From Puerto Rico to NYC, Victoria Sanchez-Lincoln’s Fashion Editorial Success

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<v Speaker 1>Hi and welcome to the Handbag Designer 101 podcast with your host, emily Blumenthal, handbag designer expert and handbag fairy godmother, where we cover everything about handbags from making, marketing, designing and talking to handbag designers and industry experts about what it takes to make a successful handbag.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Handbag Designer 101, the podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Victoria Sanchez-Lincoln, bienvenidos Joining us.

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<v Speaker 1>Live from Puerto Rico, I feel global, I feel fabulous, but not as fabulous as you look.

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<v Speaker 1>So happy to have you, so excited that I get to use a flex and say I know all these people and people like you, because you're always one of my favorites.

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<v Speaker 1>So, hello, hello, I'm a new senior.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, one of the complaints is I always interrupt.

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<v Speaker 1>So there you go, are you?

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<v Speaker 1>Where are you in Puerto Rico?

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<v Speaker 1>Today?

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<v Speaker 1>I'm in San Juan.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm in my apartment right now In San Juan.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, old San Juan or San Juan proper.

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<v Speaker 1>No, it's a little bit outside Old San Juan.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, old San Juan or San Juan proper.

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<v Speaker 1>No, it's a little bit outside Old San Juan, okay, okay.

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<v Speaker 1>See, I'm showing off.

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<v Speaker 1>That's as far as I can go.

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<v Speaker 2>That's it.

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<v Speaker 2>It's sunny day today here.

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<v Speaker 1>Blue skies, lucky you.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, we're recording right now and it's still summer, so it's hot here in New York.

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<v Speaker 1>You and I go back many, many years to when you were at a publication that is now defunct called Latina Magazine, and I chased you down because I had my little handbag brand called the Yasmina, and I was so hungry and determined to get it featured in the magazine because I thought it was the quinceañera golden golden accessory.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, I think, considering where we're, I'd say pretty close in age when you're pitching to a contemporary or someone who's close in age, I think there's a different kind of relationship, that at least with nicer people, because a lot of editors were, you know, on a high horizon, like I'm.

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<v Speaker 1>So you know I don't have the time, but maybe because you're Puerto Rican, but you were always really nice and you always took the time and you always replied, and this obviously predated social media and all that.

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<v Speaker 1>But I've had you speak to my students about how you got your start and it's probably one of my favorite stories, and I think the underlying theme of you is always be nice to everybody, because you never know Exactly I was just going to say exactly the same thing.

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<v Speaker 2>When you were saying that, I was like I'm always nice to everyone because, first of all, I like to be treated that way and you have to treat others how you want to be treated.

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<v Speaker 2>First of all, I like to be treated that way and you have to treat others how you want to be treated.

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<v Speaker 2>So, and I believe in being kind and supportive.

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<v Speaker 1>So you came to New York City for university.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, for Pratt Pratt.

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<v Speaker 1>I knew I was going to say Parsons, but I knew it wasn't Correct.

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<v Speaker 2>So had you been to New York before when you came Just to visit the schools?

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<v Speaker 2>The year before I went to see FIT Parsons, I did that mother-daughter trip to see the schools, but it was always New York.

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<v Speaker 2>There was only like one North for me.

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<v Speaker 1>It's funny, I had a lot of Puerto Rican friends growing up and it was like either New York or Boston.

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<v Speaker 1>It was like one or the other and that was it.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, for us it's usually Boston, DC.

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<v Speaker 2>Very rare ones go to New York because usually parents don't let them go to New York.

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<v Speaker 2>Like parents said no, but they just didn't have a choice with me, I was determined what number child, are you, so that's why.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, yeah, the first one went to St Joseph University in Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, they made her come back because she didn't do that my turn.

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<v Speaker 2>They were like you know what?

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<v Speaker 2>What?

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<v Speaker 2>Your sister, she didn't do that well, so we don't know about sending you.

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<v Speaker 2>I was like, wait a minute, we're two different people.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, absolutely not, and I was scared that they were gonna make me stay in Puerto Rico and I knew they didn't have a fashion design program so I knew at that time they didn't have a.

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<v Speaker 2>Now they have many different options, but at that time, back then in the 90s, they didn't have a fashion design program.

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<v Speaker 2>I think there was only one and it was in the South of Puerto Rico.

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<v Speaker 1>So why go to the South of Puerto Rico when you can go to New York?

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<v Speaker 1>That's the dumbest thing ever.

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<v Speaker 1>Come on, come on.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's the wrong commute.

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<v Speaker 1>We're not going south, we're going north yeah exactly, so I just want to like abbreviate the story because it's my favorite story ever so.

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<v Speaker 1>You were a design major, correct?

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<v Speaker 1>Yep, fashion fashion design major.

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<v Speaker 1>And you had a mannequin in your apartment, correct, correct?

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<v Speaker 1>after I graduated from college, my first apartment yes, right oh my god, that must have been interesting to ship home.

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<v Speaker 1>So you had this.

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<v Speaker 1>You graduated like.

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<v Speaker 1>What were you thinking?

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<v Speaker 1>Like, okay, I have to go back to Puerto Rico.

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<v Speaker 1>How do I stay here?

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<v Speaker 1>Because you're probably running out of time.

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<v Speaker 1>Right to come up with something.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, actually the way I went to practice.

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<v Speaker 2>My parents were like against me doing fashion design and going to New York.

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<v Speaker 2>I actually got a scholarship from the government of Puerto Rico.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a very specific program that is actually for people that have a disability and they choose a major that is challenging to their disability.

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<v Speaker 1>So did you know about this, or someone brought it to your attention?

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<v Speaker 1>I need to know this.

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<v Speaker 2>My grandmother actually found out about it and she was the one who told me, and because of her, I was able to get the scholarship.

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<v Speaker 2>Wow, my parents keep putting excuses on me about not sending me and I was like no, no, no, I'm going to figure this out.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, the excuse?

