BWA Chats To Amy, Founder of Sterling & Hyde

 

BWA chats to the amazing, inspiration talent behind Australian based handbag line Sterling & Hyde.ย 

What inspired you to begin Sterling & Hyde?

I had always loved handbags and working as a professional women I could never find theย a colourful leather handbags which was functional enough to meet my busy needs, at aย price i could afford.ย ย So I started working on a few designs of my own.ย  Then my partner Peter had a near fatal motorcycle accident where he actually died on the operatingย table a few times.ย  With months in hospital and rehabilitation thereafter he has recovered.ย  But that massive scare taught us both to live for the moment and pursue our dreams.ย  For him that was to move out of the city and for me it was to start my own accessories brand where I could offerย women great handbags and accessories thatย they don’t just carry through the day, but which are fashionable and functional and which help them conquer their day!

Was it a shock moving from the fast paced life of the city to a quite seaside town? What did you learn from the experience?

I can’t say I have slowed my life down any more since I have moved to the coast.ย  I have reset my priorities in life and are now pursuing my dreams.ย  Beingย by the sea I must however say our customers are always relaxed and happy to chat to us about their stories and what brought them to us.ย  I have learnt that internal happiness comes from doing what you are meant to do.

What inspires you creatively?

Ordinary everyday women who can pull off their “own” look!ย ย I think any woman can look good and when they know they have nailed it that day they are invincible!ย  This is what inspires me and what I see everyday.

As a role model to ambitious young women, what is your advice to young entrepreneurs?

My mantra which I live by everyday is-Forget perfect and instead be authentic.

Really listen to your customers and if you continue to delight them you will succeed.

If you are planning to quit your job to pursue your passion, go for it butย make sure you can independently support yourself forย 12 months without drawing an income from the business.

Can you describe the aesthetic of Sterling & Hyde?

Our brandย aesthetic is one of colourful, functionalย handbags and accessories.ย  Every woman has their own unique requirement of what they want and needย in a handbag.ย  And they should, as we all carry them with us each day!ย  So we try to cater for all these varied needs with our range, andย are now excited to allow women to also create their own one of a kindย leather handbags too if we don’t have a product in our range which suits them.

If you had to pick one key piece that sums up the label what would it be?

Ourย Orange Bessie Tote.ย  Our brand embraces bright colour (life is too dull without it!) and she is functional, fun and best of allย has some personality of her own ๐Ÿ™‚

The one thing that you can’t leave the house without?

Myย sunglasses.ย  I had laser eye surgery a fewย years ago, and afterย 25 years with glasses it is so greatย to be able to wear fashionable frames as opposed to the daggy perscription coke bottle sunglasses I used to have to wear!

What can we expect from Sterling & Hyde in 2012?

A whole lot more.ย  Currently our customers can create their own custom handbags in our Sorrento boutique, but in a few months they will also be able to create their own dream handbags online with our second online store soon to be launched..ย  This is a first for Australian shoppers and we are so proud to be able to offer this to our loyal customers.ย  We have also had our customers crying out for a boutique in Melbourne so we will be looking for possible sites for a new boutique in 2012 and most likely starting with a pop up shop somewhere fab.ย  And lastly we will be looking to design some more fantastically functional handbags, already branching out with leather overnight bags, nappy bags, ipad bags etc which will add to our growing collection.

[nggallery id=968]

Shop the collection now atย Sterling & Hyde.ย 

46 Comments

  • Reply yslyenom Monday 10th March, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    Awesome

  • Reply cadam Thursday 12th July, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    very inspirational

  • Reply Supersue Sunday 6th May, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Always admired Sterling & Hyde stylish handbags. Great to know who’s behind it all.

  • Reply lauralai Saturday 28th January, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    Love the orange one in particular

  • ivysaurus
    Reply ivysaurus Friday 27th January, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Great interview and the bags are lovely!

  • Reply kymheaton Friday 27th January, 2012 at 8:00 am

    love the bags !

  • Reply tessarella Friday 27th January, 2012 at 6:22 am

    what an inspiration

  • Reply Zerotolove Thursday 26th January, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Great article! x

  • Reply JENNIFAARRH Thursday 26th January, 2012 at 11:55 am

    love the bag collection

  • Reply leighbonello Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    Great interview!

  • Reply juliew Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    great article

  • Reply xoxoMayy Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 11:15 am

    the handbags are gorgeous!

  • spunkx
    Reply spunkx Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 10:33 am

    lusting hard over the bright orange tote!!

  • Reply ang43@hotmail.com Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 9:27 am

    Absolutely gorgeous bags… must get me one of them!!

    • Reply sterlingandhyde Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 10:04 am

      Hi Ladies thanks so much for your kind words and support. If I can follow my dreams you all can too!

  • Reply thugsy Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:21 am

    just gorgeous

  • Fashionista8P
    Reply Fashionista8P Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:21 am

    very classic look.

  • Reply doogs Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:18 am

    very lovely

  • Reply jarjar Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:13 am

    great article

  • Reply ichigolove01 Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 8:12 am

    Love the handbags

  • Reply whatsupmonkey Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 7:36 am

    Very interesting.

  • Reply midnightstarfish Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 12:48 am

    love the colours of the bags ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply punkemohardcore Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    i really like the green one.

  • Reply Claireo Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    Great to hear from successful women!

  • Reply KatP Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    “Forget perfect and instead be authentic”

  • Reply sappheire Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    love the emerald green bag

  • Reply shell0606 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    Nicee

  • Reply mandystsai1 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    Thanks for sharing the article!

  • Reply MsKimo Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    Nice interview!

  • Reply livi Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Gorgeous handbags

  • Reply sallync Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Love those bags…especially the green and orange oversized bags!

  • Reply Whatthe Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    I love ‘forgetting to be perfect’ all the time!

  • Myra
    Reply myra00 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    Great interview and I love the handbags:-)

  • comebacks
    Reply comebacks Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    I love these interviews, I am more into shoe designers though ๐Ÿ™‚

  • aimzybabe
    Reply aimzybabe Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    Wow, she is so inspiring!
    I would love to design handbags! And I love that green handbag (second pic)!!

  • Reply candicelee22 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    Great xx

  • Reply fifi73 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Great article, I follow Sterling & Hyde on FB and twitter, and own one of their lovely bags…. So nice to “see” you Amy…. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Gjenia
      Reply Gjenia Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 1:24 pm

      I wish I owned one of their handbag!! Gorgeous!

      • Reply fifi73 Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 6:24 am

        Oh yes, they sure are! Mine is a tote bag in a pastel aqua co our and I just adore it! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Reply sterlingandhyde Wednesday 25th January, 2012 at 10:05 am

      Hi fifi73! so glad you are loving your S&H bag. Nice to chat to you too

      • Reply fifi73 Sunday 29th January, 2012 at 9:00 am

        Same, nice to finally “see” you… ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply chocolatelace Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:55 am

    lovely!

  • Reply lieuloves Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:50 am

    love the simplicity and classiness of the handbags

  • sbooth29
    Reply sbooth29 Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 10:29 am

    amazing article thank you

    • Reply stels Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 11:39 am

      ditto ๐Ÿ˜€

    • Reply chrystal Tuesday 24th January, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      sure is

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.