Seattle native Tonya Hawkes graduates design school and begins her now-stellar career in New York City with fashion designer Donna Karan and eventually leaving behind her position as Vice President of Design - with a twist of fate, Giovanna Fur1anetto beckons Tonya to Europe to take creative helm as President of Design for renown Italian brand FU RLAbased in Bologna , Italy. Tonya raises the bar -incorporating her own Product Design & Business Development company in Italy, collaborating with prestigious brands such as: Sergio Rossi, Pollini, Gian Franco Ferre, Elie Tahari ,Tommy HilfigerEurope, Coccinelle, Balkier, Alice& Olivia, Desa 1972 and Aquatalia. Specializing in handbags, footwear and small leather goods. 'Designing bags found me, I wasn't looking for it" - Tonya Hawkes

Simultaneously she follows her life long dream of owning her eponymous brand - in 2012 Tonya launches her debut collection and presents it to Vogue USA - and with their support her brand is introduced to New York's top fashion retailers in collaboration with Vogue.com and was immediately positioned amongst the worlds leading luxury labels and her biggestdream begins to take form. Fashion heroines Giovanna Battaglia and Anna Delio Russo for W , Vogue Japan- Marie Claire, Elle, Flair, WWD, New York Post, New York Tlmes, Style.com begin supporting her the brand with editorials interviews and press events. Harper's Bazaar publishes 2 full-page editorial of her clutches in their October issue, all this years before the end of 2012. Today Tonya Hawkes brand has graced with 1 00's of beautiful editorials in Vogue US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, China, Russia, Arabia, Italy, Germany, Holland. Marie Claire UK, Italy. ELLE US, UK, Harper's Bazaar US, Russia, Brazil, China. "I can really take the best of both worlds and make all my dreams come true,' she says. 'And now it's time for my own label, Tonya Hawkes, to come to life." - Tonya Hawkes

Her namesake handbags have graced the red carpet of various events worn by celebrities like Solange Knowles, Alicia Keys, Mindy Kaling, Song Jia, Alexia Meyers and adored by the most influential fashion bloggers such as Louise Roe, Leandra Medine aka Man Repeller, Olivia Palermo, Paul Stella and Diana Pereira . Tonya finds her inspiration on to create through art, culture and travel. She teaches desi!Ji. branding and art direction in Italy's most respected design school in Florence- Polimoda passing do.vn her vast knowledge and expertise in fashion and design. Currently based in Bologna, Italy where she calls home with her husband and their two beautiful boys.