q & a with roanne jacobson...

Roanne Jacobson is head designer and owner of NZ brand, Saben. Roanne has put her design skills to a new project - Saben Says for The Warehouse. Saben Says combines Saben's great design at more inexpensive price points - so the everyday woman can enjoy Roanne'e bags for a snip of the price. We ask Roanne about the range...

How did you get in to handbag design?

I was living in New York and as I was broke I spent my days wandering the streets, being inspired by the city. I discovered the fashion district and fell in love. I was so moved by the stores entirely devoted to one element of fashion, like the button stores or the ribbon stores and in particular there was a handbag fittings store which held my fascination. I started buying bits and pieces and ended up hand sewing a bag. It wasn’t very good but I wasn’t discouraged - I kept trying. I ended up deciding to come home and started making accessories for a living.

Was this always a chosen career path for you?

No, actually I studied fine arts and I wanted to be a painter. This is why I ended up in New York. My Aunt owned an art gallery in a nearby city and gave me job, so I painted at night and sold art by day. On days off I would travel into New York which is when I discovered the fashion district and got inspired by more 3D art making… handbags!

Where do find your inspiration?

Everywhere - a piece of fabric, a silhouette, a stranger on the street, colour combinations - it’s endless… I always tell people all you have to do is to keep your eyes open to spot inspiration and opportunity.

Do you wear many of your own styles?

Yes, always. The truth is that I create the bags that I want each season.   Plus I get asked almost daily if the accessories I am wearing are Saben, so it would be embarrassing to say no.

What do you love the most about your new line, Saben Says?

This range has a spontaneous feel, and it is fun being playful with design. I use very different materials in the Saben Says collection so the exploration into fabrics and prints has also been exciting. It has been wonderful working with The Warehouse.