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, oh no, we spend that on your sister.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, okay, so here's my scholarship.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm paying for it.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh my god, abuela, for the win.

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<v Speaker 1>Huh, yes, yes and how.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, because I have a, my disability.

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<v Speaker 2>I had an accident when I was four years old and I can't use my right hand.

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<v Speaker 2>But but then fashion design is all about sewing, pattern making, tailoring, draping.

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<v Speaker 2>So you really need both hands for that Right.

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<v Speaker 2>And but I was so determined that I just how, yeah, I was like, I will figure it out.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, Did you ever feel because I think this is, you know, no, unless somebody is watching this over video, which I strongly recommend because Victoria is fabulous and beautiful and always glamorous and everything you think a fabulous Puerto Rican girl should be she's everything plus plus plus.

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<v Speaker 1>But did you ever think that this disability would be something that would ever stop you?

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<v Speaker 1>Or you always felt that it's just part of who I am and I'm just proceeding in business as usual.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, it's definitely a part of who I am and it's definitely that it has given me a very different point of view in life and that's how I see things and it's all the way through a positive lens.

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<v Speaker 2>When I had my accident when I was four years old, my mom wanted to do everything for me and I was like not doing anything and I'm too much of an independent, goal-driven person.

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<v Speaker 2>So I started achieving on my own little things, like I wanted to bathe by myself.

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't want my mom to put all over me and and washing me and stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>So I started figuring out how to do everything by myself and more like at four.

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<v Speaker 2>You were that motivated yes, because I didn't like her on top of me doing everything for me and I just started doing things and every time I will have a win, meaning I was able to do it by myself.

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<v Speaker 2>It just it was like fueling me up, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Such a fulfillment and I got such a rush from it.

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<v Speaker 2>So I was proud and also it always like, pushed me to well, what would be the next challenge?

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, so let's do a car wheel with one hand.

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<v Speaker 2>Now you know, like, things like that, and I will do everything.

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<v Speaker 2>But I always say part of it that was very important when I was growing up is that I went to this all-girls school here in Puerto Rico, which my daughter now goes to.

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<v Speaker 2>That's so funny.

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<v Speaker 2>The group of friends and my classmates and everyone there in that school.

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<v Speaker 2>They never, ever treated me differently and it was just business as usual.

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<v Speaker 2>They were the ones who always like, like, supported me and always lift me up and they were always my cheerleaders for things like you can do it, or yes, or like.

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<v Speaker 2>So that really made an impact in my life because that was my foundation to where I am now.

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<v Speaker 1>Right.

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<v Speaker 2>And I was able to graduate from high school and go to New York by myself and live in Brooklyn.

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<v Speaker 2>And I lived in Brooklyn for 26 years.

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<v Speaker 2>I went by myself.

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't go with any friend, I was by myself and I needed to make it.

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<v Speaker 2>I was determined that I was coming to New York, I was going to study fashion design and I was going to be great at it.

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<v Speaker 1>Did you feel the disability when you arrived at New York?

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<v Speaker 1>Did you feel like, oh, what if people look at me differently?

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<v Speaker 1>Was it something that you were like?

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<v Speaker 1>Was it on your head that that?

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<v Speaker 2>could happen.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, of course, it was in my head constantly and I have my little tricks that I've done all my life.

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<v Speaker 2>You know how you say that I'm like, oh beautiful and put together and all of that.

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<v Speaker 2>That's part of like what I call my superhero.

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<v Speaker 2>My cape is like.

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<v Speaker 2>I love putting myself together, I love fashion, but it always made me feel confident is the image and persona I put in front of people, and I'm more about look at me instead of look at me right, were you a righty before your accident?

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<v Speaker 1>yes, so you had to read, you had to reprogram everything, everything.

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<v Speaker 2>Everything, and my brain functions as a right hand.

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<v Speaker 2>You can tell if we are having dinner together.

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<v Speaker 2>You see that I always grab the glass of wine because, let's be honest, we're having wine.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's always on the right side.

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<v Speaker 2>I put it there, I take it from there.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't do this Right.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, yeah, wow, wow, I mean it's.

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<v Speaker 1>You know the landscape of people, you know everything.

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<v Speaker 1>It always gets repackaged with a different need for a different word, like at first it was disabled and then that was considered unacceptable, and then it was people with disability, and then that was unacceptable.

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<v Speaker 1>Now it's people with special needs.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's so funny.

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<v Speaker 1>And number one, I think it's now it's not.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's not a poor taste to talk about it, because it should be something empowering and not something to be ashamed of, because obviously life is very different now.

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<v Speaker 2>But it's wild because I never even noticed it, for people don't, and I think that's just because of where you are, a lot of people forget as well which sometimes I'm in situations and this happened even constantly with my, with my husband.

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<v Speaker 2>He will completely and I'll be like, no, but I need help with those boxes, I can't lift those, or anything like that.

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<v Speaker 2>He's like oh my God, I didn't even think about it.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, open that can for me.

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<v Speaker 1>Honey bunny Can't do that.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I have a special.

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<v Speaker 2>I still have the can opener that my roommate from college gave me.

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<v Speaker 2>I still use it.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh my god, that's wild.

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<v Speaker 2>She gave me an opener and scissors Because, again, I used to use right hand scissors.

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<v Speaker 2>I never used left hand scissors.

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<v Speaker 1>The lefties are out there, left in the cold man Nobody cares about.

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<v Speaker 1>You got to search far and wide for a lefty scissor, because I even remember in elementary school like the right hand scissors were one color and the lefty were like orange, and you'd have to dig, dig, dig, dig, dig through like oh bless your cotton socks.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know how you're gonna cut that.

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<v Speaker 1>Do it with your teeth.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, exactly so.

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<v Speaker 1>But I want to talk about what happened with the oh yeah, super of your building, because that is like one of the magical New York stories that I think is something to hang off of.

