A Soviet Childhood, A Luxury Handbag Dream | Emily Blumenthal & Taya Bonicos

What does it take to turn a childhood dream of glamour into a global luxury handbag brand? In this episode of Handbag Designer 101, Emily Blumenthal sits down with Taya Bonicos, founder and creative director of Serena-B, to trace her journey from Soviet Russia to Norway and into Europe’s elite handbag workshops. Taya shares the production challenges, cultural shifts, and fearless pivots that shaped her brand—from early manufacturing in Ukraine to working with master artisans in Spain to create sophisticated, timeless handbags.

Key Takeaways:

• Adaptability builds resilience — Navigating change and uncertainty can become a founder’s greatest strength.

• Craftsmanship matters — The right production partners can elevate an emerging brand to luxury standards.

• Take the leap — Organic opportunities, relationships, and unexpected milestones can move a brand forward.

🎧 Listen now for an inspiring story of resilience, global craftsmanship, and building a luxury handbag brand from the ground up.

Our Guest:

Taya Bonicos is the founder and creative director of Serena-B, an Oslo-founded luxury handbag brand known for sophisticated design and European craftsmanship. Named after her daughter, Serena-B has been showcased at Oslo Runway and worn by prominent figures, reflecting Taya’s vision of creating timeless luxury with an international point of view.

About the Host

Emily Blumenthal is a handbag industry expert, author of Handbag Designer 101, founder of The Handbag Awards, and host of Handbag Designer 101. Known as the “Handbag Fairy Godmother,” Emily has spent years helping emerging designers understand the business, strategy, production, and marketing behind building successful handbag brands.

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