WHO ARE YOU?

Hello! My name is Bryna Nicole McMills. I'm the founder and proprietor of BRYNA NICOLE, a label that offers women a great combination of uptown sophistication and downtown originality.

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. In fact, I still live and work here, along with my husband, who I married last year after dating for seven years before that.

I've always loved fashion. When I was a little girl, I used to sketch wedding dresses. In fact, I was just talking to my mother about this. We were looking through my wedding album, and she said, "You know what? Your dress looks just like the one you sketched for yourself in high school!"

WHY DID YOU START YOUR COMPANY?

You know what? It feels like the company started me! Let me explain what I mean.

After I graduated from UCLA, I moved back home, to San Francisco's marina district. My passion for fashion was stronger than ever, but I didn't know what to do with it, what direction to take. So I took some classes at FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Around this time, I started working as a stylist. My intention was to focus upon editorial, advertising, photo shoots. But I found myself doing more and more work as a "style consultant" at a local high-end women's boutique. I'm glad I did, because it made me conscious of what customers want, how they use their bags and accessories, andÑmost of allÑwhat, at least at that time, was missing in the market.

More and more often, when putting together complete looks for my clients, I noticed that the bags that were available to use just weren't right. I know that sounds odd, because there are so many handbag designers nowadays, but a few years ago, it was a different story!

Anyway, the edgy, trendy, more urban bags tended to be gimmicky, cheaply constructed, and basically not cut out to last more than a season or two. On the other hand, the more prestigious luxury bags were all variations on the same theme, very well made, and definitely built to last, but not that original or practical for the way today's women live.

I started off by saying "the company started me". What I meant by that is, I was so desperate for bags that combined uptown sophistication and downtown originality, not to mention a healthy dose of practicality, that I ended up designing them myself.

Well, you know how it goes. My designing business ended up taking over my styling business, and BRYNA NICOLE was born!

WHEN WAS YOUR "AHA MOMENT"? WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

I learned about materials and how they impact costs right away. It took me a little longer to figure out issues of durability and wearability. When I did, wow, it was my greatest failure and my greatest lesson. It totally shifted the way I design.

Here's the story: Starting off, I was really into braided handles. I wanted them to be my signature, my trademark, the thing that set me apart. So I started designing every piece, every collection, with braids as handles, always with a metal chain woven through. As time went by, stores and customers were calling and writing, telling me that the handles were fraying, wearing out, getting twisted, et cetera.

So now, when I design, it's not just about how the bag looks, or even how it works. I have to think about the materials and hardware, whether or not they'll work together over the long haul. Because, let's face it, very few women are buying new bags every season anymore. A bag is an investment. I want my bags to be investment-worthy.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?

I go to lots of stores. I ask my friends lots of questions. I want to know, What's missing? What needs aren't being met? What looks aren't being shown? How can I offer more of a complete range of solutions? How can I take my commitment to uptown sophistication and downtown originality to the next level?

Of course, I'm a creative person, and I love designing beautiful things. But, at the end of the day, what energizes meÑyou know, what gives me lift-offÑis knowing that I'm giving women travel companions that follow them around, every day and night, making their lives easier, more stylish, and better organized.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DESIGNING YOUR BAGS?

My design process is actually kind of solitary. I used to work in an office, but there were too many distractions, so I moved my design studio back into my home, where it all started.

The part that's kind of interesting is what I do with my prototypes. I use each one, full time, for a full week. That's the only way to tell if the straps are the right length, if the pockets are in the right place, et cetera.

If a prototype passes my test driveÑand, trust me, it doesn't always pass!Ñthen I'll show it to my friends, my vendors, people whose opinions I value, and ask: What do you think? Would you buy this? What would you change?

Don't get me wrong. If I love something, if I feel like I'm bringing something new to the market, I'm not going to change it just because of a few criticisms or critiques. But, on the other hand, when you're designing practical items, items that people actually use on a day to day basis, I think it's important to keep yourself open to hearing things you might never have thought about on your own.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

I have so many! Let me narrow it down to three.

By the end of this year, I want to have figured out ways to make my bags more green, more responsible, less impactful to the environment. There are so many variables to explore: the dyes, the leathers, et cetera. You know, when I started this business, I never intended leather to be our primary material. I was thinking more along the lines of canvas. It didn't work out then, but you know what? Times are changing. So I'm revisiting all of those old concepts, seeing what we can make work in today's market. This time next year, you might just see a high-end canvas bag or two! Wouldn't that be fun?

By the end of next year, I want to double my orders over the next year or so. When I do this, a couple of great things will happen. First, my manufacturing costs will come down, and I'll be able to pass the savings along to my customers, including customers who couldn't afford my bags before. Second, I'll be free to staff up. I want to hire an assistant, a salesperson, an operations/finance expert, a marketing/communications expert, and a logistics/manufacturing expert.

By the end of the year after that, I have one word for you: Shoes!