Glad Christmas Bells

I survived Thanksgiving (Wheww!) and I am onto the crazy holiday season that now besieges us.  I have created special items just for this time of year with hopes that people who previously found me expensive (who me???) will log on and support me now.  Butter soft leather wristlets and cross body purses in snappy, vibrant colors are readily available (and affordable) at www.skwilbur.com.  I am also participating in some holiday shopping events around the tri-state area, so please continue to follow and support my activities.

 

SK Santa busy at the sewing machine

My refrain for several years has been "It's hard out here for a pimp!"  Borrowed from the Terrence Howard film Hustle & Flow, it expresses my sentiments succinctly.  But I am grateful to do what I love doing.  My wish this holiday season is for everyone to find joy in their day-to-day lives.  And speaking of joy, I will be donating $5 to The Hope Program for every skwilbur.com purchase from now until Dec. 15.  So spread a little joy in some else's life and come Get Your Purse ON with SK WiLBUR!

 

Peace & Fashion!

 

 

A Year Later

My 45th birthday was a washout - LITERALLY.  Hurricane Sandy had decimated NYC and brought my beloved city to it's knees.   Even now, a year later, families are still displaced and homes remain uninhabitable.  Personally and professionally, my own perfect storm had wreaked havoc on my life.  I was so far in debt that I could not even see my way out of it.  And that made me question whether my fifteen year pursuit of my fashion design dream was really worth it.  There had been no balance in my life for quite some time.  All I did was work.  I had become so absorbed with "making it work" that I had little time to enjoy life's little pleasures.  As a result, I ate all my problems away and gained so much weight.  When I looked in the mirror, I didn't even recognize the joyless, fat person staring back at me.  It was Sandy that stopped me in my tracks and made me reconsider the things that really mattered.  On my birthday, in my home where I was left with no heat or electricity, I contemplated all those things and made the hard decision to forego my apparel design pursuits.  I was angry with the universe for not providing me with the opportunities necessary to become a financial success.  And I was angry with the curvy women who seemed to love what I did, but did not demonstrate their support of me monetarily.  But things always have a way of working out.

A year later, I am triumphant.  When my sister gave me a Handbag Workshop Class at a local college as a birthday gift last year, it opened my eyes to other options in design.  Now I am actually selling purses to women in Tennessee, California, and as far away as Oslo, Norway.  I finally feel validated in my design pursuits.  My bags are also being carried in two New York City stores.  I have lost 30 lbs. since my birthday last year.  And my partner of fifteen years who has supported me and loved me through the great and the not-so-great times married me earlier this year in a small, yet magical ceremony.  A year later, I feel like I am back on track.  I feel centered, more focused.  I love what I do.   Women actually demonstrate that they love what I do when they make a purchase and that really makes me feel good.  And I am taking time to enjoy the simple things again like time with family and friends, seeing museum and gallery exhibits, and exploring the city that I love so much.  So Happy 46th Birthday to me!  Sure, I could complain about some things, but I won't because I remember what last year was like.  And life is so much better now.

 

Peace & Fashion!

What's New?

I haven't had time to breathe, much less blog.  But with a few stolen moments, I am using this down time to get some thoughts out there.

 

The SK WiLBUR + Fashion For Breakfast  Giveaway was a success.  Congratulations to MC Chau and Dori Carter!  We had over 300 entrants.  I am so thankful that my family weren't the only ones interested in the specially created carryall.  You may not have won, but everyone is a winner.  So to speak.  We are now selling a limited quantity of the style, Teena's Misdemeanor, on www.skwilbur.com.  So log on and order yours before it's too late.

 

 

 

Exclusive SK WiLBUR handbag styles are now being carried at The Brownstone at 24 East 125 Street in Harlem, NY.  You can't find them on our website or at any other store,  so make sure you take a trip uptown and holla at my girl, Princess, the shop's owner and buyer.

 

SK WiLBUR and the author/actor/TV Host Terrence J

I recently finished reading a wonderful memoir by TV personality and actor Terrence J  that really resonated for me.  "The Wealth of My Mother's Wisdom" includes anecdotes about the Queens, NY native's struggles to make his dreams come true and the advice his mom gave to him along the way.

