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An American Dream (Aimee Kestenberg's Story)

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The Early Days…

I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. I was raised by two of the hardest working parents I’ve ever known, and both of them were the children of parents who survived World War II and immigrated to Australia. My mother is a dentist working in rural areas of Australia on people who can’t afford health care. My father has been an entrepreneur in the making from the age of 13. He worked from the bottom-up to support a family of 7 and I grew up really admiring how hard he worked for all of us. He is the strongest and most inspirational person in my life and has given me the strength I need to survive, understand business and believe that anything is possible.

Me with my immediate family in my home in Australia

Me and my Dad, my biggest inspiration

Not your average upbringing…

When I wasn’t in school or in one of the many co-curricular activities including painting, life drawing, ceramics and beading to name a few, I was traveling at age of 8 with my father who worked all over Asia and taught me the cultures in different countries while teaching me the many ins and outs of the importing business. By age 13 I had saved up enough money from the ice cream store I was working at on weekends, to buy the Adobe Suite, a computer aided design-program, which designers use to do everything from graphic design to prints and more. I taught myself how to use the program and started to design creative packaging ideas for the products my dad was selling. I was addicted and loved helping to grow the family business and the challenge of creating. From age 15 I spent all my spare time from school working as the in-house graphic designer for Gift Imports while traveling to Asia 4-6 times a year as an assistant buyer for my fathers business.

While I had the business education from my father, my grandparents included two jewelers and a seamstress, so I guess it’s safe to say that the fashion and accessory industry is in the blood!

I have always been hands on. This image was taken at the Magic Tradeshow in Las Vegas where I was sponsored by American Express to design and make a bag to a live audience at the show.

Me with my girls – My sisters Jade, Katie and Tammi and my mother Linda. My family are what drives me the most.

Nothing comes easy…

After graduating high school I was accepted into the Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology where I studied Industrial Design. I majored in design ergonomics and engineering. This included many forms of design and technologies really focusing on products that were not only aesthetically pleasing but products that addressed issues in the world that were in need of creative solutions.

Towards the end of my course, I still felt that I hadn't found my true love, what I really wanted to do in life. At that time, the TV phenomenon ‘Project Runway’ had aired in Australia and I was determined to study at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. I spent the next 5 months establishing a connection with the school so that I could apply. After a grueling application process I couldn't believe it, I was accepted. It was a dream come true and I had two weeks to pack up my life and move to New York City. The hardest part was leaving my family and moving to a new Country on the other side of the world where I didn’t know a single soul, but I knew this was my chance, my one time opportunity to make something of myself, give it my all to make it in the big city, the land of opportunity and make my family proud.

At Parsons being critiqued by Tim Gunn & Dean of Parsons The New School for Design, Simon Collins

Pushing through the hardest of times…

I landed in the big city, 20 years old, my life in my suitcase and in the middle of winter I moved right into a tiny room in the financial district with two other girls that I had met that day. It was the coldest and loneliest I had ever been. I didn’t let that stop me, the heartbeat of the city was viral, I knew that this was make-or-break and I had to fight for what I wanted.

The first few weeks were the hardest. Parson’s unlike most other colleges is one of the most competitive and cut -throat forms of design training in the world. You are up against some of the most talented and competitive individuals on earth. Every day that I pushed through the many sleepless nights made me stronger. Unlike some of my peers, as an international student, my place was not guaranteed and I had to keep up a 3.8 GPA in order to stay at Parsons. I knew that I had to make the most of every second I had in New York City as I needed to secure a top job upon graduation in order to be able to afford to stay in America.

At the Parsons The New School for Design Fashion Benefit Graduation featuring my Thesis collection. With Simon Collins, Dean of Parsons The New School for Design

Building the Strength to survive…

I knew that I had to find a way to stand out. I was determined to become the strongest in my field. I fell in love with the fashion industry and found that the combination of my fashion design and product design expertise made accessories design passion and my strength. I spent every second I wasn’t studying interning, apprenticing and competing in jewelry, handbag and shoe design. Over those three years I interned and designed for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Alexander McQueen, Sass & Bide, Jill Stuart and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week to name a few. I also apprenticed for a couple of years at the House of Couture being trained by some of the best in the industry. I was a three-time finalist and two-time winner of The Independent Handbag Designer Awards and was sponsored by American Express, Swarovski and the Singapore Government to showcase my designs at various fashion shows and events.

Me with my Swarovski award winning bag from the 2012 InStyle Independent Handbag Designer Awards.

These experiences were life changing for me and I will forever be grateful to the teachers and mentors who believed in me guided me along the way. There was one lady in particular who saw something in me and mentored me throughout my journey and who helped me push through the hardest of times, Helene. She was in charge of recruiting talent for Liz Claiborne and we met when I came in to intern for Isaac Mizrahi couture shoes. She helped me to realize that the people in life you should cherish most are those who are there for you and stand by you during the hardest of times.

Helene, my mentor and life long friend

Started at the bottom and now I’m here…

Upon graduating I was recruited by companies such as Vince Camuto and Li & Fung, where I met Sean, my business partner and now husband-to-be. Sean believed in my vision and passion to create an accessory brand that focused on designing and making leather handbags, footwear and accessories that were both fashionable, functional and high quality without being over-priced. Sean’s incredibly strong work ethic immediately appealed to me, and together we made the bold move to break away and start our own business. I took on the role of creative director, while Sean administered all business and finance sectors of the brand.

In the factory in New York City edge painting each of the pieces of leather on my first collection

I began by designing my first collection on the floor of our New York City apartment. Needless to say, it was quite the mess! We met various financial investors to help us to make our dream come to life, we had finally found the perfect partner and in November 2012, the Aimee Kestenberg Collection was born.

Hand sketching a style from my very first collection

One of the 2014 picks for the Forbes Magazine, 30 Under 30 to watch

Aimee Kestenberg, the brand…

The Aimee Kestenberg brand embodies my attitude and personal style. By creating accessories not only for their aesthetic look but also for their function, they are the magical combination for todays modern woman.

I customize all my leathers, exotics and hardware to ensure that each design is unique and an Aimee Kestenberg original. The brand offers the unique proposition that luxury designer product can exist at an attainable price. After one short year in business I am thrilled to say that my handbags are now sold in high-end specialty and department stores worldwide and I couldn’t be more thankful to those of you who support me along the way. Thank you for believing in me and for helping me achieve “The American Dream."