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<v Speaker 2>So I graduated from Pratt and I have to now move because I'm done with my scholarship that included room and board.

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<v Speaker 2>I need to move to an apartment off campus.

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<v Speaker 2>So I moved to my first apartment and while I'm moving, the super of the building was really nice to my mom and I and he was helping me and he saw me with my mannequin, my dress mannequin, and he's like, oh, you're in fashion and you know I talk to everyone.

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<v Speaker 2>Was he Puerto Rican too?

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<v Speaker 2>No, he is from he was Latin.

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<v Speaker 1>No, too, no, he is from.

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<v Speaker 1>He was Latin, no, no, this whole time I thought that you were.

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<v Speaker 2>It was like a Spanish wow, suriname, oh, wow, okay, suriname, or Trinidad and Tobago one of those.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, not for anybody who's listening.

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<v Speaker 2>We're not grouping them together, just no disrespect, sorry, just geographically we're grouping them in terms of being close it just happened that I've had two supers in my life and they were both called hal and they both similar, so one was from serena and the other one from trinidad and toago, so I'm confusing with that, but okay.

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<v Speaker 2>So Hal, on moving day he was helping me and everything and I wanted to be thankful, so I made him a cake and then I invited him over for coffee and cake.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm sure no one had ever done that.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the thing.

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<v Speaker 2>No one had ever done that.

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<v Speaker 2>But I'm Latina and I'm warm, I'm welcome, and I was thankful and we started chatting over my coffee cake and he was like so what do you do?

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<v Speaker 2>Blah, blah.

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<v Speaker 2>And at the time I was working at Oscar de la Renta as a knitwear designer and I said but it was my passion.

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<v Speaker 2>So I was like, oh, you know, I'm looking for a fashion job, blah, blah.

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<v Speaker 2>And he's like oh, I think there's a lady in this building that I think works in fashion.

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<v Speaker 2>I'll introduce you to her.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, you know one of those things you're like okay, thank you, yeah, yeah, yeah, he actually made an appointment with her.

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<v Speaker 2>He stopped by my apartment and told me Friday at 11, you have an appointment with her.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm like oh, okay, he came and picked me up Friday at 11 and took me to her door and she happened to be the editor-in-chief at that time of Mode Magazine which was Rest in Peace Mode Magazine.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh gorgeous.

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<v Speaker 2>It was just like a Vogue glossy magazine, but for plus-size women, which I always had a special place in my heart for her.

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<v Speaker 2>That was my beginning.

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<v Speaker 2>My sister was 10 months apart and she has been plus size all her life and I've always styled her, so I knew how to engage with this editor and she's still, to this day, my mentor, by the way Wow.

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<v Speaker 1>I was supposed to have a two-page feature on the month that it shut.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it was like March.

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<v Speaker 1>It closed it was November.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a random month that it was shutting down Because it shut down after September 11 happened?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, so the October issue was the last issue and mine was supposed to be in November.

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<v Speaker 1>So that was it.

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<v Speaker 1>It was probably because of you too, the what.

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<v Speaker 1>It was probably because of you too.

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<v Speaker 1>I remember working on that.

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<v Speaker 2>November, probably because of you too.

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<v Speaker 2>I remember working on that November issue because we did it.

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<v Speaker 1>Then it must have been whatever.

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<v Speaker 1>They didn't take it to print.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that was the issue we worked on it and then they didn't.

00:17:06.132 --> 00:17:08.359
<v Speaker 1>I remember they had the shoot.

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:12.518
<v Speaker 1>I got all the thumbs up, Oof, yeah, it's so funny.

00:17:12.518 --> 00:17:17.565
<v Speaker 1>As a designer, all you can keep thinking about is yourself like screw the magazine, screw the people out of a job.

00:17:17.565 --> 00:17:20.601
<v Speaker 1>Like that was a two page feature.

00:17:22.503 --> 00:17:24.848
<v Speaker 2>But how things work out.

00:17:24.848 --> 00:17:26.250
<v Speaker 2>I ended up okay.

00:17:26.250 --> 00:17:26.632
<v Speaker 2>So wait.

00:17:26.632 --> 00:17:39.257
<v Speaker 2>So I end up meeting Corinne Corbett, the editor in chief, and she offered me to visit the magazine because I wanted to see how they work and everything, and, of course, I spent the entire day in the fashion department.

00:17:39.257 --> 00:17:45.839
<v Speaker 2>At the end I thanked her for the opportunity of spending the day there and I told her that I wanted to be a fashion editor.

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.244
<v Speaker 2>And she's like okay, hold on.

00:17:48.244 --> 00:17:53.885
<v Speaker 2>To achieve being a fashion editor, you have to go through so many steps.

00:17:53.885 --> 00:18:00.067
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, she's like, but there is a fashion internship in the fashion closet If you want it.

00:18:00.067 --> 00:18:01.218
<v Speaker 2>I was like, I'll take it?

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.461
<v Speaker 1>Was it unpaid?

00:18:02.461 --> 00:18:03.965
<v Speaker 1>$5 an hour?

00:18:03.965 --> 00:18:05.477
<v Speaker 1>How did you?

00:18:05.477 --> 00:18:07.442
<v Speaker 1>Were you still working at Oscar de la Renta?

00:18:07.442 --> 00:18:09.460
<v Speaker 1>You couldn't do both, so I had to quit.

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:11.380
<v Speaker 1>So what were you doing for money?

00:18:12.414 --> 00:18:13.221
<v Speaker 2>Living $5 an hour.

00:18:13.221 --> 00:18:13.489
<v Speaker 2>Couldn't do both, so I had to quit.

00:18:13.489 --> 00:18:13.676
<v Speaker 2>Oh, so what were you doing for money?

00:18:13.676 --> 00:18:19.751
<v Speaker 2>A living, uh, five dollars an hour, yeah oh my god wow, eating at all the events.

00:18:19.751 --> 00:18:21.253
<v Speaker 2>I didn't have to spend the money.

