For over 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to live in both New York City and Los Angeles and work on some really creative and interesting brands. It’s been a lot of international flights for trade shows, product development and inspiration shopping. A lot of sketching, shipping boxes and late night noodles. With a world wide vendor base and contacts, I’ve designed and developed product in the US, China, India, Italy, Mexico and Brazil.

I was born and raised just outside of New York City in Bergen County, NJ. My love of drawing sent me to the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore Maryland. While there, I took an interest in sculpture and worked with various tools and materials like wood, metals and stone. Post graduation, I moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in a course for footwear design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Instantly, I fell in love with the sculptural aspects of accessories design. While in design school, I worked as an assistant to a local handbag designer which had me schlepping materials from local leather suppliers to small-run manufacturers. This began my exposure to the handbag industry from a start-up level that has proved to be valuable experience as I furthered my career into large corporate settings and licensing companies. 

In 2021, I launched Per Lei New York, a small batch accessories brand from my home in upstate New York. I design and manage the product development, international shipping and try my best at creating content for social media.

I am currently working as a freelance accessories designer and welcome anyone that has an interest in working together to get in touch with me!

Rebecca