Celebrity designer Ayana Evans is all smiles at the launch of her highly-praised handbag collection, Yana Handbags, in downtown Manhattan. However, this fashion week party- complete with painted male models and fashion insiders-is a far cry from what Evans' life was like several years ago, when she was laid off from her job as a high school art teacher twice.
"I was frustrated because this is the second time this has happened to me. So now I'm thinking I need to do something different!" said Evans.
With just scraps of leftover leather and a dream, the Chicago native invested whatever she could to stitch together a new career as designer of Yana handbags."I've been to eviction court. Yeah, my back was against the wall. I spent my money on samples...my rent money on samples one year," says the designer of her hardships.
Her family and friends, like financial planner and now business partner Regan Hall, jumped in to help Evans get her business off the ground.
"What happens is generally, when running a small business, especially in a recessed economy, you actually have to rely on your friends and family because there is no money within the banking sector to be obtained," says the managing partner.
With their steady support and later small business loans Yana Handbags has grown to four employees and produces on average 250 purses a year. It is also selling internationally in a dozen boutiques in places like Paris, and Japan, as well as New York.
Surprisingly, her biggest handbag hit has been the fanny pack. Evan happened onto a niche market of women searching for uber-stylish, hands-free purses."They're so simple yet classy at the same time. I ride my bike a lot and I walk around a lot. I hate carrying everything," says customer Cheryl Baxter.
Thanks to these trendy, fun bags, Evans has caught the attention of fashion magazines like Essence and Marie Claire as well as celebs like Wendy Williams and Kelly Rowland. With her business now thriving, she and her business partner say they're concentrating on finding even larger investors to take their business to the next level.
Soliciting equity investors in proving to be difficult for the duo in light of the most recent recession, but they are far from deterred, and encourage up-and-coming designers not to be either.
"Just don't give up,"says Evans, "I feel like that's half the battle."
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Sunday, September 19th 2010 at 2:01AM
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