Can a Football be a Handbag? Ann Gaylord on Reinventing Handwoven Bags | Emily Blumenthal & Ann Gaylord

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

Ann Gaylord, a Filipino-born designer with a background in theater and music, shares her journey from performing in the international produc

Key takeaways

Ann Gaylord's creative process started with repurposing everyday objects—like a football—into high-fashion accessories, challenging traditional notions of bag design.
Her background in theater and music influenced her artistic vision, allowing her to approach design with storytelling and emotional resonance.

Main topics

Innovative handbag design using non-traditional materials
Cultural heritage in craftsmanship (Filipino weaving)

Notable quotes

"I slashed it, you know, did my rivet. I don't want to sew. So I just riveted the zipper and everything."

Conclusion

Ann Gaylord's story exemplifies how creativity can emerge from unexpected sources. Her

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) Everything, Emily, everything in my eyes are like, you know, that can be a bad. You see a bag, Speaker 2 (0:05) bag, bag. Bag, Speaker 3 (0:07) bag, bag. And then I see this football. I'm like, OK, maybe you should go with a football bag, like a real football. And so I slashed it, you know, did my rivet. I don't. I mean, I can sew. But the reason for the riveting is I don't want to sew. So I just riveted the zipper and everything. Took it to the. to the game and everyone was asking me where I bought the bag. And that's how it really got started. I'm like, wow, there's a market for this. Uh-huh. Yeah. And then I was wearing one and then this guy says, I was telling him the story and he says, can I buy it? Speaker 2 (0:47) Hi, and welcome to Handbag Designer 101, the podcast with your host, Emily Blumenthal, handbag industry expert and the handbag fairy godmother. Each week, we uncover the stories behind the handbags we love from the iconic brands and top designers to the creativity, craftsmanship, and culture that define the handbag world. Whether you're a designer, collector, or simply passionate about handbags, this is your front row seat to it all. Speaker 2 (1:19) Welcome, Anne Gaylord of Anne Gaylord Bags to Handbag Designer 101, the podcast. And real quick, Anne is one of our incredible lineup of designers that will be at the It Bag X New York Now in August. I believe this might run after, so I just want to make sure anybody who gets a chance to walk the show or hears this after is able to go back and check your incredible bags. But back to you, Anne. Welcome. Hi, Emily. I'm glad to be here. Oh, my goodness. So you've been doing this a long time, huh? Speaker 3 (1:56) So I'm Gaylord Bags. This is my third year, but I've been doing bags for about 13 years. I was working with someone. So where are you from originally? Philippines. I was born and raised there. At 24 years old, I moved to Germany. I lived there for four years, and then I came to the U.S. Speaker 2 (2:19) Okay, so. Why did you move to Germany of all places? Was it military or was it? Sure, Germany sounds fun. Speaker 3 (2:28) So I'm not sure if you're familiar with Miss Saigon, the Broadway show. I was. Yeah, I was into singing in college and then I auditioned. They held audition like world production for Miss Saigon. And of course, I wanted to try. And then they took me for the German production. So I was the lead in the show. Oh, my Speaker 2 (2:49) God. Oh my God. Talk about leading a few lives. Wow. Where in Germany? Stuttgart, Germany. Oh my God. I have a good friend in Stuttgart. The pretzel bread there is insane. I love the pretzel bread. Speaker 3 (3:07) Yes, yes, yes. It's everything. Yep. Every Sunday I would go have pretzel Speaker 2 (3:12) bread. Wait a second. What was your degree in? English and marketing. It was a Speaker 3 (3:17) double major. I finished college there. And then, you know, I had my first job as a keyboard player. I was really into music. That was my whole, you know, I wanted to be in music. And so when the world production, there were auditions for it, I really wanted to try. And then I went to Manila for the auditions. Thousands, there were thousands of Filipinos who went. Speaker 2 (3:41) Yeah, yeah. Oh, my God. Do you remember the moment when you found out? Did you get a phone call or an email? I don't know how far back this goes. Speaker 3 (3:50) Yeah, so that was 1995. Back then I was working at a bank. So I was a keyboard player. And then my second job was at a bank. And I got the call. This was like after a month of the auditions. So I got a call. I was working. I had a cell phone with me. And then... Well, it was my sister's cell phone. I said, well, you know, I'm expecting a call from Manila because they were going to tell me anytime. So it was a big cell phone. Anyway, it rang and I immediately knew it was Stuttgart College. Speaker 2 (4:24) Wait a second. So were you one of those people who were like, okay, one day I'm just going to get out of the Philippines. Like, were you one of those lofty goals, dreams, person, people, or were you like, you weren't, what number child are you? Third, middle. Oh, you're a four. Speaker 2 (4:44) Okay. Okay. And is your older sibling a girl or a boy? It's a sister. All girls. Oh, wow. That's a lot. So wait a second. So you were pretty much as a second of all girls, you were very much born into a soldier role. Like, okay, this is my lot. Everybody's doing the same thing. I'm going to be a good daughter because there was already chaos in your home. So the idea. of leaving probably didn't even cross your mind, but you had this feeling inside you like, okay, this is something for me. I think I have to do it. Is that like, I've just made up your whole life. Like, what is it? What's the story? So I'm the third. So the first, Speaker 3 (5:25) yeah, the first three were all like a year apart. So there was a competition and I was like the youngest of the three. The fourth one was like seven years after. So she doesn't count. She's a baby of the family. She's a part of the family. So it was like growing up with the two others who were intelligent, strong, talented. And here I was like, I was the meek of the three. So it was like, okay, I was just going by the rules and just following the footsteps of my sisters. So it was really a surprise when, you know, my mom says, hey, do you want to audition? Then we go. And I said, I do. Did your mom find the audition? Speaker 2 (6:10) Yes, it was back then from a newspaper. So your mom found the audition and she was like, and everybody must have known you like to sing by this point. Speaker 3 (6:20) Yes, because back then I was already doing like local televisions, you know, guestings. And I also did a high school, not high school, college production of Miss Saigon. So I was really familiar with the songs. So and that was really the reason. You know, I know I have a big chance and that's why I went. Speaker 2 (6:40) Wow. Wow. That is insane. So had your mom, I'm just curious, had your mom, like, had you found it? Do you think you would have gone for it? Or because your mom told you about it, it was like you already got her approval. So it was okay for you to do. Speaker 3 (6:56) It was mostly me. I was crazy about the show. I'm not sure if you know Lea Salonga. I am a huge fan. And just to have that opportunity. And I really felt like, yeah, I could do this role. And so when my mom, you know, like my mom knows, my mom knows me.