Getting to Know...
Freddy & Ma
By: Pamela Pekerman, Bag Guru

Creating new bags, reviewing prints, ordering raw materials, accounting, blogging, and phone tag with editors – just another day in the life of Amy Pigliacampo, co-founder of Freddy & Ma, a made-to-order bag design company based online.

Founded with her brother Anthony in 2005, and voted 2006’s Best D.I.Y. Handbag by Accessories Magazine, Freddy & Ma is heating up faster than the recent BFF status of Britney and Paris. Amy says, “The pace seems frantic at times, but it's definitely worth it.” I sat down with this busy designer to get the scoop on her brand, working with her brother and what the future has in store. 

BagTrends: How did you conceive of the concept for Freddy & Ma?
Amy of Freddy & Ma: We were very intrigued by some of the companies that were offering mass customization products such as NikeiD and TimBuk2 and thought that it would be great if that same concept could be applied to handbags. We thought the idea of getting your own unique bag would be appealing to lots of people other than ourselves.

BT: What was the hardest part of starting the business?
AMY: Deciding what to do first! In the beginning there are so many variables and unknowns. We had countless cool ideas of what the brand could turn into, but we had to simplify it as much as possible to define a reasonable goal for the first year.

BT: What were you doing before Freddy & Ma?
AMY: Anthony, my business partner and brother, studied engineering and was working for a renowned design firm, IDEO, in California. I studied fashion design and worked in accessories and advertising.

BT: Freddy & Ma is a family affair. What’s it like to work with your brother?
AMY: Pretty amazing actually. Before this idea, we probably would have laughed off working together because our interests, skills and lifestyles seemed completely opposite. But, that's exactly why we're great partners. The Yin and Yang effect; our strengths are completely different and therefore we balance one another. We're also been arguing for our whole lives so we're pretty skilled at picking our battles and knowing when to give in.

BT: What’s behind the name, Freddy & Ma?
AMY: Freddy & Ma is a game that my brother and I made up when we were children. Those are the names we called each other and we pretty much imagined every thing around us to be exactly what we wanted. We made up plays, dances, stories, you name it. Every situation presented new opportunities for us whether it was a trip to the supermarket with our mom or hanging out at our parents' business in the summertime.

BT: How do you choose all your amazing prints?
AMY: We have a really talented group of designers, some of which we've sought out and some who have contacted us. Each designer brings their own unique style and ideas to the table and we work with them to make sure that we stay true to the F&M aesthetic while retaining the individuality of their work.


BT: What are your favorite prints? Favorite bag silhouette?
AMY: I'm really into feathers and bird motifs for spring. We have some really beautiful spring prints that will debut early next year. I think the bowler bag is my favorite, it's my standard day bag; it holds all of my stuff and can really take a beating.

BT: What is the most popular print ordered? Popular silhouette?
AMY: One of the most interesting things about our business thus far is that the same print/leather/silhouette has only been duplicated one time. There are so many possible combinations that the options are really endless for our customers. The bowler bag has done really well and so has the Hazel purse, my personal favorites. In terms of prints, black and white prints tend to be very.

BT: What can we expect from Freddy & Ma for Spring 2007 and beyond?
AMY: For Spring 2007 we are introducing a collection for retail stores, new silhouettes for our online outlet, and lots of new prints. Beyond that we are developing an all leather collection, new custom options, a great charity program that will benefit children, and plans for shoes and eyewear.

BT: If we opened your bag, what would we find?
AMY: Two notebooks, one for planning, one for drawing; a pouch for necessities like my DuWop lip venom, which I’m obsessed about, and Bare Minerals powder; my wallet; a pouch of receipts; iPod; 2 cell phones; sunglasses; and multiple metrocards. I see women with small purses and I can't imagine how they do it.

BT: When you hear the word “bag” you think…
AMY: SURVIVAL KIT

BT: Any words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs or designers?
AMY: Be flexible. You have to be willing to let your idea grow and change and not get stuck. It's the hardest thing I've ever done but I'm the happiest I've ever been. If you give something your best effort and stay with it long enough, you'll get it right.