New bags and a journey that’s come full circle
New bags and a journey that’s come full circle
Beverly Bowtie gym bag in Dusty Rose, www.ogorgeous.com
Hey guys! Sarturday night, Sunday morning here in LA. Super tired but wanted to give you an update so you know I’m still alive!
First off, I want to say thanks for your continuous activity and enthusiasm on facebook! The community that you have built on there is phenomenal. You’re answering each other questions, you’re sharing your recipes, your feelings, and we’re all getting to know each other more closely each day. Some of you have been showing EXTRA leadership…so I will be announcing some of your new ambassadors of POP shortly. I was supposed to do this a while ago but as usual, got side tracked! Anyway…
A week ago, I think I wrote a semi-nostalgic post about quitting my job and following my passions but told you I’d have to revisit the whole story again in more detail. Today is that post! I’m getting pretty sleepy as I type this, so I will do my best to make sense.
As you can see from the title and the first picture, my new oGorgeous collection has been released. Super excited!! It’s been a long and challenging project.
As some of you guys know, I quit my corporate 9-5 job in the fashion buying world last year. In fact, it is the 1 year anniversary of my resignation this week. You guys don’t know but I hated my job so much. I dreaded work, didn’t really believe in what I was doing so was constantly in a state of fear and self-doubt. This led me to become someone who I wasn’t. I literally lost my sense of self. It was bad times.
When I quit, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Even though I had no plan in place, I knew it was the right decision so I wasn’t scared. I began to teach up to 12 Pilates classes a week to pay the bills while giving oGorgeous 100% of my attention. (Well, split with a bit of YouTube time of course!) An entrepreneur friend once told me that you can’t ever expect something to be successful unless you put 100% of your time and energy into your business. I had always been running oGorgeous between my college classes and on lunch breaks at my job, so to be fair to myself, I needed to give my bags undivided attention. I never want to look back and say “shoulda, coulda, woulda.”
One day this past April 2011, a friend of mine was traveling abroad so I asked if I could come with her. I wanted to go to one of the largest world trade shows for handbags, clothing, and accessories – The Canton Fair in China. When she said she’d love for me to accompany her, I literally bought a ticket on Friday and left on Sunday. I kid you not. I have never been to China before, nor do I speak the language, but I wasn’t scared. So I packed my suitcase and hailed a taxi to the airport.
It was a LONG plane ride from Boston to Chicago to San Francisco to Hong Kong and then a 2 hour train ride to Guangzhou to top it off. There I met so many great people and made wonderful contacts. I also made sure that whoever I was dealing with was practicing fair labor and had references from reputable companies I knew.
I only spent a week in China, not nearly long enough, but it sufficed. From early May til now November (6 months), I have been working day and night on my new bag line. I never imagined how hard it would be to develop a whole collection from the bottom up. I sketched my own designs, picked my fabrics, my hardware, dealt with factory reps nightly on Skype (that’s why I am up so late), approved and disapproved samples, picked even more fabrics when the ones I originally chose were out of stock, designed my new logo, my hangtags, handled logistics, international wiring, customs, HS codes, cargo ships, financials, web design, HTML coding, product naming, photography, photo editing, photo shoot directing, bag styling, pricing, look books, line sheets, marketing, PR – OMG the list goes on but you get the idea. I have touched EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of the handbag business.
I believe that a true entrepreneur has to know his or her business from the bottom up and from the inside out in order to drive their business. I may not be the best at everything but at least I can do it and I know what’s going on. For this much, I am happy. Exhausted, need sleep, but happy. That’s why you guys haven’t seen frequent uploads from me lately and why you’ve been getting tweets from me at all hours of the day. Been working around the clock!
So I wanna get back to that corporate job I quit a year ago today. When I left, I think I was pretty bitter and over it. I never wanted anything to do with them again. But guess what? Just guess.
Okay, fine I’ll tell you.
Exactly 1 year later on the day I quit, a buyer from that company calls me and asks to sell my bags in their department stores.
…
I was like…”whhhattt!!??”
From being possibly one of the worst employees at that company to being a vendor that they want to pursue? Talk about coming full circle. Karma works in magical ways.