00:18:21.253 --> 00:18:23.298
<v Speaker 2>All the fashion events, that's my dad.

00:18:23.778 --> 00:18:35.798
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I remember those events and stockpiling though they were not for the faint of heart, and it's like you would bring a bag, I think, like whatever gift bag they'd have, I would remember putting food in to take home.

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.803
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it was the way.

00:18:37.823 --> 00:18:46.894
<v Speaker 1>I think those were the scrappy days like oh yeah if you ever wanted to start a handbag brand and didn't know where to start, this is for you.

00:18:46.894 --> 00:18:52.688
<v Speaker 1>If you had dreams of becoming a handbag designer but aren't trained in design, this is for you.

00:18:52.688 --> 00:18:57.346
<v Speaker 1>If you have a handbag brand and need strategy and direction, this is for you.

00:18:57.346 --> 00:19:05.965
<v Speaker 1>I'm Emily Blumenthal, handbag designer expert and handbag fairy godmother, and this is the Handbag Designer 101 Masterclass.

00:19:05.965 --> 00:19:22.526
<v Speaker 1>Over the next 10 classes, I will break down everything you need to know to make, manufacture and market a handbag brand, broken down to ensure that you will not only skip steps in the handbag building process, but also to save money to avoid the learning curve of costly mistakes.

00:19:23.035 --> 00:19:33.679
<v Speaker 1>For the past 20 years, I've been teaching at the top fashion universities in New York City, wrote the Handbag Designer Bible, founded the Handbag Awards and created the only Handbag Designer podcast.

00:19:33.679 --> 00:19:40.240
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to show you like I have countless brands to create in this in-depth course, from sketch to sample to sale.

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:50.422
<v Speaker 1>Whether you're just starting out and don't even know where to start or begin, or if you had a brand and need some strategic direction, the Handbag Designer 101 Masterclass is just for you.

00:19:50.422 --> 00:19:54.277
<v Speaker 1>So let's get started and you'll be the creator of the next it bag.

00:19:54.277 --> 00:19:58.586
<v Speaker 1>Join me, emily Blumenthal, in the handbag designer 101 masterclass.

00:19:58.586 --> 00:20:10.615
<v Speaker 1>So be sure to sign up at emilyblumenthalcom slash masterclass and type in the code podcast to get 10% off your masterclass today.

00:20:10.615 --> 00:20:11.955
<v Speaker 1>Get 10% off your masterclass today.

00:20:13.397 --> 00:20:19.144
<v Speaker 2>But I ended up in short time being the senior fashion editor.

00:20:19.144 --> 00:20:23.548
<v Speaker 2>So I remember that Interned to senior fashion editor very quickly.

00:20:23.548 --> 00:20:26.291
<v Speaker 2>It was something that it just made sense to me.

00:20:26.291 --> 00:20:27.936
<v Speaker 2>It was like logic for me.

00:20:27.936 --> 00:20:43.111
<v Speaker 2>It clicked how editorial works and I was able to grasp it very quickly and I became an asset for the department and most people most editors don't even study fashion design, I know.

00:20:43.111 --> 00:20:53.737
<v Speaker 2>So that was something that I brought to the table, where I know history of fashion, I know the terminology and everything, so I was able to implement those things as well.

00:20:54.398 --> 00:21:14.615
<v Speaker 1>Do you think now, in today's editorial, where so many magazines have folded and most publications are digital and, if they have a print, there's so few that still do print, most editors are people who come out of the gates with a social media following and that's how they get picked.

00:21:14.615 --> 00:21:27.105
<v Speaker 1>That must be some sort of like conflict in your soul based on who you still identify, as you have no idea that your pronouns are writer, journalist, stylist.

00:21:27.105 --> 00:21:28.347
<v Speaker 1>So I know that.

00:21:28.567 --> 00:21:45.669
<v Speaker 2>So yeah, I mean when the whole social media started with Instagram and everything, our publishers did not allow editors to have our social media accounts and promote brands.

00:21:46.309 --> 00:21:47.131
<v Speaker 1>We weren't allowed to.

00:21:47.131 --> 00:21:51.040
<v Speaker 1>I remember, I remember, I remember too yeah, it was a conflict of interest.

00:21:51.762 --> 00:21:53.691
<v Speaker 2>I remember I do too.

00:21:53.691 --> 00:22:06.708
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it was a conflict of interest Meanwhile, which I think this is where they missed the boat, because then all these influencers that did not have the experience Correct Became the fashion influencers and then brands were going to them.

00:22:06.708 --> 00:22:17.940
<v Speaker 2>I remember one time Coach all of the stuff solid did a whole brainstorm work summit with fashion influencers for the next collection.

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.423
<v Speaker 2>I was like what?

00:22:19.423 --> 00:22:22.269
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm like.

00:22:22.269 --> 00:22:24.375
<v Speaker 2>I went to fashion design school.

00:22:24.375 --> 00:22:35.729
<v Speaker 2>I've been an editor for over 10 years at the time, but you're gonna get the person who so tells me it, girl.

00:22:35.910 --> 00:22:37.174
<v Speaker 1>I, I get it, I get it.

00:22:37.174 --> 00:22:53.776
<v Speaker 1>It's something that I personally have challenges with, because I can speak to a room of 200, 500 thousand people without batting an eye, but putting a phone in front of myself to record myself talking about anything, I just never felt comfortable.

00:22:53.776 --> 00:22:59.826
<v Speaker 1>Because I talk about handbag designers, I talk about independent designers.

00:22:59.826 --> 00:23:03.621
<v Speaker 1>I say that the brands that are already established don't need me.

00:23:03.621 --> 00:23:05.866
<v Speaker 1>They have other people doing their heavy lifting.

00:23:05.866 --> 00:23:08.319
<v Speaker 1>They're not looking to me, they're looking to other people.

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:13.020
<v Speaker 1>It's the designers that need that amplification.

