Growing up in the Midwest, Rachel Emmons fell in love with the energy and creativity of New York City, as many designers do. She dreamed of working in design and now that dream has become a reality with the launch of Anna Rachel Studio, a collection of vintage, custom, and handmade fashion art and wearable pieces. Launched in January 2020—just before the world went into Covid lockdown—Emmons, a graduate of New York University’s prestigious Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, has been hard at work sourcing and restoring vintage and one-of-a-kind bags. The line was “inspired by her own passion for art and beautiful, uncommon design,” according to the Anna Rachel Studio website.
We caught up with the designer to find out more about her inspiration, collaborating with artists, and giving back to those in need.
Is your professional background in fashion, or was this started as a passion project?
When I was a little girl growing up in Oklahoma, I vividly remember my first trip visiting my aunt and uncle in New York. From a small city in the midwest to the amazing bright lights and behemoth of a city. We went to see The Lion King on Broadway, skipped down the street by Central Park, had long lunches in Bryant Park and took photos with the dirty Time Square Elmo. It was vibrant, strange, and an indescribable experience. New York became my dream and ever since that trip I knew that I had to find a way to come back. I applied early decision to Tisch NYU, interned in college at a blue chip gallery, and have been working in architecture and design. I loved trying new creative things in the city and was eager to find my own voice.
What led you to start this company at the beginning of 2020?
Courage — and in a lot of ways, belief. I left my job a month before the beginning of the pandemic to start Anna Rachel Studio with a Brooklyn pop-up planned a few weeks later, which was postponed for the foreseeable future. In some ways the timing was not ideal, but it did allow me to spend time with my new business and try new things creatively that I might not otherwise have been able to.
Who is your customer?
In my fantasy, I would love someone who purchases the bags to care for them and treat them like heirlooms or sculptural pieces. One of my best friends has a vintage Bakelite gold marbled box purse sitting in her living room on her desk. It’s so glamorous and it brings me joy every time I visit her home.
This was an intention for the hand-painted artist collection — that the bags would elevate from a clothing item into an art piece or sculpture that could hang on a wall, or rest on a bookcase or shelf. Mixing vintage with contemporary art created what I feel to be an interesting hybrid.
Are all of the bags you sell vintage, or do you design any as well?
A bit of both. I began with vintage, then started sewing things on my own. My mom taught me how to sew when I was young and bought me a sewing machine for my NYC apartment. My most recent work has been a special collaboration with some of my favorite artists. I always loved the idea of hand-painted original bags, so when I started Anna Rachel Studio, I reached out to a few of my favorite artists to see if they would consider doing a collaboration. I had visited Austin Eddy’s studio in 2019 and have a portrait from Walter Robinson hanging in my living room. There are about 8 artists in total that have worked on the collection; it’s cool to see how they all approached the project so differently.
How do you source the bags?
I visit estate sales and watch auctions for special vintage pieces. Usually I have idea for what I’m looking for but I’m always keeping an eye out for unexpected treasures. I spent a lot of time learning about restoration and how to give these pieces a new life again.
For the artist-painted collection, it’s almost like I’m playing a game of exquisite corpse. Do you know that game where one person starts a drawing and then the other players keep adding to it? So when I see a vintage bag, sometimes intuitively I imagine how I’d finish it or how an artist might respond to the surface.
Why did you choose artistrelief.org as a charity partner?
I believe all businesses, in the current climate, should be cause oriented. When I began the hand-painted artist series, I knew that I wanted to incorporate some kind of charitable component, and from there I began doing my research online for one that felt like the right fit. Artist Relief gives grants to artists that have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis. I was excited for this opportunity to help in any way that I could. I believe the past year has been an eye opening experience for people to shop more ethically- in ways that support the future they want.
For more on Anna Rachel collection, or to purchase, visit www.AnnaRachelStudio.com
