Three Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Bonnie Dana Buchner

After working in the fashion industry for over 10 years, Bonnie Dana Buchner decided to set out on her own to create an American-made collection of luxury handbags and accessories. She always loved accessories because of their ability to instantaneously transform an outfit. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York and being of Chinese and Austrian decent, Bonnie has incorporated her engineering roots into her self-titled line, BDB.

Her brand features fresh takes on classic designs that perfectly capture the move towards modern elegance. All of the products are made locally in Brooklyn and New York City, including the luxury handbags which are produced in the Brooklyn Navy Yard! Bonnie’s goal is not only to support the local economy, she wants to show that US manufacturing is still among the best.

Bonnie shares her “3 Things” below:

Creative Inspiration is everywhere. Be prepared.
Now it seems I find inspiration almost anywhere (e.g. At dinner, in the shower, traveling, etc.), but I had to train myself to see these moments as the makings of an idea, rather than just passing observations. I also had to be ready to capture them, so now I carry a pad and pen everywhere I go. Breakthrough ideas can go as quickly as they come, so always make a note of them.

Build relationships with Mentors.
There are many great people in the industry, but it’s important to find a few core individuals you can really trust and look to as guides to elevate your skills and career. Once you find them, respect them and what they have to offer. Be a sponge and adsorb as much as you can. Their history and knowledge from past failures and successes is invaluable to your own future.

Pursue what you love. Dreams are only ideas we haven’t put into action yet.
If you feel strongly enough about an idea, put your heart into it and make it happen. The longer you wait to pursue a dream, the more time you’ve wasted. Being in the “right place” when you start a business is far less important than having the right mindset and a belief in yourself that you can start with nothing and turn it into something amazing.