Meet Jovanna Robinson | Leather Bag Designer & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jovanna Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a leather bag designer. I make leather bags and accessories. It’s not everyday you come across a black woman that makes luxe leather bags that are well crafted. They are one of a kind. You won’t see hundreds of people walking around with the exact same Tonē Bekka bags.

I’m most excited about the upcoming collections. I just dropped the Butterscotch Collection and the pieces are fire. I’m now in position to get back to my creativity and I’m excited for what is to come.

I have gotten this far, by hard work, perseverance and dedication. I have bootstrapped my business and been giving it my all. I continue to create and put myself out there in networks and positions to be recognized. No, it has not been easy. Nothing worth having comes easy. Everything takes work! Not having investors, or a bank backing me has been hard. I just keep pushing. Working as much as I can, putting back into my business.

I have learned so many lessons along the way. One, believe in yourself, whether other’s do or not. You have to believe in you and that you are where you are supposed to be. Two, never stop learning. There is always room to grow, push yourself to be better and do better. If you have fully arrived then it’s time to move on. But there is always another goal to crush! And three, don’t be afraid of exposure. Put yourself out there. For people to find you, support you, and even critique you. When I was in Art School getting my degree in Fashion Design, we had critiques all the time. At first it hurt for people to give their opinion on my art. Something you put your heart and soul into. But hearing what other people think is good. It pushes you to be better and see things in another perspective. Don’t shun critiques.

I want the world to know Tonē Bekka! A dope bag brand of one of a kind bags, designed and made by a black woman. I love fashion and style and a great bag will always set your look on fire!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting for the week, we would go to lunch at RH Rooftop in Easton and enjoy the ambiance and take cute pictures together. We would have some fun in the evening before the sun sets riding scooters downtown along the river. We would take the kids to one of the Apple Orchards to pick apples and have some fun while we create memories with them. Then have a girls night out at the Mandrake, enjoy the scenery that’s perfect for great pictures and cap off the evening at a paint & sip so we can have something memorable to keep and remind each other of the good time we spent together.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family! My husband, children, parents and brother. They always believe in me and push me to keep going. Their support has been unmatched. My mother tells me all the time how proud she is of me, which has been hard to hear, because this year I have felt like I failed more times than I choose to count. But to hear those closest to me say they are proud of me, it gives me the push I need to keep going.

Website: www.tonebekka.com

Instagram: @tonebekka

Facebook: @tonebekka

Image Credits
All images are credited to Rance Robinson/Rob the Moment Photography.