Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Cisarik.
Hi Kathleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
KMC all started in the spring of 2018 as a hobby to relieve stress and anxiety at the time. It all started as a hobby until one of my friends asked me if I was selling my bags…and then the first bag was sold & soon after KMC’s Instagram came alive! Growing up I always loved fashion and design but felt directed to pursue teaching when I began studying at Baylor University in 2016. I started out in education and gradually changed my major after I found my passion in fashion design and creating behind my sewing machine. I transitioned my major to Integrated Studies with a Focus in Entrepreneurship to expand my knowledge to see if I wanted to choose to take on KMC full-time post grad. After graduating I moved to Austin, Texas and started working in the fashion industry.
A few months later, I decided to take on KMC full-time and establish KMC Handbags as an LLC in March 2021. KMC has so many exciting things in store including establishing the first KMC Collection while being in the midst of my handbags being professionally manufactured…a huge selling point: Made in Texas! KMC is also excited to be participating in our first market EVER in Houston on December 11 at Heights Iron Works. Come stop by and shop with us! We are so excited for what’s to come – We are aiming for the first collection to be dropped in the spring of 2022!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a learning process for sure and most definitely not a smooth pathway….That being said I have learned and am still learning to this day. There have been a variety of exciting moments as well as very challenging times…so many smiles as well as so many tears. Even though there have been so many challenges along the way, I am so grateful for those moments because those difficult times have shaped both who I am and my brand KMC is today. The main concentration of difficulty has been the manufacturing process…..it is far from easy & simple and requires a great amount of time, energy and capital to produce the exact vision you are looking for in your product. I cannot tell you the amount of emails, phone calls and FaceTimes I have received throughout the manufacturing process….a lot!! It has been most definitely a lot of energy and time throughout this process but I am so excited for what is to come out of it….it’s all worth it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KMC Handbags ?
The creation of KMC Handbags all began in the spring of 2018 – I always wanted to learn how to sew so I taught myself through watching YouTube videos…the first item I sewed was actually a headband from a random piece of fabric I found…soon after became the first ever bag that I sewed out of gray faux snakeskin for my mom. She still has it, uses it all the time & very proud to have the first ever KMC clutch! Thereafter I practiced and practiced and have sold hundreds of bags since that moment!
I personally have been sewing and creating my handbags for almost 4 years now! In the spring of 2022, KMC will have its first ever collection drop that is professionally manufactured in Texas! KMC is known for its uniqueness including personally hand selecting the most unique and fun fabrics as well as customizing bags that are made uniquely for you, making your vision of your most perfect handbag come to life. I truthfully have never seen bags in department stores or any boutique that are similar to my handbags. KMC is made of faux leathers, snakeskins, crocodiles and vinyls with fun colors and textures that you NEED!! They are so unique and fun as well as a classic that goes with any outfit.
I am so proud of my brand KMC! I am most proud of how far it has come…If you asked me 5 years ago where I would be now I for sure would not have thought I would be a founder & designer of a handbag company! I am so excited and blessed for this opportunity and to see how far KMC has come & so incredibly excited to launch my first ever mass produced collection in the spring of 2022.
Since 2018 I have been primarily pursuing orders through social media platforms. I have been creating custom orders by customers choosing from my hand selected fabric options and creating their vision of their dream handbag. When my first collection is dropped I will be selling through my website kmchandbags.com and fulfilling orders primarily through that platform. In the meantime come to the 3rd Annual Heights Ironworks Holiday Market (201 W. 15th (@ Yale) Houston, TX 77008) Saturday, Dec 11 from 10 am – 4 pm. There will be live entertainment as well as food and drinks. Come get your Christmas presents and stocking stuffers at KMC as well as the 45+ artisans’ booths!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see many collections in KMC’s future!! Hopefully, we will be expanding and be in numerous boutiques and department stores as well as have numerous employees in 5-10 years!
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@kmchandbags.com
- Website: kmchandbags.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmchandbags/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmchandbags
