Founder and Artist
BSWANKY
Gretchen Bauer is the visionary behind BSWANKY, a Sarasota-based luxury handbag atelier crafting bespoke masterpieces, from exotic materials and 24k gold-plated hardware. A former interior designer turned fashion entrepreneur, she has built a brand that’s earned national acclaim and even a nod from the White House for pandemic-time innovation.
One of Bauer’s most proud moments was creating a $10,000 handbag, carried by Broadway icon Kristin Chenoweth. She enjoys giving back through partnerships with nonprofits like SPARCC, NPCF and Big Brothers Big Sisters, helping raise over $1 million through live auctions.