 

In particular, there is a chapter titled Perseverance & Determination that made me reflect on my own struggle to get my collection into the Fifth Avenue fashion emporium Henri Bendel.  The store hosts a bi-annual Open See that allows designers to bring their wares to be reviewed by the buyers with the hopes that their lines will be picked up by the store.  I've tried on nine (9) different occasions without success.  And I swore I would never try again.  But after reading the book and since I've never tried with my purses, I am starting to reconsider.  The next Open See is this Friday, which happens to be my favorite aunt's birthday.  Maybe it's in the cards for me this time.  I'll keep you posted.

 

That's it for now, Fashion Gladiators.  Find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.  If you holla at me, I will definitely hit ya back.

 

Peace & Fashion!

How Far Would You Go. . .?

I continually ask myself, "How far will you go, Wilbur?" because I always want the seemingly unattainable.  But sometimes I don't have to go very far to achieve my heart's desire.  This season, I wanted to be able to hire a professional videographer to direct a promotional short film for me.  I hadn't really vocalized it, but my wish came true anyway when I casually asked Patrick, my product photographer, if he knew of anyone.  Surprisingly, he did.  And Carlo did such an AMAZING job with the video that I am planning other projects that we can work on together.  Of course, you don't have to take my word for it.  You can watch it below or just visit www.skwilbur.com and see for yourself.  Let me know what you think.

 

Peace & Fashion!

 



My Name is Bennett

Tim Tebow - A player without a team

Today is the last day of New York Fashion Week.  And, truth be told, I'm feeling a little wistful because I haven't been an active participant for several seasons.  I am sort of like the football star, Tim Tebow, who has not been given the opportunity to peacock on the playing field.  Although the air is crackling and charged with an energy that is intoxicating and everyone is cheering as the designs hit the runway, I sit sidelined in front of my computer screen or thumbing through the daily newspaper trying to keep up and engaged.

 

As an apparel designer, I never reached the pinnacle where I showed my collection in the tents during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  Yet, I was savvy enough where I was able to garner the attention of the press by staging a couple of guerrilla fashion shows on the sidewalk outside the tents.  It was a lot of work, but it was great fun and I felt like my work was validated when I appeared in national newspapers and on morning talk shows.

The piece from NY Amsterdam News

 

These days, after reinventing myself, I am quietly plugging away with my handcrafted purses focused, instead, on making money and building my brand.  Although the pop of the flashbulbs has dimmed momentarily, I am quite pleased with my accomplishments so far.  And faster than you can say, "Fashion Touchdown," the lights will shine brighter than before.

 

In the meantime, check out my newest offerings at www.skwilbur.com.  And tell your friends, too!  Word of mouth is a powerful tool. 

 

Peace & Fashion!

Point and Shoot

This Saturday past we shot the editorial campaign for SCANDAL, my fall handbag collection.  Our small team consisted of Ashanti - my sister, muse, and the company's director, Rebecca - my sister-in-law, photographer extraordinaire, and the mother of my delicious niece & nephew, Carlo - the newest member of the SK WiLBUR posse who is a talented videographer on the rise, and, of course, yours truly - the handbag architect, purse purveyor, and self-appointed Captain Clutch.  When you get down with such a small crew in such an intimate setting, it's all just sweetness and love and LOTS of hard work.

 

This go round I wanted to focus on the criminal aspect of fashion and how when you want something SO bad, you're almost willing to do ANYTHING to get it.  I've provided a sneak below of one of the images so that you can get a sense of the direction we went in this season.  Stay tuned because these covetable purses will be available for purchase within the next couple of weeks at www.skwilbur.com.

 

 

Peace & Fashion!

The Crime Scene

 

Under the Glare of the Flashbulb

ADULTERESS Shoulder Bag photographed by Patrick Sayo



Tomorrow is the BIG day.  My sister-in-law, Rebecca Rodriguez, is shooting the editorial pics for the SCANDAL Collection - my fall line.  And I am SO excited!  I can't wait to share all the deets with you next week.  Stay Tuned!

 

Peace & Fashion!