| ABOUT THE DESIGNER |
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| Los Gatos, CA - Accessory Designer Blaney Aikman has always been a stand out. At 5’2”, the bright blonde-head with a admittedly strange, one-of-a-kind first name proudly bears a major surgical scar down the middle of her chest; the mark of five open heart surgeries. This all at the ripe old age of 30. Ms. Aikman was born with a congenital defect, transposing the two main arteries of her heart. It was between these early surgeries she learned sewing and crocheting from her mother. As dangerous as her condition was, it never held Aikman back from pursuing her dreams and career goals. “Quite the opposite! Life is too short not to follow your dreams. My heart condition has given me the drive, the courage and the appreciation of life’s opportunities,” she explains. Aikman’s handbags, clutches and purses, with fuzzy, furry fun designs with funky bold colors and unique patterns, appear as her alternative to the tried and tired fall/winter faux fur fashions. With handbag names like Red Rover, Purple People Eater and Mrs. Cookie Monster, Aikman elicits images of accessories carved from the hides of Jim Henson creatures instead of fake forest friendlies. Her products have been bought by Warner Brothers, debuting on the network’s primetime sitcom “Twins” with Melanie Griffith, Sarah Gilbert and Molly Stanton. Since then, she and her creations have been featured in films, both feature and short, online and in print, in fashion and designer shows. “Each one is entirely handmade, so you’ll never have to worry about seeing someone else with yours. It’s not something you would find at a clone-stamp store,” she reminds proudly. |
