What if the bag you carry every day is quietly holding the story of your entire life?

In this episode of The Joy Club Podcast, Emily McCarthy sits down with her longtime friend Elizabeth Seeger, founder and creative director of Satchel, a Savannah-based handbag and accessories brand built on craftsmanship, function, and timeless style. Over a glass of bubbly, Elizabeth traces her path from studying fashion design at SCAD to a brief stint in LA after Hurricane Katrina, and the leap of faith that brought her back to Savannah to open her first storefront at just 23 years old.

Elizabeth shares the surprising, almost accidental origin of Satchel, sewing bags out of her mother's upholstery scraps, and the chance encounter at Hotel Bardo that led to her very first order. She and Emily talk about what makes a design worth keeping for twenty years, the products she's loved that never made it to production, and what running a business for nearly two decades has taught her about resourcefulness, intuition, and knowing when to ask for help.

The conversation closes on something deeply personal: what Elizabeth hopes every Satchel bag carries beyond its contents, and what joy looks like for her in this season of life.

This is a conversation about building something built to last, in business and in life.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome & cheers with Elizabeth Seeger
• 3:00 - From SCAD to Savannah: how Satchel's story began
• 8:00 - The upholstery scraps and the sale that started it all
• 19:00 - What building Satchel has taught Elizabeth about herself
• 32:00 - The story Elizabeth hopes every Satchel bag tells

Mentioned in this episode:

• Satchel handbags and accessories, Savannah, GA
• The Boho Jill bag

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Links: Emily McCarthy | Designer Fashion & Lifestyle Brand Joy Club Podcast on Instagram

1. Elizabeth Seeger
2. Satchel handbags
3. Emily McCarthy
4. Joy Club Podcast
5. Savannah Georgia
6. Handbag designer
7. Women in business
8. Craftsmanship and design
9. Small business founder
10. Behind the brand