00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:14.395
<v Speaker 1>Those are the ones that come through me.

00:23:14.395 --> 00:23:21.538
<v Speaker 1>That people ask who do you recommend for the shoot for this piece, this editorial, to carry in our stores, etc.

00:23:21.538 --> 00:23:24.924
<v Speaker 1>But how did you end up at Latina?

00:23:24.924 --> 00:23:27.516
<v Speaker 1>Because you went from Latina to InStyle.

00:23:28.298 --> 00:23:31.864
<v Speaker 2>Yes, latina went load folded in September 11,.

00:23:31.864 --> 00:23:36.162
<v Speaker 2>Latina at the time was looking for a fashion director, but I didn't know it.

00:23:36.162 --> 00:23:49.523
<v Speaker 2>The editor happened to heard that mode went under, so she looked at the masthead to see if there was a Latina on the masthead and all of a sudden she sees Victoria Sanchez Lincoln.

00:23:49.523 --> 00:23:51.557
<v Speaker 2>She's like, well, there's a Sanchez in there.

00:23:51.557 --> 00:23:52.019
<v Speaker 2>And she sees Victoria.

00:23:52.038 --> 00:23:52.460
<v Speaker 1>Sanchez-Lincoln.

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.540
<v Speaker 1>She's like well, there's a Sanchez in there.

00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:55.904
<v Speaker 1>I was going to say it's very misleading that.

00:23:55.904 --> 00:24:09.230
<v Speaker 1>You know, and nowadays, as I'm sure you know, outside of Puerto Rico, outside of Spain or any other country, americans don't have hyphenated last names, although kids growing up now it's much more prevalent.

00:24:09.230 --> 00:24:16.281
<v Speaker 1>But the Lincoln part, I mean when anyone meets you, I just assumed that I was like she's either latin or she's married or she's one of them.

00:24:16.281 --> 00:24:17.644
<v Speaker 1>So it's like which one?

00:24:17.644 --> 00:24:20.238
<v Speaker 1>Is it so lucky you had the sanchez huh?

00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:28.959
<v Speaker 2>that's an interesting story with my last name, because my mom made us hyphenate our name since we were babies.

00:24:28.959 --> 00:24:34.847
<v Speaker 2>Because she's the lincoln, she's the Lincoln, she's the Lincoln, she's the Lincoln.

00:24:34.847 --> 00:24:36.190
<v Speaker 2>How close.

00:24:36.190 --> 00:24:44.901
<v Speaker 2>And it's because we actually come from Abraham Lincoln descendant, a collateral descendant.

00:24:44.901 --> 00:24:47.163
<v Speaker 2>So she's like you guys are the last ones.

00:24:47.163 --> 00:24:49.222
<v Speaker 2>No, you have to hibernate.

00:24:49.222 --> 00:24:54.501
<v Speaker 2>We have to keep this alive a little longer, you're descendants of Abraham Lincoln.

00:24:55.084 --> 00:24:57.973
<v Speaker 1>A collateral descendant, again a collateral descendant.

00:24:57.973 --> 00:25:08.348
<v Speaker 1>I don't want to get into what that means, but I'm sure that's another story for a different kind of podcast, but I'm definitely intrigued, wow that's why it's hyphenated, so they they can't cut it off.

00:25:08.348 --> 00:25:14.392
<v Speaker 1>So my father is the sanchez, well picked up on that, so wait a second.

00:25:14.392 --> 00:25:18.501
<v Speaker 1>So she went through the masthead, found a Sanchez lucky for you, swear day.

00:25:18.501 --> 00:25:21.595
<v Speaker 1>And she was like hey, girl, you got nothing to do.

00:25:21.595 --> 00:25:22.256
<v Speaker 1>Want to come over?

00:25:23.037 --> 00:25:29.345
<v Speaker 2>no, actually she was in LA she doing a shoot and she saw the masthead.

00:25:29.345 --> 00:25:41.823
<v Speaker 2>At the same time I was sending to everyone, in the masthead in every single magazine, my resume, because I wanted a fashion job at a magazine.

00:25:41.823 --> 00:25:43.606
<v Speaker 2>So I was sending it to everyone.

00:25:43.606 --> 00:25:50.002
<v Speaker 2>So I had sent it to Latina, not only the fashion director, but also managing editors and editors.

00:25:50.002 --> 00:25:50.763
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:25:50.763 --> 00:25:56.391
<v Speaker 2>And all of a sudden I get my answering machine.

00:25:56.391 --> 00:25:58.643
<v Speaker 2>At that time I had an answering machine, of course you did.

00:25:58.643 --> 00:26:08.942
<v Speaker 2>And all of a sudden it's the editor saying that it must be like a Serendipity or something, because she's like I was about to call you.

00:26:09.494 --> 00:26:17.207
<v Speaker 2>When I get to my office, I have your resume on my desk and she leaves me this long-winded message on my answering machine.

00:26:17.207 --> 00:26:21.184
<v Speaker 2>She's still one of my best friends to this day.

00:26:21.184 --> 00:26:25.419
<v Speaker 2>I still work with her on occasion and she's still my mentor.

00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:38.083
<v Speaker 2>Wow, we clicked and she made me fashion director of Latina, and I am the only person at the age of 23 that became a fashion director in New York.

00:26:38.083 --> 00:26:39.183
<v Speaker 2>Wow.

00:26:40.405 --> 00:26:41.527
<v Speaker 1>Wow, Lucky for you.

00:26:41.527 --> 00:26:44.530
<v Speaker 1>You're fabulous, so and smart, that too.

00:26:44.530 --> 00:26:55.103
<v Speaker 1>So I want to, before we keep going into the land of Victoria, not to be confused with Victoria Amelia, who's your daughter, which I live for the hyphens it's my favorite thing.

00:26:55.103 --> 00:26:56.506
<v Speaker 1>How?

