Monica Botkier Returns With Sustainable Handbag Line for QVC
This is the accessories designer's latest venture after leaving her namesake label in 2018.
Monica Botkier is embarking on the next chapter of her design career with a new handbag brand, Market by Monica, launching Friday.
For the new line, the accessories designer teamed with ethical sourcing company To the Market.
Botkier is debuting the new accessories brand with a 25-piece handbag collection that includes tote bags, crossbody styles, clutches, messenger bags and backpacks in an array of colors, available exclusively at QVC.
“I wasn't sure if I was going to get back into handbags again, but I realized how much I love the design aspect and the architectural build of a bag,” Botkier said. “There's a little bit of a design geek in me, but that is really so satisfying, so couple that with being able to utilize materials that are so positive and ethical and sustainable production — the whole package is a feel- good opportunity.”
Through To the Market, Botkier is utilizing sustainable and ethically sourced materials for the debut collection. All styles are designed with a 100 percent organic canvas on the exterior, lining made from recycled water bottles on the interior and a decorative trim made from grape leather, which Botkier explained comes from excess waste from wine production.
Botkier named the collection's Hero tote bag, which comes in two sizes, as a key style, as well as the backpack and a pouch that has detachable straps. Prices for the overall collection average at $159, with the largest Hero tote bag retailing for $189.
“There's a nice baseline that I've established as someone who is an authentic creator of a bag that really kicked off the contemporary handbag market as we know it today,” Botkier said. “So, that baseline helped of course, but also the additional experience that I've gained running a business for 15 years and then stepping away from it, relooking at everything that I did right and everything I wish I could do differently and having an opportunity to put that together.”
Market by Monica is Botkier's latest venture in the accessories world after exiting her namesake accessories label in 2018. Botkier first launched the accessories brand in 2003 with handbags, and ultimately grew the line to include other leather goods, belts and shoes.
The brand was then acquired in 2012 by Showroom35 and Botkier initially stayed on until her departure six years later.
Going forward with Market by Monica, Botkier aims to continue expanding in the accessories market, and has her sights on luggage as her next category. Overall, she's committed to creating ethically and sustainably made products while servicing the needs of her customer, she said.
“The design is great, the bags are
lightweight, they're priced really well and as an added bonus they're not going to harm the planet and they're not going to harm you,” she said. “It's just a nice proposition where we can get the most people to benefit from something like this and QVC was open to a partnership around this type of collection.”