CitS: At Couture in the Suburbs, we are all major handbag lovers. Can you tell us a bit about what makes a Tom Horn handbag so special?TH: Our bags are lifetime pieces that are timeless — our designs do not have a shelf life. They only become better the more you wear them. Simplicity is another word that describes our bags — there is not a lot of hardware or embellishments, it’s all about the high quality leather. All of our bags are made in Mexico, where most of the team is from. We support our local artisans. Our business is a family business where we nurture the idea of passing things down to future generations.

CitS: If you were to describe the ideal Tom Horn customer, what would she be like?
TH: Classy and elegant with a little ruggedness.

TH: Sheryl Crow, Annie Oakley, and Ricky Lauren

CitS:Where did the name Tom Horn come from?
TH: Tom Horn is the beloved Founder of the company. His passion for Mexico and commitment to craftsmanship were the foundation for creating the company.

CitS: What are your goals for your brand in the future? A year from now? Five years?
TH: Develop and grow the Tom Horn Collection into new markets and continue to honor Thomas’s legacy by remaining true to his dedication to quality, craftsmanship and his love of hand made leather goods that will last a lifetime. Lifetime pieces are the foundation that are meant to be passed down.

CitS: You are part of Phoenix Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer Program. What are some of the highlights of participating in this program?
TH: We couldn’t be more excited to share in all the incredible energy around this event. Our highlights will be showcasing our products at Style Villa. We will be there Thursday and Friday nights selling our bags. We are also very excited about all the runway shows. We will be teaming up with: Blackberry Maverick, Hues of Ego, Jacqueline Nicole, Kismit, Lilliane Lang, Schuylark and State Forty Eight.

Need tickets so you can be a part of Phoenix Fashion Week 2014? Get 15% off here through the Couture in the Suburbs ticket hub here when you use code EDUCATE.

CitS: What are you looking forward to most leading up to Fashion Week?
TH: The energy and anticipation leading up to PHXFW is incredible. We are excited about all the different connections we have made and will be making in the future. One of our favorite things is watching the runway shows with our bags in hands of beautiful models.