00:26:56.506 --> 00:27:01.063
<v Speaker 1>Because I really want to bring this back to handbags in some shape or form.

00:27:01.063 --> 00:27:19.138
<v Speaker 1>So the reason why we connected is because I was pitching you and I thought you had a really really and this sounds cheesy, but I thought you had a really unique angle in terms of how you look at accessories, how you look at handbags and I don't know.

00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:27.869
<v Speaker 1>You gave me good advice on how to pitch and I actually we spoke to Lauren Parker recently, who's a B2B business to business publication.

00:27:27.869 --> 00:27:31.942
<v Speaker 1>She always has, but you've always worked for business to consumer commercial pubs.

00:27:31.942 --> 00:27:42.526
<v Speaker 1>I would love you to share some insight in terms of how an editor looks at product, and this is independent of affiliate links or any of that stuff, what you need today.

00:27:42.526 --> 00:27:46.143
<v Speaker 1>But how do you think somebody should pitch an editor?

00:27:46.143 --> 00:27:51.239
<v Speaker 1>What do you think are some tenets that designers can follow that you look for and you still do with clients?

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:56.968
<v Speaker 2>Well, before I get to that one, I will tell you why I love your product so much.

00:27:56.968 --> 00:28:02.785
<v Speaker 2>When you pitched it to me, you had a very innovative construction in your design.

00:28:02.785 --> 00:28:04.248
<v Speaker 2>I did it was patented.

00:28:04.248 --> 00:28:13.948
<v Speaker 2>Yes, I remember that and I thought, being from design background, I thought it was genius how you did that purse.

00:28:13.948 --> 00:28:14.949
<v Speaker 2>That went over that.

00:28:14.949 --> 00:28:21.986
<v Speaker 2>It was like a hand jewelry thing and it was amazing to me that was the research.

00:28:23.167 --> 00:28:25.776
<v Speaker 2>I thought that was very out of the box and that's what editors like to look for.

00:28:25.776 --> 00:28:29.880
<v Speaker 2>They want out of the box and that's what editors like to look for.

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:32.262
<v Speaker 2>They want out of the box.

00:28:32.262 --> 00:28:36.767
<v Speaker 2>But it needs to be practical, it needs to serve a purpose.

00:28:36.767 --> 00:28:41.832
<v Speaker 2>So yours definitely served that purpose and it was unique.

00:28:41.832 --> 00:28:54.805
<v Speaker 2>And then you made it in all these colors and in beads and it was like an array of yeah, yeah, yeah, like Baskin Robbins choosing the, the flavor, which one you want, you know.

00:28:54.805 --> 00:29:00.464
<v Speaker 2>But that was what caught my eye and my interest as an editor.

00:29:00.464 --> 00:29:05.036
<v Speaker 2>I was like endless options, function, innovative design.

00:29:05.036 --> 00:29:06.018
<v Speaker 2>The price point was good.

00:29:06.018 --> 00:29:09.625
<v Speaker 2>I look at all the things I look at price point was good.

00:29:09.625 --> 00:29:12.190
<v Speaker 2>I look at all the things I look at price point.

00:29:12.190 --> 00:29:26.307
<v Speaker 2>I always like how is and this is coming from my experience at Real Simple but how do I serve that consumer trying to get out of their house every morning?

00:29:28.536 --> 00:29:39.151
<v Speaker 1>And that's why it's so important that designers know their customer and know the customers of the publications or the mediums that they're pitching, the stores they're pitching.

00:29:39.151 --> 00:29:48.411
<v Speaker 1>I can tell you and I'm sure you've dealt with this before that designers who create bags that are thousands of dollars or $800.

00:29:48.411 --> 00:29:55.342
<v Speaker 1>And it's like I could maybe feature that once in a one-off, but it's not something I'm ever going to be able to do, ever again.

00:29:55.963 --> 00:30:01.499
<v Speaker 2>Yes, and being at places like real simple and even in style, and all of that.

00:30:01.499 --> 00:30:05.567
<v Speaker 2>It was like, okay, you have to think about the consumer.

00:30:05.567 --> 00:30:10.542
<v Speaker 2>This is not their only thing that they're spending on some of families.

00:30:10.542 --> 00:30:21.558
<v Speaker 2>Some of them might need to spend more on the couch that is going to be enjoyed by the rest of the family and it's not a single purchase that it's for them only.

00:30:21.558 --> 00:30:27.508
<v Speaker 2>So all of that I will put in my filters of picking an accessory.

00:30:27.508 --> 00:30:32.402
<v Speaker 2>I look for design, function, price point all of that.

00:30:33.243 --> 00:30:52.623
<v Speaker 1>Do you know one thing that was always challenging as a designer and I always felt this was probably one of the biggest issues that if you are a small business or a designer and you pitch an editor now, chances are you're not changing your handbags, your product, every season.

00:30:52.623 --> 00:30:54.121
<v Speaker 1>There's no reason, right?

00:30:54.121 --> 00:31:01.920
<v Speaker 1>If you pitch an editor and they say no and you pitch it again, they're like I already said no, why are you pitching this to me?

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:07.401
<v Speaker 1>Or if they've already featured it, they say I've already featured this, don't send me the same thing.

00:31:07.401 --> 00:31:14.442
<v Speaker 1>And I always struggled with like, well, this is my product, there really isn't much for me to change.

00:31:14.442 --> 00:31:24.921
<v Speaker 1>I'm hoping you'll still consider it for something else, because I see other bags that are featured same time many, many times, and I thought that was always something challenging.

00:31:24.921 --> 00:31:32.665
<v Speaker 1>You know how to re-present a product if it's already been pitched, whether it was a no or a yes.

00:31:33.267 --> 00:31:36.932
<v Speaker 2>So I think, okay, many things on that.

00:31:36.932 --> 00:31:44.016
<v Speaker 2>Sometimes, when it's a no, you really need to look at what publication you are targeting.

