Member Spotlight: Cherie James
I started my career as a style blogger and stylist, and I've always loved animal print and the fact that it is timeless. Over the last 20 years I have collected faux fur animal print handbags and coats, so the transition into designing animal print handbags was a natural one. The next step in our story was serendipity. I met my business partner, Diane Simon, who had a background in production and operations with Vince and Ralph Lauren, on the sidelines of our daughters' high school field hockey games. We merged our skills and experience and launched Cherie James Collections a little over a year ago. We design, source and manufacture in the U.S. With vintage animal print pieces as our muse, we designed our bags to be for everyday. By refreshing these silhouettes of yesterday for today - and tomorrow - we hope that a new timeless basic is born.
Our mission is to use our handbag collection to bring the power of the print to every woman, every day, everywhere. The right accessory can make you feel so good that you walk with a new kind of self-confidence. We want to empower women to wear animal print as a neutral and to carry a fabulous bag - rather, a Cherie James handbag.
I learned about The Co-Co from friends of mine, who are friends of the founders, and I decided to join the night of a virtual Co-co gathering. I was so impressed by all the women that I met that evening that I just had to be a part of the community. I have met so many wonderful women who inspire me. I love the support and encouragement that we give one another, both personally and professionally. It truly feels like a home away from home.