We began 20 sentences that each person finished in their own words. Here’s what Jessica Marriott, Tantrum Handbags Designer had to say about music, Anna Wintour and everything in between.
Name: My name is Jessica Marriott. My maiden name is Haston.
Age: I am 42 years old.
Title: I am the Designer & CEO of Tantrum Handbags
Married/Single: I’ve been married for 14 years to my wonderful husband David Marriott.
Kids: I have boy/girl twins who are 7 years old.
Live: I live in Scottsdale and love Arizona! I graduated from U of A.
I was born…
in El Paso Texas. It was so much fun growing up there. We had many different experiences because it was so close to the border. For example, parents let us build a 2 story bonfire with railroad ties and light it on fire. When it fell, it fell into the Rio Grande. It was a great city to grow up in. Arizona and El Paso have one similarity in that they both have the same beautiful mountains that I can never be away from (except El Paso doesn’t have our cool Saguaro cactus’).
My favorite thing about Arizona…
is our weather. We live in Paradise, far away from huge natural disasters.
I’m listening to…
“Too Close” by Alex Clare, especially since he ate dinner at my sis’s house in Seattle before a show and Beyonce, “Run the world” because of girl power or internal power that we all possess if we harness it.
My family…
is spread all over the country. I was raised a pretty relaxed version of Judaism and now pretty much my entire family is super religious. I believe that everyone can talk to God where ever they are. I don’t need a place or rituals to be close to God. But at the same time if someone feels the need for them then I’m good with that too.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Anna Wintour to learn from her wicked sharpness, to get her support behind my brand or Nelson Mandela because I’d like to know more about how he was able to survive in such harsh circumstances..
One thing I cannot live without…
is Mexican food. El Paso has the best Mexican food, Avila’s is my favorite. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I love chip and salsa!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
what I’m doing now, have my own fashion company. When I was 19 I was Ralph Lauren’s first intern they hired me to work in their Women’s Executive Offices in Manhattan during the first Gulf War. I learned then that any brand or company could have struggles. There were protestors against the war on the street below his building and they were selling military wear.
I’m inspired by…
my kids, being kind and kind people. When my kids are kind to me or others it gives me hope for them and the human race. Or when someone else helps someone who’s worked really hard to get to the next step in their journey, just like Arizona Foothills Magazine is doing by coming to our press conference!
The one person who motivates me is…
my best friend Kasey. I’ve known her since elementary school. She still lives in Texas. We are a good support to each other because we both don’t like to complain and when we do, we help each other with solutions. We don’t EVER judge one another and feel completely safe to share anything.
If could change anything in the world, it would be…
that women really could be equal all over the world. Just the other day in Israel a woman was arrested for wearing a religious shawl (tallit). Any religion is for all people, including women. Judaism, Christianity, Muslim, Budism, Nudism etc. Hee hee on that last one.
The perfect day would be…
hanging with friends at my house with a glass of wine and some good food, on a ski trip with my family in Whistler, BC or somewhere in the Caribbean with my family, like Jamaica. We went to Jamaica for my 40th birthday. The people of that island were wonderful.
My first job was…
a lifeguard. I got paid to tan and back then didn’t wear any sunscreen. I was a lifeguard at the U of A too. Now I wear 50+ sunscreen.
My favorite escape…
is running. I call it motion meditation. I don’t run with music and my hair has to be pulled all the way back. I come up with some really creative solutions to problems I may be facing.
My life…
is so blessed. I daily remind myself of that, otherwise you can get caught up with the hurdles that come in the way of everybody’s life.
I’m currently working on…
taking my bags to New York, New Jersey, MASS, and DC for Bloomingdale’s shows!
Always…
believe in yourself. Think of where you want to be, how to get there, and never let anyone tell you you can’t. Everyone has doubts along the way, just “keep moving forward toward your goals,” told to me by the CEO of Macy’s Mr. Terry Lundgren.
Never…
say never.
Favorite Quote…
”Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Biggest Dream…
to have an a successful international fashion company. I don’t want to only make handbags…even though I L…O…V…E handbags.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
are people who complain, complain and complain their entire life. They complain about their life and never make any changes.
For more information on Tantrum Handbags, visit tantrumhandbags.com.
