 2026

Made in China vs. Made in Italy: What Luxury Brands Don’t Tell You | Emily Blumenthal & Karrica 59 min · 14 Jul 2026

From Recycled Plastic to a Global Bag Brand: How Got Bag Found Product-Market Fit | Emily Blumenthal & Kathrin Melchior 30 min · 07 Jul 2026

All episodes from Handbag Designer 101: The Stories Behind Handbag Designers, Brands, and Industry Icons →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded10 Feb 2026

Publisherfeeds.buzzsprout.com

Handlerec:15825128

Show notes

What turns a love of making into an accessories brand people stop you on the street to ask about? We sit down with Anyah Sealy, founder of A by Anyah, to trace a path shaped by global training, hard critiques, and real market feedback. From early beading classes in Ghana to design school in Paris and rotations across major fashion houses, Anyah shares how craft, data, and adaptability combine to create bags that photograph beautifully and hold up in real life.Key Takeaways: • Detach ego from product — The customer, not the designer, makes the final call. • Craft + commerce win together — Material knowledge and pricing discipline sharpen creativity. • Build heroes, cut the rest — Staying power comes from focus, not excess.Our Guest: Anyah Sealy is the founder and creative director of A by Anyah, a handbag brand rooted in global craftsmanship and modern functionality. With training spanning Ghana, Paris, and major fashion houses across menswear, womenswear, and kids, Anyah brings a rare blend of emotional design and market intelligence to accessories built for everyday impact.Host Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, and founder of The Handbag Awards. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily also teaches entrepreneurship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is dedicated to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of building iconic handbag brands.Find Handbag Designer 101 Merch, HBD101 Masterclass, one-on-one sessions, and opportunities to book Emily Blumenthal as a speaker at emilyblumenthal.com. Youtube: / Handbagdesigner101-ihda | Instagram:/ Handbagdesigner TikTok: / Handbagdesigner | Twitter: / Handbagdesigner

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.