00:31:44.016 --> 00:31:52.801
<v Speaker 2>But it really makes sense, because sometimes, when you're your own owner of your own brand, you cannot see beyond certain things.

00:31:52.801 --> 00:31:57.064
<v Speaker 2>You're like, oh, I might read the best and I'm like, yes, but is it the best for the publication?

00:31:57.064 --> 00:31:57.984
<v Speaker 2>I know you want to be?

00:31:57.984 --> 00:31:59.506
<v Speaker 2>Let's just put it out there.

00:31:59.506 --> 00:32:03.167
<v Speaker 2>I know you want to be in Vogue, but is it realistic to be in Vogue?

00:32:03.167 --> 00:32:05.955
<v Speaker 2>Right, is your product more good?

00:32:05.996 --> 00:32:09.403
<v Speaker 2>Housekeeping Right, more simple, you know more lifestyle.

00:32:09.403 --> 00:32:13.144
<v Speaker 2>So you really need to be realistic about your product.

00:32:13.144 --> 00:32:13.926
<v Speaker 2>And you know what?

00:32:13.926 --> 00:32:21.162
<v Speaker 2>There's nothing wrong with that, because then you start building equity yeah, get it featured in those places.

00:32:21.162 --> 00:32:36.779
<v Speaker 2>And then you keep going and as a brand, you're going to keep evolving and you're going to get to a point where maybe the product you started with becomes something else and that something else might be the one that it will be the one featured about.

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:44.258
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, might be the one that it will be the one featured about.

00:32:44.258 --> 00:32:56.520
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, if you're an emerging brand, why not start getting featured, getting your brand awareness and really pitching realistic to where you really see it like, really look at the stories they do, at what they feature.

00:32:56.520 --> 00:32:59.545
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, because it's not about what you want.

00:32:59.545 --> 00:33:06.701
<v Speaker 2>It's more like does the product align with what the magazine is doing?

00:33:06.701 --> 00:33:08.164
<v Speaker 2>That whole outlet.

00:33:08.990 --> 00:33:22.098
<v Speaker 1>I think that's such sage advice, especially coming from someone not only who understands construction, understands fashion, understands from an editorial perspective, but also likes to get fancy herself.

00:33:22.098 --> 00:33:54.394
<v Speaker 1>It's kind of like you're your own customer of typically what you're pitching, right, yeah, so I want to touch upon because I think your story is you know, you were always somebody who was never selling a product, you were essentially selling a service, and I think your ability to pivot so gracefully probably didn't feel like it, but from the outset it looked like wow, and now she's a didn't style, and now she's a real simple and wow, now she's moved back to Puerto Rico.

00:33:54.394 --> 00:34:06.522
<v Speaker 1>So and we reconnected as a result of one of your lovely customers, one of your clients who we had in the podcast, the mother-daughter duo, who are fabulous Talk a little bit about you.

00:34:06.522 --> 00:34:15.934
<v Speaker 1>Know what you're doing now and how, as a publicist, you work with designers and brands and what you look for as somebody worthy of representing.

00:34:16.894 --> 00:34:17.255
<v Speaker 2>Okay.

00:34:17.255 --> 00:34:30.340
<v Speaker 2>So because I've been an editor over 17 years, I'm used to working with PR people, so for me the transition was a little bit natural.

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:44.235
<v Speaker 2>The person I always talk to to get product from to feature in the magazine is always the publicists, but I would often see the mistakes they make in pitching.

00:34:44.235 --> 00:35:00.242
<v Speaker 2>I would get pitches that, as I said before, it didn't make sense for the publication or it became too traditional PR, honestly is like, honestly, the only thing I need to know is price point.

00:35:00.242 --> 00:35:01.764
<v Speaker 2>Where is it sold?

00:35:02.565 --> 00:35:05.476
<v Speaker 2>The why of your product is general safety.

00:35:05.476 --> 00:35:15.835
<v Speaker 2>I mean sell me on the why and then give me price point, color availability and, nowadays, affiliate market, affiliate program, you know.

00:35:15.835 --> 00:35:30.518
<v Speaker 2>And I don't want a huge press release on the story on your client because as editors we get so many emails.

00:35:30.518 --> 00:35:36.673
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so what I like to do as a publicist is do the job for them.

00:35:36.673 --> 00:35:39.159
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, because I I've been on that end.

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:49.978
<v Speaker 2>Let me give it to you in bite size bullet points like quick, but in the way that I know how you're going to translate it into your publication.

00:35:49.978 --> 00:35:51.836
<v Speaker 2>That's how I do my pitches.

00:35:51.836 --> 00:35:56.056
<v Speaker 2>I don't do them traditionally, like how it's usually done.

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:58.655
<v Speaker 1>I think that's true.

00:36:00.012 --> 00:36:19.317
<v Speaker 2>They do copy and paste, yeah, yeah, especially locally in Puerto Rico, when we put out our press releases, literally it's copy and paste, even how we structure it and how it's structured in my email with the images, even in that order, and everything.

00:36:19.317 --> 00:36:22.275
<v Speaker 2>They don't even they don't change anything about it.

00:36:22.275 --> 00:36:28.115
<v Speaker 2>They're like, okay, she, they did it for us because they know that we have editorial background.

00:36:28.115 --> 00:36:40.565
<v Speaker 2>That's how we put the voice, the messaging and everything in the press release, which in other other publicists might still be too traditional in the PR format.

00:36:41.289 --> 00:36:43.369
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that is so interesting.

00:36:43.369 --> 00:36:44.835
<v Speaker 1>And what do you think?

00:36:44.835 --> 00:36:47.077
<v Speaker 1>What if a brand does not have affiliate links?

00:36:48.670 --> 00:36:52.480
<v Speaker 2>Okay, so that's really hard nowadays.

00:36:52.480 --> 00:37:04.081
<v Speaker 2>To be honest, I hardly take any clients that don't have it, and if not because I don't want to, it's because nowadays is the sad reality.

