Women's History Month - Gail Riggs

In honor of Women's History Month, I will highlight some of the influential women of the past, as well as those who are making a different today. 

Day 1 shout out to my favorite Rochesterian handbag designer, Gail Riggs!

I personally know Gail through Rochester Fashion Week. She is an incredibly successful business woman, a loving mother and wife and her desire to give to others is truly inspiring.  When she asked me to model her purses for Fashion Week, I knew I was in for a treat... and can I just say, her line was A HUGE HIT and the talk of the evening.


The first time I met Gail, she had invited me to her home in Rochester for a fitting. We had a blast picking out my outfit and choosing the purses to match! My favorite part, however, was hearing Gail speak about her cause and how each purse has a history, a purpose, and a story. 

I'd like to share that story with you.

"Her company was born ten years ago from Gail’s desire to teach her daughter, Abigail, about empowerment and generosity. Gail’s vision materialized in the form of one-of-a-kind, couture handbags that she designed herself. In the beginning, many of the bags she made were donated to local charities to raise money at auctions for various worthy causes. As her handbags proved incredibly successful in fundraising, the demand began to exceed Gail’s one-woman-show production capacity and she expanded. A collaboration to produce handbags for the Susan B. Anthony House in 2010, then quickly launched the fruits of Gail’s homegrown good work into the blossoming accessories brand, Abigail Riggs. 

While all of the bags in the Purse With A Purpose collection are created to reflect the spirit of the historic women they honor, they are also designed by Gail – a woman of great style – with an on-trend, fashion edge for modern women. Beyond the gorgeous aesthetic look and fine craftsmanship of the bags, their true beauty lies in the fact that Gail, a generous philanthropist and humanitarian, designs them specifically to raise money for a number of good causes."

- Women You Should Know

Check out Gail's website here: Abigal Riggs *On the opening page, you'll see a video of Gail's collection on the runway at Rochester Fashion Week 2011! Keep an eye out for a certain someone in the brown boots and white fur coat... ;)

My favorite pieces of Gail's collection:  

Ms. Anthony Bag 

 

This bag honors Susan B. Anthony. "She" is designed to remind her owner: "Every woman needs a purse of her own” and “Failure is Impossible"

Through her limited first edition proceeds, the original Ms. Anthony raised over $250,000 for the Susan B. Anthony House Museum and local charities in Rochester, NY. 

Ms. Bouvier Bag 

Miss Bouvier is available in crocodile embossed or plain black leather with a purple suede-lined interior. She is adorned with the Abigail Riggs Collection queen bee gold medallion. As with all Abigail Riggs Collection bags, it is also adorned with a famous quote from the woman it honors. In this case, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ words: "I am a woman above everything else"

20% of Miss Bouvier’s sales will go to The Center for Youth in Rochester, NY.