For handbag designer Erin Dana Lichy creating sophisticated, luxurious and functional products at a reasonable cost is top priority. "We're really trying to be affordable luxury," Lichy told Uinterview exclusively. "All of our handbags are really well made, but we're keeping them very affordable. We want to bring beautiful products to everybody."

With a new Spring collection inspired by Colombian sunsets, Lichy's company Erin Dana hopes to bring a splash of pastel-infused color to your bag collection. "The color palettes within these sunsets were really pastel-y and just very beautiful," she told Uinterview. "So that's kinda where I got the idea. Let me do more of a color-base line." The line contains Lichy favorites, line signature the "Ellie" half-moon shaped clutch and the sleek, easy-to-carry belt bag. Other fall collection items include the Max tote, with or without croc embellishment, and the Billie crossbody bag.

Erin Dana is the lovechild of husband and wife team Lichy and her lawyer/DJ husband Abe Lichy. Lichy is trained in architecture and real estate development and handles Erin Dana's creative side, while her hubby works on the line's business end.

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UserMollyTrinkoff
Q: What can you tell us about the Erin Dana brand for a new buyer or new fan? - MollyTrinkoff

Well, our line is basically all leather handbags and we handcraft everything. They're all handmade. We're really trying to be affordable luxury. All of our handbags are really well made but we're keeping them very affordable. Our price points are from around $180 to $445. Even though sometimes it's a little hard, we never really want to go above that price point. We want to bring beautiful products to everybody.

UserMollyTrinkoff
Q: What are the inspirations for your new Spring collection? - MollyTrinkoff

I was actually traveling a lot last year, and, it actually sounds funny, but I would see these really gorgeous sunsets. I was worked in Colombia for a while, so I was back and forth and they had the most spectacular sunsets. The color palettes within these sunsets were really pastel-y and just very beautiful. So that's kinda where I got the idea. Let me do more of a color-base line, less of the standard. I was mixing prints, and I was doing high fashion, different colors, stuff like that. Also, we base a lot of our products on functionality. That's where we got the idea for the belt bag. You can wear it on your arm or on your waist.

UserMollyTrinkoff
Q: What are your favorite products? - MollyTrinkoff

The Ellie clutch is definitely up there because that you can wear it so many different ways, and it's so different. People stop me on the streets when I'm carrying it. But the belt bag, I'm obsessed with it. I find myself wearing it and being like, 'Where's my bag? Where' s my bag? Oh, it's on me now.'

UserMollyTrinkoff
Q: Do you have any advice for someone new to the business or just starting out? - MollyTrinkoff

I have to say, first of all don't get discouraged and believe in your product. Getting discouraged I think is so easy. When something gets messed up, or somebody who worked with you previously is no longer working out, and then you think, 'Oh my god, what am I going to do?' Just maybe forget it. I think that's maybe what happens to a lot of new businesses, but I think if you keep on going, you'll push through and eventually prevail.