Haha, so I leave you with this. Work hard, follow you heart, and opportunities will present themselves in the most surprising forms.
Now presenting…
The 2012 oGorgeous and Flomme Collection
This is one of my fave fave gym bag designs! This bag is so much prettier in real life, the picture just does not do the intricate pleats and sparkle fabric any justice. You can’t tell, but the top of the pleats where that first “v” is – that’s actually a pocket! So clever and hidden huh?
As you can see, I made sure that the front and back of the bag are identical so that it does not matter what shoulder you wear your bag on – it will look identical. I don’t like bags that have an obvious front and a definite back. A bag should be 360 degrees of gorgeousness! One of the COOLEST features on the gym bags is the hidden yoga mat carrier. You can actually zip the vertical zippers up and slide your mat the whole way through. If you’re not a yoga or Pilates girl. the zip it down and that’s another pocket for you to use however you like.
Bright sweat-free lining is what oGorgeous is all about! Check out that nifty water bottle pocket and large netted pocket!
Oh you’ve got to check this out. From L to R, a lock loop so you’ll never misplace your lock, a key clip so you’ll never have to dig around the bottom of your bag, a cell phone/mp3 player pocket, and a jewelry window! (Uhh so yea, basically spending a lot of time traveling between classes and working out allows me to better understand the features that should be included in a thoughtful gym bag!)
Comes with a matching shoe bag!
Vent holes!!! So you will not stink up your new bag with sweaty clothes 🙂 The great thing about this bag is that it can be more than just a gym bag. It’s a handbag, a school bag, a laptop case, a travel bag, and well, maybe even a diaper bag! The possibilities are endless.
Pleated Pocket gym bag in Chrome Dazzle
Those are just some of the bags I have selected to share with you today. You should take some time and browse the new products on the oGorgeous.com site. There are a total of 18 new styles!!!! Let me know which bags you like and if you have any suggestions.
In conclusion…I am super tired and am about to die at the keyboard. I want to take a moment to thank my BF and my family for being so supportive throughout this journey. I look forward to an awesome holiday season. We will see what happens.
Good night and farewell POPsters. Til tomorrow!
<3 Cassey
45 thoughts on “New bags and a journey that’s come full circle”
There are Array45 comments posted by our users.
I am looking for a school bag and I seen on YouTube shorts your bag so I’m trying to find one that will be good for School
Would these bags acommodate a tennis racquet? I would love to use one for tennis! The tennis bags I find are so usually so ugly.
You could use the gym bag but then the handle would stick out if you’re ok with that!
It’s official….I’m in love with the Beverly Bow tie gym bag (dusty rose to be exact)! You inspire me Cassey and I hope to get my life rolling in the right direction as well I am having such a crazy year that has set me back, but I want to become stronger physically,emotionally and mentally! I will get back on my feet soon! Great job on these lovely babies!
What an inspirational story! I recently quit my job that I absolutely hated. Now I am in school part-time and trying to find a biotech job in S. SF… at the same time, I’m still unsure where I’m going. Hopefully, I can find my passion. I wish I can afford your bags soon because I would love to support you! 🙂
You will find your way. You may not be sure where you want to go but the best first step is to get away from where you don’t want to be.
I love your bags and your videos! Rock on 🙂
ooh gurl! I’m loving the bags; question though, what are the dimensions? I’m thinking of using one of the bags as a purse instead of a gym bag, since, well, I don’t go to the gym! However, I’m that lady who has a GIGANTIC purse that I’m constantly digging through trying to find keys, shoes (lolwat), lunch, etc. So the fact that these bags have nifty compartments AND a water bottle holder is amazing! There’s no question I’m buying one for myself for x-mas, I just can’t decided between the Beverly Bowtie in Dusty Rose (too cute!) or the Pleated Pocket in Chrome Dazzle (it matches my pocket book!)
OMG CASSEY YOUR BAGS LOOK AMAZING!!! YOU ARE AMAZING! i feel the need to capitalize my words to emphasize how truely amazing you are 🙂 you’re such an inspiration 🙂
greetings from the fiji islands 🙂
oh btw, do you ship to fiji?
she ships to every country 🙂
I have been following you on you tube for about two years now. I always loved and admired how happy and encouraging you were in you videos!!! The bags are sooooo cute!! I’ve always admired your bags but never bought one since I lived out in the country with my parents who had a fairly stocked home gym. However, now that I’ve married, moved, and I’m pregnant, the idea of having the most gorgeous but still useful diaper bag excites me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!Your bags are soooo coooooool!!! I love them so much!
