When Brett was in high school, her love of acrylic clutches from the 1950s and 1960s sparked a habit of collecting them wherever she could find them. As they became increasingly difficult to find, she sought out to make some for herself. She started researching the amazing bags from the mid-century and their long lost fabrication techniques, and the idea for her new business was born.

Edie Parker is a modern accessories label with an inherent sense of luxury, irreverence and wit. Since the brand’s inception, Edie Parker has produced accessories that make a statement. Conceived as a line of clutches, the brand now offers bags in a range of sizes, materials and fabrications. They maintain a sense of optimism, saturation and luminosity. Other categories include jewelry and a growing home collection. Launched in 2012, the Edie Parker bespoke program allows customers to personalize their bags and home items, selecting a shape, color, font and other details. The line is carried in over 100 outlets worldwide including Moda Operandi, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Listen in as Brett talks about leaving a dream job as head of PR at Gucci to start her own business, the role motherhood played into her big idea, and what lessons she's learned along the way as she continues to grow her dedicated team.

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'When you work for yourself, there's never a Sunday. There's never a day where I'm not thinking about the business. It's a totally different animal.' - Brett Heyman

Links Mentioned:

• Edie Parker
• Follow Edie Parker on Instagram

'I had always wanted to do something more creative, and then after I made a human, I thought 'how hard could a handbag be?'' - Brett Heyman