Heeeey and welcome to the HMDH Academy blog!
What does HMDH stand for? Howtomakeadesignerhandbag.com! You remember us?
Our youtube videos have had over 2.5 million page views and 10,000 subscribers! We have taught (geez I really don’t know), millions how to make handbag patterns and how to put them together. We don’t post videos to youtube anymore, the last one was five years ago when we decide to start howtomakeadesignerhandbag,com.
How did we get our name? That was the question someone asked and we answered and the name stuck. Read more about us
We have taught hundreds and hundreds of students over the years here at Howtomakeadesignerhandbag.com, how to make top quality handbags at home. Many have went on to start their own handbag business and earn extra cash. Some of our students just like to make handbags for fun and for family, whatever your goal is we give you the skills to get there.
We have help men and women learn handbag design from Africa to Canada, from Asian to Europe. I believe that this simple skill can help people all over the world who don’t have access to this training and opportunity to learn and enrich their lives and their communities. Knowledge, creates opportunities and opportunities creates jobs and that helps the whole community.
Here is what a student from France said:
“I want to learn at home for later make and sale bags with a friends of mine. We haven ’t school like this in france, is so sad thanks.Véronique”
That’s why we do what we do and this how we do it!
HMDH Academy is an online school. We’ve been at it for about 5 years teaching handbag pattern making and construction. We teach you old fashion pattern making, all hand work, from the sketch, to the pattern, to putting the bag together, to finished product, the only thing you need the computer for, is to sell and market your creativity.
We provide you with support, individual attention and sometimes live classes. We answer each and every question, you can request a one to one, whatever level of support we can provide, we do. We have forums for every class, so you can look at past student’s questions and responses to those questions. Our student lounge is where students gather to show their work, ask questions and get feedback from students that are from all over the world.
Our video instructions are easy to understand, with notes, step by step instructions, running anywhere from 75 minutes to over 2 hours. They aren’t fancy they are simple, easy and down to earth. We teach every facet of handbag construction, soft, hard, day or evening, box, frame or making your own frames. We really do teach it all. It is he most intensive handbag course you will find on the internet. You won’t find a better start to discovering if handbag design is for you.
We have had hundreds of students over the years. Some have went on to open their own businesses, find employment and some just enjoy the idea of working with their hands and being able to make wonderful gifts for family and friends. What you decide to do is up to you.
The one thing we can promise, you will learn how to make handbags, leather or fabric, even alternative materials, doesn’t matter, we got you!
Here is what a new student posted today Oct 15, 2015 in the student lounge:
“Wow! You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for the vigorous response. Richard you should indeed be proud of the group you have taught and inspired. When I started working with leather four years ago I was really saddened by how much of a knowledge lost there was in this skill set. Even living close to NYC it was difficult to find resources that would teach modern handbag making, leather sewing and working with industrial equipment. Your initial youtube videos were a blessing and joining your academy has been even more so.”
That’s what we are about, preserving knowledge and passing it on.
“www.howtomakeadesignerhandbag.com teaches members how to price work,how to make patterns and design all types of handbags. Two accessories designers have developed the website-Richard and Linda Manigault-I recommend it to everyone involved in accessories. You will learn as much there as you would taking classes at any school.”
Michelle Lalonde Former professor F.I.T- NYC michellelalondeaccessories.com
Welcome to HMDH Academy!
We teach handbag construction and pattern making! Our goal is to give anyone no matter where you live a firm background in pattern making.
This is my first post, so I want to talk about handmade products.
A lot of people seem to be moving toward the internet in so many unique ways, creating a vast array of opportunities to move towards, what’s going to make them happy. For many learning and turning that training into a business or to do what they love, is the ultimate success.
I know starting this little school almost 5 years ago has been a dream come true for me. I love what I do!
Handmade items are hot in today’s fashion marketplace. Esty and many sites got their start by offering opportunities to the startup, the little two people companies, trying to navigate the global marketplace and make living at something they love to do.
So popular are handmade craft and products that Amazon recently announce a whole new platform to sell and market homemade items and introduced Amazon Handmade a few days ago to the chagrin of Etsy.
Handmade leather products are always popular items to sale, especially one of kind leather bags, totes and other accessories, many people buy patterns and make the same product in different fabrics and leathers. Learning to work with leather is easy and fun and in many places you can find small informal class to hone your skills. The more skills you have the more creative you can be, knowledge is the incubator for creativity.
HMDH Academy gives you the knowledge you need to be creative.
What you do with that knowledge and creativity is up to you, but one thing for sure you have more choices.
What type of sewing machine do you need? I have a Janome hd 3000. Do you have resources for bag hardware and supplies? Very interested in courses but wondering what supplies I would need to find . I live in a very small town andI would have no idea if I needed for instance leather where to get it. What is the best thing to do if I were interested in all 3 courses ? Does the 1 year plan include all courses? Thank you for the information
Hi Sheryl,
The sewing machine will depend on the material you will using to make your bags the heavier the material,the more machine you will need. For a home machine you can only use light material fabric basically. The most important thing when sewing leather is you’re sewing machine,a home machine will not give you the results you are looking for when sewing leather and will break down over time.If you are starting with a home machine, then fabric is the way to go. I suggest that all students start with fabric, it’s more forgiving then leather and less expensive, mistakes will be made. Once you have learn a little more and you feel like designing and making handbags is for you then you can upgrade to a commercial machine.
Here is a short list.
Fabric: Medium to heavy.
Pattern Paper- oaktag or poster board that students use in school. The paper should be stiff.
Steel ruler 24″
Scissors and utility knife or exacto knife.
Glue- this should be very good quality Rubber cement, if you have a Tandy leather or any place that sells sewing supplies for leather would be a good start. You can also go to Rocky Mountain leather, let them know you are starting a handbag class. That have a very nice glue that is not as toxic as rubber cement or a glue you can buy over the counter, it’s called Seika Leather Adhesive.
Cutting board
Think about the bags you would like to make, you will start with a tote, think about closures, like magnetic snaps, drop locks or turn locks.
To get ideas, go to Ohio Travel Bag, you can google them.
You can only start at the beginning course, all students start at the same level.
Richard
Thank you for the information Richard . Do you think this course would be beneficial for me even if I don t have the intention to make leather purses but stick to fabric ones ?
Hi Sheryl,
There is no difference between a leather bag and fabric bag, all the classes are meant for fabric first, most students who come here don’t have industrial machine. So the classes are design to start with fabric, if a student decides this is what the have a passion for then they invest in industrial machines, to make the process easier and faster.Pattern making is the same if you use leather, fabric, plastic or recyclables the techniques are the same. Thickness of the materials are the only variables.
Cheers!
Richard
Hello Richard,
I am so excited to get back to learning from HMDH! I signed up for the class earlier this year and shortly after my son had a horrific auto accident. I am just getting back to where I can focus on this class (so glad I purchased the go as you can, year, option!) I had only just made my first pattern templates then had to put everything on hold…but I am now back and excited to get started again.
I have been re-familiarizing myself with the site and course over this week and can’t wait to get things moving again.
Thanks for all you do for us!
D’Anna