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In 2015 the “BlackGold” Collection of handbags and leather cuffs was released in conjunction with the OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) in Houston, Texas held each year at the beginning of May. The BlackGold Collection launch event was one of the more risqué endeavors for Elizabeth Purpich Collection . GET INSPIRED. Inspired by the idea of Houston being the hub of the oil business we wanted to give a nod to the industry that has made Houston thrive as a city. Let us celebrate our city and incorporate the oil industry through fashion by playing off of the physical attributes to this very important resource. The collection consisted of handbags in sleek, textured, black patent leather and pebbled gold calfskin. It was a literal interpretation of the infamous line from the TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies” which coined the phrase for oil as “Black Gold” and “Texas Tea”. COLLABORATE. The BlackGold launch event consisted of performance art held in the lobby of the JW Marriott Houston Downtown . The launch featured artist Willy Gardiner and two fashion models. Gardiner painted “live” on canvas and on models by dripping paint and affixing gold leaf to both. MAKE A SPLASH. The idea was to grab the attention of the 100,000+ OTC attendees and it certainly worked. The handbag collection and the launch event symbolized the power of Houston as the epicenter of the oil industry through art and is one of the most fun collaborations Elizabeth Purpich Collection has done to date. HAVE FUN. Models Mary and Mirela got progressively colder throughout the event – as you would with having paint dripped onto you under an air vent. We tried to warm them up by giving them some hot coffee to drink which added a humorous element to the performance art and made for some great photos! credits... Models: Neal Hamil Modeling Agency MUA: Aubrie Layne, Lucky Cat Beauty Photos: Roswitha Vogler

Almost everyone I encounter while working a trunk show, traveling or casually having lunch, whether they are friends, family, customers or most of the time, perfect strangers, will at some point say something like this. "You should go on Shark Tank. That'll make all of your dreams come true." In their minds ABC's Shark Tank is the 'end all be all' and any entrepreneur worth a damn should try to apply and hopefully pitch their product/brand/business in the hopes a shark will bless them with the golden touch of sales, fame and fortune. After all, these are the goals of every entrepreneur, right? It is the American Dream to be famous and rich. So, what better way to prove you are something than to land a deal on Shark Tank with any one of the amazing investors, like: Mark Cuban , Lori Greiner , Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful , Robert Herjavec , Barbara Corcoran or Daymond John . (Disclaimer: My husband and I love watching this show and are obsessed. So this article is not throwing shade on anyone involved in ABC’s Shark Tank.) Lots of articles have been written about the pros and cons of doing deals with the sharks and all in all I think they are pretty accurate. However, there are a few cons that IMO are very important to consider such as loss of control and company values dissonance. (We will explore these topics in a later article. Be sure to leave comments and join the conversation.) Here are my TOP 3 reasons why we won't be on Shark Tank. 1. I care too much. It matters to me that the artisans and manufacturers I employ at Elizabeth Purpich Collection to make my luxury leather handbags receive a fair and responsible living wage and have safe and comfortable work conditions. How many times do we hear the shark ask the presenting entrepreneur, "What is the cost landed"? Landed. Think about it. Where is it landing from? Most likely a third world or underdeveloped country with cheap labor and low overhead. Who are the workers making your tangible product? Do you know who they are and how they live? Is this "landed" price a fair and moral price to pay a manufacturer for labor, materials, shipping and so on? Once the worker leaves the factory do you know where they go? What their house, apartment, shack, hut, makeshift dwelling looks like? Do you care? I appreciate stimulating an economy that brings more wealth and opportunity to its citizens and this is not to say that can't be done while also making a buck. However I can sleep better at night knowing I have directly impacted those in my supply chain by paying fair wages and ensuring labor standards. 2. I pay too much for my supply chain. These sharks want the best bottom line. Sure, the feel-good stories and missions of businesses are intriguing and help to sell the product or service, but let's be honest, it's still a for-profit business and if you could get a cheaper price on the same widget it makes business sense to do so. I pay more for my labor and materials because the value I place on an artisan's time and expertise is greater than most other entrepreneurs in my same position. The materials to make the luxury leather handbags may be available at a cheaper price but is it a fair price to the workers involved in the supply chain? We pay more for our luxury leathers and to our artisans in order to achieve quality products. Our customers know this and are willing to pay a higher price for the goods they receive. 3. I don’t want to be too BIG. They say: “What? You don’t want to be the biggest and therefore the best? That’s crazy. How can you have no ambition to succeed? Isn’t the whole point to make money?” My response: “There are more currencies in life than money.” Business as an Agent of World Benefit is a movement and philosophy I became to know while studying with David Cooperider at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University . The objective of this is to perpetuate the idea that affecting positive change in this world can be both financially and socially fulfilling. These are not mutually exclusive ideas, and I don't like to evaluate my self-worth or business health solely on the money. Success has many different forms and being scalable and big is not the only form of success. Shark Tank and other vehicles for connecting entrepreneurs with investors is such a wonderful service and we, as entrepreneurs are grateful for the different ways to launch and grow our businesses. While some avenues for success are good for some, it’s not a one size fits all solution and is not for Elizabeth Purpich Collection at this time. Feel free to leave comments and answer the question of what entrepreneurial success looks like to you. Is it to be on Shark Tank or be a household name? What is your idea of success?

