Brooklyn's Progress
Aug./Sept. 2007

BY JILL SHEEHY

Sarah Morgan wears her heart on her shoulder – literally.

For the Brooklyn handbag designer, place factors into her designs often – and how could you blame her, from a stint at Pratt Institute in Clinton Hill to living in Crown Heights, Ms. Morgan, a transplanted Wales native – by way of Canada – currently calls Ditmas Park home.

Fittingly, all of Ms. Morgan’s designs are inspired by a New York City neighborhood. Next up are Nolita and Chelsea, as well as the launch of a Kensington line, which plays off of a royal theme, in keeping with her British heritage.

Older lines, such as Crown Heights Couture are studded, supple leather hobo bags that are designed to get more buttery-smooth with wear. She had a hit with her belt bags, a much hipper version of the dreaded “fanny pack,” and soon found herself on the design map.

Expanding
For Ms. Morgan, the future is all about expanding her brand and creating more lines. From her showroom space in Queens, she talked about the challenge of introducing three lines at the same time –fall, resort, and spring 2008.

“I feel like the brand is strong enough that we’ll be able to sell them,” she said. She credits that ability to her core team of designers and assistants, one she calls “the strongest group I’ve ever worked with.”

She’s already planning through next year, which she expects will be at least partially inspired by the old botanist paintings that currently have captured her attentions. This is not to be confused with her Brooklyn Botanical line, which was not her Brooklyn botanical bag, which was shaped to look like a flower.

Giving Back
In the spirit of philanthropy, ten percent of all her revenue goes to Stoked Mentoring, a non profit organization for "at risk" youth that brings them snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing. Ms. Morgan, an avid surfer and skier, first got involved with the organization when she met Stoked staff on the Rockaway beach where she surfs.

“My giving back is based on the Muslim belief of tithing that if you take care of others, they will take care of you,” she explained.

Her interest in joining the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce came about organically as well.

“It’s all about finding your place, she said. “You can aim for international fame … but Brooklyn is the most community-feeling place in New York.”

It was at Pratt where she got a leg up in the design world, when three years ago as a graduate student, she put together a business plan and presented it to her department head. That initiative got her into a business incubator program that covered her business expenses for her first year out and gave her some of the exposure that launched her line.

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” she admitted. “Everyone in my family is entrepreneurial.”

So with an eye on the future, Ms. Morgan is charging full steam ahead.

“With the expansion comes risk,” she said. “But with great risk comes great responsibility and great reward. I’ve learned that putting yourself on the line burns away what you don’t need.”

eenamaria is available at Brooklyn boutiques. For more information call 718-663-8430, or go to http://www.eenamaria.com/.