Portfolio: Multimedia & Accessories
ABOUT ME
I'm Marnie Jane Cooper, founder of MJC3 Studio and designer behind Jane Cooper and Marnie Bugs. I've always been a step ahead of trends. Born into a family rich with creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit, I've spent my career spreading happiness one accessory at a time as an independent American designer since 1999. My design ethos centers on timeless quality, versatility, comfort, and Made in the USA craftsmanship.
My lifelong passion for personal style began during a revolution in hair care in the '80s, with my parents' Nexxus Hair Care distribution company. I attended O'Farrell School for the Creative and Performing Arts in San Diego and then went on to college at Mira Costa College, where I studied Fine Art, Film, Philosophy, and Political Science. After college I moved to Austin, Texas, to excel in the beauty industry, becoming a highly sought-after independent manufacturer's rep. My first production design was born out of a need for something unique and easy to carry mini shampoo samples to a fashion event. When I finished this bag, made out of vintage fabric, I used a ribbon with a ladybug for the label; when people asked about the bag, I said it was a "Marnie Bug." It was after this fashion event that I started producing a collection of Marnie Bugs for my salon partners and boutiques in Austin.
After local success in 2005 with my wildly popular "Lila" bag, designed to carry my mini-Maltese with my shopping, I designed more silhouettes to create my first handbag collection featuring beautiful hand-selected Italian leather, hand-dyed cotton liners, and solid brass hardware. I then took the Marnie Bugs Classic Collection national, presenting the bags at shows in New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, and traveling to see my customers all across the USA.
I've always been very hands-on with every aspect of my business. Whether it's designing products, manufacturing, marketing, or customer service, I feel it's important to understand all facets of the design-to-market process. My inspiration comes from a love of nature, art, and history. My mother is a talented artist who encouraged me to find humor, to be curious, and to look for goodness and beauty along the road of life. I believe in the conservation of materials and incorporate "waste" into small leather jewelry and functional accessories like the dog leash strap attachment. My motto is "strive for zero-waste in production."
I've always been very hands-on with every aspect of my business. Whether it's designing products, manufacturing, marketing, or customer service, I feel it's important to understand all facets of the design-to-market process. My inspiration comes from a love of nature, art, and history. My mother is a talented artist who encouraged me to find humor, to be curious, and to look for goodness and beauty along the road of life. I believe in the conservation of materials and incorporate "waste" into small leather jewelry and functional accessories like the dog leash strap attachment. My motto is "strive for zero-waste in production."
MJC3 STUDIO
Today I run MJC3 Studio, a creative studio spanning three pillars: leather goods and accessories, app development, and multimedia storytelling. Under MJC3, my flagship brand Jane Cooper pairs accessories made from historically significant materials — voting booth canvas, peace buckles — with a companion documentary series exploring their origins.
I'm currently building the digital side of that story: a scan-to-unlock web app where each Jane Cooper piece ships with a serial number that customers scan to verify ownership and unlock its documentary episode as a digital collectible. I work across VS Code, GitHub, Supabase, and AI-assisted build tools like Lovable to bring these products to life, alongside Adobe Illustrator and After Effects for the visual storytelling.
AWARDS
2007 Texas Next Top Designer Recognition “Bags to Riches” The Fashion Incubator
2008 Awarded “The Made in Italy Tour” by the Italy Trade Commission
EDITORIALS & INTERVIEWS
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Park City Paper May 2005
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D Magazine July 2005
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Catwalk Magazine July 2005
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Where Magazine September 2006
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Oxygen Magazine August 2007
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Austin Monthly September 2007
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Brilliant Magazine December 2006 & March 2007
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Tribeza Magazine October 2009
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Channel 8 Fashionably Austin
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Interview August 8th, 2005
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Interview November 11, 2009
ART EXHIBITIONS
Marnie Bug’s Boutique Arcata CA| Series “Marnie Bugs All the Time” September 2016
Arts Alive Eureka CA | Series “Portraits and Self Portraits” December 2015
The C.I.A. Gallery Eureka CA | Series “The Good Red Road” October 2013
SHOWCASE ACCESSORIES
Showcase AccessoriesGirl Next Door |Austin, Texas February 2009
The Accessory Circuit at Coterie| NYC Show 2008
Item Showroom NYC | January to December 2008
The Collections at WSA |Las Vegas 2006-2008
F.IG. Market Dallas, Texas Spring 2008
Accessories The Show Javits NYC 2007
Mary Brennan Showroom Los Angeles 2007
Deniz Shoes |Omaha, Nebraska 2006
CALA Show |San Francisco 2005
Chicago Shoe Show2004
Shiki |Austin Texas 2002