JulieJulie was started in 2002 by Julie Lucas Rodenberg, a Ringling
School
of Art and Design graduate with a graphic design major.
Being an artist and
already set up at home to do graphic design
and monogramming, Julie has had
the opportunity to create her
own original bag designs and patterns, design and photography
for her website, graphic design, monogramming and sewing.
Julie had always
loved to decorate her own house with beautiful fabrics and sew
whatever item was needed (from curtains to embroidered baby bedding.) Since she had a great source of fabrics through her sister's
interior design firm
she was able to make her home just the way
she wanted it.
Julie and her
husband David have three young sons. When she noticed how hard
it was to find diaper bags and totes for boys she decided to
make her own. She
was excited to finally have one made from beautiful
fabrics and trim that
didn't look like a diaper bag. The oldest
son, Adam, is always asking what he can
do to help. Knowing that
his mom did not quite know how to go about selling
the bags at
first, he decided, completely on his own, to go up and down their
street with his clipboard. He took names of people that would
like to come to a
purse party and buy a ButtonBag. He actually
came home with a list of people
and their dogs who wanted to
come. Needless to say,
Julie was encouraged to go into business.