“I believe that a true entrepreneur has to know his or her business from the bottom up and from the inside out in order to drive their business.”
favorite quote! totally agree! love u cassey ur amazing
sweetheart yoga bag ftw!!
im so happy for you:) congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished! i cant wait to buy it♥♥
Cassie!
I am so proud of you sunshine, they are AMAZING! I saw them last night when I randomly checked Ogorgeous, but I did not want to congratulate you and spill the beans!
xoxo,
Sara
Haha thank u!! U did not have to wait silly girl 🙂
I keep changing my mind (duh!) between the Black Sparkle and the Plum Crazy Zips gym bags. Today, I think I like the Black one better. I’m thinking that if I decide to get the Beverly Bowtie yoga bag later on, those two would make a nicer set together. I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll change my mind 15 more times before I get it, hehe.
Congrats, Cassey! Wonderful job.
yeah i can’t choose either… too hard i want them all :/ LOL i need to start a fundraiser for myself haha. man they are so frikin cute
Congratulations!! I love the bags (can’t wait to get one!) and I can’t begin to tell you what an inspiration you are to me and all of your fans!! I am changing my body one day at a time because of you, and I love the new and improved me!! 🙂
That’s wonderful to hear!
I love the chrome dazzle gym bag. It is so pretty and every detail is so organized, efficient, and pretty. I cn tell you put a lot of thought into this product. I have to have one!
Yes I need to catch up on sleep now bc if these bags!!!
Congrats Cassey!
I love every single one your new gym bags! I plan on purchasing one as soon as I can save up the money..
AND
Thank YOU for being sooo inspirational! Every time I read your blog I become more motivated to pursue my dreams.
Wow Cassey those bags are great, my favourite is the Beverly Bowtie!
I have a question concerning the Aqua one, are the straps really a different colour or does it just look that way on some pictures because of the light or the flash?
They really are a different color, more blue!
Is it leather? Or syntethic?
It’s pleather
WOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!
Cassey, the bags are amazing! And so are you. 🙂
Congratulations on this huge achievement!
Thank u!
Your bags certainly are OGorgeous. my fav is the gym bag in Aqua. 2 questions though;
1. what are the size dimensions of the bag? I do alot of travelling with work and wast wondering if i could use it as an overnight bag?
2. When you come to designing your next bag, please please do one in red (what we in the UK would call redbrick red), an ogorgeous gym bag in red would look fabulous!
and in grey!!!! like the purple one, the dark purple! Would LOVE one of those in grey.! Great work!!
1. dimensions of the gym bag are 15″ length by 12″ height by 9″ width when fully expanded.
2. red! I sure can if it’s in season :)! which bag would you want in red?
that size bag would be perfect for an overnight stay. I like the pink bag at beginning of this post, something like that in red would be cool.
wow your story is soooooo amazing.. seriously my best friend follows your site regularly and thats how i came to know about it. Anyhow so I am in the same boat of being lost about where my life is going and what the future holds but though in a completely different profession, either way its soo inspiring to read how karma has brought your life into a full circle!!! I mean that’s so awesome and motivational..So Good luck to you and hopefully I will buy one of your bags soon 🙂
What profession?
hi! Who is making these bags? I mean, sewing them? They are fantastic! DO you ship to Europe? HUGS
I have a trusted relationship with a company in Guangzhou who sews my designs. I do everything but the sewing though!
Oh and yes we ship to every country in the world.
Oh! great! do you know-sorry for asking, if in the customs they will check it or then here make me pay some difference?
If not! I am ON IT!
Congratulations! You are one hell of a woman!
Thanks! I am unsure what your country will do as far as customs…what country are u from?
From Sweden, but living in Germany right now so any of those countries would do..!
Oh my gosh! I am so very proud of you! You are definitely not just a fitness gal but also an amazing enterpreneur! What a great motivation!
Thank u! You’re amazing!!