TORONTO-BASED ACCESSORIES DESIGNER BROADENS HER APPEAL
Story by Reem Jazar
Photo provided by Jessica Jensen
Jessica Jensen exemplifies the smart, classic conventions found in her chic line of leather goods. After working for several premium fashion labels, including Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, her eponymous collection of elegant designs were well received when she first launched in New York in January of 2008. When Plaid caught up with Jensen at her Toronto studio, she graciously shed some light on the business behind the beauty, and the experience that sets her apart as a designer.
Jensen, a Ryerson University graduate, worked in accessories for over 13 years, marketing and designing, before she decided to start her own line. She said this gave her a professional edge when she launched her own label. “Handbags are the first basic element to any wardrobe,” she says. “A quality bag can definitely be a statement piece.”
Jensen attributes her early success to her mature perspective as a new designer, something she said buyers caught on to early in her career. “I really saw my business as a business, as opposed to just designing pretty things, and I think that was one of the professional advantages I had.”
Her design aesthetic focuses on clean lines with timeless colours and shapes. Her convertible totes are fitting and functional for all seasons, and understated appeal is a running theme within all her collections.
Jensen completed her S/S 2012 line with the inspiration of two very iconic women in mind. “Katherine Middleton’s royal sense of fashion played an integral role in forming the overall seasonal design and colour direction,” she explains. “I was further inspired by Jackie O’s leisurely days in Cape Cod at The Kennedy Compound, and her effortlessly chic American style.”
2012 seems to hold a lot of promise for Jessica Jensen fans, as the designer is set to launch Jessica Jensen Black Label. The line will be geared towards a younger clientele; “Jessica Jensen Black Label is more contemporary in style, more accessible in price, and each bag is designed only in black…. A must-have for every girl’s budding wardrobe.”
Jensen says she started off designing handbags because of the accessibility of the product. “Handbags are one size fits all, and it’s a good starting point as a designer…. I definitely view Jessica Jensen as a lifestyle brand and I do see myself branching out at some point.” When speaking of the recipe for her success, Jensen notes that “It’s really about a confident sense of style…. Our bags are quality, investment-worthy pieces, something that is timeless and could last in your closet from season to season.”
Jensen takes a great deal of pride in the workmanship behind her line. “I know the quality of my products has really improved over time,” she shares. “From the way I cast my hardware to the stitching, there is a great deal of longevity in each product.” Jensen attributes the inspiration behind her designs to women and her desire to bring a little bit of beauty into their lives. “People might think a sock is a sock, or a bag is a bag, and that is absolutely not the case when it comes to fashion. Every brand should look and smell like something, and speak to a certain girl.”