00:37:04.081 --> 00:37:12.704
<v Speaker 2>Wow, I have to have an exceptional product where everything is top tier.

00:37:12.704 --> 00:37:23.072
<v Speaker 2>Your message, sustainability, social responsibility, message, sustainability, social responsibility.

00:37:23.072 --> 00:37:45.577
<v Speaker 2>I mean everything needs to check the boxes for them to consider it, because they're not going to get a commission out of it and nowadays, publishers have had so much lost in the revenue, in ad revenue, that this is the way they're making the revenue and they need the stories to performance and if the stories don't perform, there's no digital outlet.

00:37:45.577 --> 00:37:53.480
<v Speaker 2>So the church and state that used to exist before now is very much blended in.

00:37:54.141 --> 00:37:59.250
<v Speaker 1>Wow, yeah, because anything that's put out has to answer a why and how is this making money?

00:37:59.250 --> 00:38:01.153
<v Speaker 1>This is content.

00:38:01.153 --> 00:38:02.456
<v Speaker 1>This is something pure.

00:38:02.456 --> 00:38:04.782
<v Speaker 1>I will not be affected by my advertisers.

00:38:04.782 --> 00:38:10.891
<v Speaker 1>Now it's like well, if we have advertisers, they need to be part of the story one way or another, absolutely.

00:38:11.210 --> 00:38:11.751
<v Speaker 2>They make us.

00:38:11.751 --> 00:38:12.494
<v Speaker 2>They make us.

00:38:12.494 --> 00:38:16.581
<v Speaker 2>So same thing with Amazon.

00:38:16.581 --> 00:38:25.418
<v Speaker 2>You have to produce certain amount of stories of amazon, because amazon gives the most commission wow, that's crazy.

00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:28.565
<v Speaker 1>Wow, this has been like enlightening deluxe.

00:38:28.565 --> 00:38:39.358
<v Speaker 1>Can you just share just a little bit more about what kind of handbag brands you think are interesting to you nowadays and what do you think is hitting and being responsive?

00:38:39.358 --> 00:38:40.581
<v Speaker 1>I'd love to hear.

00:38:41.382 --> 00:38:44.635
<v Speaker 2>Oh, interesting, because I could go either way.

00:38:44.635 --> 00:38:49.541
<v Speaker 2>I could go in luxury or I could just anything that I like.

00:38:49.541 --> 00:38:51.168
<v Speaker 2>You know, that's how I have my closet.

00:38:51.168 --> 00:38:59.436
<v Speaker 2>I have Chanel, louis Vuitton, but then again, maybe some of my Zara pieces are my favorite, I mean my go-tos.

00:38:59.436 --> 00:39:09.155
<v Speaker 2>You know One brand that I'm really loving right now and I'm going to say it wrong, I'm going to pronounce it the wrong way, because I don't know how to pronounce it Loewe.

00:39:09.757 --> 00:39:11.960
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's Spanish.

00:39:12.601 --> 00:39:16.498
<v Speaker 2>Yes, I know, but when you speak it in English you don't know.

00:39:16.518 --> 00:39:20.498
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, no, I actually agree with you.

00:39:20.498 --> 00:39:24.519
<v Speaker 1>I think Luay Faye is, and I'm not a labels person.

00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.442
<v Speaker 1>I struggle with that.

00:39:25.442 --> 00:39:31.143
<v Speaker 1>But anything that comes out of that brand is always unique and it has its own mess.

00:39:31.143 --> 00:39:32.494
<v Speaker 1>It has its own DNA.

00:39:32.494 --> 00:39:38.342
<v Speaker 1>There's like cool things about it that make it not so standard.

00:39:40.193 --> 00:40:02.385
<v Speaker 2>Yes, and I always like because my personal style I could be very classic, but there's always a fashion twist to what I wear and I feel like Loewe has that classic design but it always have a little bit of an architectural edge to it.

00:40:02.385 --> 00:40:06.061
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I love that combination.

00:40:06.061 --> 00:40:12.101
<v Speaker 2>That's what makes it from average classic to classic with a twist.

00:40:12.422 --> 00:40:21.070
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, victoria, how can people find follow you, hear your words of wisdom, work with you other than going to san juan, puerto rico?

00:40:21.773 --> 00:40:24.016
<v Speaker 2>oh, yeah, absolutely, and everyone welcome.

00:40:24.016 --> 00:40:41.795
<v Speaker 2>I'm on instagram, victoria sanchez underscore lincoln, because they didn't let me have a hyphen, and I'm also vsl underscore consulting, or my website, victoriasanchez-lincolncom.

00:40:41.795 --> 00:40:43.032
<v Speaker 2>Thank.

00:40:43.072 --> 00:40:46.018
<v Speaker 1>God for the hyphen on the website Oof, oof.

00:40:46.018 --> 00:40:50.112
<v Speaker 1>It must be the hyphen Learning that you're a byproduct of Abraham Lincoln.

00:40:50.112 --> 00:40:52.018
<v Speaker 1>Now, that's a story to tell for the next one.

00:40:52.018 --> 00:40:54.356
<v Speaker 1>Thank you, it's been, fue un gran placer.

00:40:54.356 --> 00:40:55.460
<v Speaker 1>Muchisimas gracias.

00:40:55.460 --> 00:41:00.434
<v Speaker 1>I'm so happy to have you, as always, and definitely follow Victoria for some good nuggets.

00:41:00.434 --> 00:41:05.956
<v Speaker 1>The next time we're going to have a follow up about Puerto Rican fashion, because I know we can learn a lot from you.

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.983
<v Speaker 2>Sure anytime.

00:41:08.965 --> 00:41:09.807
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening.

00:41:09.807 --> 00:41:15.161
<v Speaker 1>Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on every single platform at Handbag Designer.

00:41:15.161 --> 00:41:16.023
<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much.

00:41:16.023 --> 00:41:17.052
<v Speaker 1>See you next time.