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Morgantown resident Gina Shields, creator and designer of the purse line Scigliano Designs, will open her own boutique Nov. 21. The boutique, located at 1344-B University Ave., will feature Shields' designs as well as jewelry from local designer Laura Thomas.
Shields graduated from West Virginia University in 2006 with degrees in textiles, apparel and merchandising and business administration.
She also studied for a summer at the world-renowned fashion school Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy.
The 26-year-old started Scigliano Designs in the fall of 2006 and has been designing bags ever since.
According to her Web site, www.sciglianodesigns.com, Shields "founded the business with the intent of deviating from the mainstream icons of fashion," and wanted to let each customer take control of her handbag's "‘purse'onality." The line consists of all handcrafted, original designs done by Shields in a variety of handbag styles, including clutches, wristlets, wallets and belts.
After working with the line for several years, Shields knew it was time to open her own shop.
"I realized that my purse business could potentially be successful," Shields said. "Morgantown was always the location I wanted for my boutique. It is an incredible location for small businesses and a place that I love."
Shields started renovating the future home of Scigliano Designs in August of this year by painting, replacing floor boards, rebuilding pillars and adding new light fixtures.
She then decked out the store with display cases and took the necessary steps to get all her business licenses.
While the boutique is solely Shields' project, she received help and support from her boyfriend, family and intern Amanda Gill that she said was vital to the completion of the shop.
"It was a team effort, and without their help this would never have been possible," Shields said.
After the boutique's opening, Shields will work to construct all her handbags right in the store. Each bag is a one-of-a-kind design, and patrons can have custom designs made upon request.
"Customers can enter the ‘design room' to customize one of Scigliano's original designs, flip through the latest fashion magazines or gather ideas from a trend forecasting book to design their own," Shields said. "The design room has a wide variety of high quality leathers and an assortment of fine textiles to choose from."
The shop will periodically offer discounts as rewards to regular customers. Shields hopes students will take advantage of the boutique's convenient downtown location and unique merchandise after returning from Thanksgiving break.
Some of Shields' designs can be viewed on her Web site. For more information on the boutique or designing a purse, contact gina@sciglianodesigns.com.
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