S9 Ep14 BAG CRAP: Amanda Marcuson, the founder of BAG CRAP, a vintage bag charm brand - on upcycling trinkets and vintage toys into one-of-a-kind handbag charms.
Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl
Release Date: 04/28/2025
Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl
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info_outlineOn today’s show, we’re chatting with Amanda Marcuson, the founder of BAG CRAP. Bag Crap is a vintage bag charm brand built on nostalgi and individuality
Amanda is a longtime vintage collector, with a love of treasure hunting that grew over the years as she spent countless weekends at estate sales, thrift stores, and flea markets searching for quirky items. She became a luxury handbag resale expert turned designer and charm curator. She uses vintage keychains and repurposed toys to transform nostalgic items into playful one-of-a-kind bag charms that celebrate sustainability.
Her business experienced the bag charm boom – she's been featured in several issues of VOGUE, GQ, and Nylon, and worn by style icons like Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.
But Amanda feels in her heart that her one-of-a-kind bag charms, made from trinkets found all over the world, are more than just a trend item – we get into it all! It’s a fun one, and I think you’re really gonna love it – so let’s dive right in!
DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- [5:43] How Amanda’s obsession with vintage handbags really began.
- [9:21] Was Beanie Baby the first resale trend craze?
- [13:04] While at FIT and in her fashion internships, Amanda was always crafting and upcycling.
- [17:33] She learned about authentication and running a small business while working in the luxury handbag resale industry, including at The RealReal and Heritage Auctions.
- [24:24] When the bag charm started to take off.
- [31:51] We’re hungry for the little things that make us happy, even just a charm on your bag that communicates your individuality!
EPISODE MENTIONS:
- @bagcrap
- Bag Crap
- “Vintage-lovers on Louis Vuitton x Murakami”
- Miu Miu kicks off the bag charm boom
- Lori Hirshleifer
- After Hours by Kiara Cooper
- Don’t Let Disco
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