Top 4 things to do in Houston this holiday season, according to handbag designer, Elizabeth Purpich.

College football season is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited at Elizabeth Purpich Collection . Just thinking about all the tailgating, travel and trunk shows has us smiling from ear to ear. College football is a time where friends, family and fans come together to support their respective school’s team in what will be a hopefully, successful fall season. There are many ways for fans to “win” during college football seasons besides just the scoreboard at the end of the game. If you’ve seen the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” then you will get the reference from Rosie Perez’s character, Gloria. “Sometimes when you win, you really lose. And sometimes when you lose you, actually win. And sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie.” Or something to that effect. Competition abounds on game day weekends for having the best tailgate, tickets to the game or for women, having the best game day fashion. Game Day Fashion has become such a huge market over the years and has led to some very creative designs, fun fashions and innovative styles. Women (and men) do not just have to decide between five t-shirts to wear to the game, but can choose from thousands of designs, just for t-shirts alone. When you factor in the many ways to dress for game day (dresses, separates, accessories, and on and on) the possibilities are endless. At many schools, especially in The South, dressing up for game day is a tradition. Women are not just simply wearing collegiate clothing. They are wearing actual designer fashions made with luxurious fabrics that is not just for game day, but also for every day. These upscale options allow for a more versatile wardrobe and have even started carrying over into everyday fashion. Women are not just wearing a dress in their school colors to be worn (at max) six times per year. They are seeking items that can be worn year-round and for many other functions other than football games. This shift in buying behavior for women isn’t only about utility and function and what makes most sense for the pocketbook. It is more than that. Women are, and have been, expressing their school spirit and team pride on all occasions and in ways like never before. Fashion apparel designers are slowly catching on to the opportunity before them and Elizabeth Purpich Collection is leading the way with its luxury handbag collections. Welcome to the era of Luxury Collegiate Fashion. Despite the limitations of the “Clear Bag Policy” for most football stadiums, Elizabeth Purpich Collection has designed luxury leather game-day wristlets which meet the size restrictions (4.5” x 6.5”) allowed for a non-clear bag. The new game-day wristlets by Elizabeth Purpich Collection are not only for the game, but also for everyday. The Italian leather and hide game day bags by Elizabeth Purpich Collection feature a leather wristlet and tassel in the school colors. The idea is not to replace the clear bag but to offer an alternative for those not needing a clear bag but only something small. The “Give em Hell Gameday” wristlets have quickly become the best-selling bags in the Elizabeth Purpich Collection “ WDE ” collection. Currently they are offered in orange and navy blue for Auburn University and some are in design for this season in maroon (Texas A&M University) and burnt orange (University of Texas) . Retailers like Montelongo’s Fine Jewelry in College Station, Texas have figured out the Luxury Collegiate market in the jewelry category and are a valued partner with Elizabeth Purpich Collection. You can find Montelongo’s Fine Jewelry and Elizabeth Purpich Collection in The George hotel in College Station, Texas. Other great partners in the Luxury Collegiate market for Elizabeth Purpich Collection include The Four Seasons Hotel Austin for the University of Texas and also The Collegiate Hotel at Auburn for Auburn University . It will be interesting to see where the Luxury Collegiate Fashion market goes next but be assured that retailers like Montelongo’s Fine Jewelry and designer Elizabeth Purpich Collection will be ones to watch and follow in the jewelry and handbag markets.