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  3. The 2015 Independent Handbag Designer Awards: Vote For Your Favorite!

The 2015 Independent Handbag Designer Awards: Vote For Your Favorite!

By Christina Shanahan
Updated May 13, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
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Talk about global domination: Designers from around the world submitted their finest creations to the 9th Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards, run by Handbag Designer 101 and sponsored by InStyle, and 40 finalists in eight categories made the cut -- the biggest year yet in the awards' history. Now we need your help choosing the best of the lot. Click through the gallery, then vote for your fave design. The winner of the special InStyle Audience Fan Favorite category will be announced in a ceremony in N.Y.C. on June 17.

Vote now in the Independent Handbag Designer Awards!

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The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Carla Lopez
Designers: Emilia Arzua and Carla Lopez
Hometowns: Ferrol, Spain and Pontes, Spain.
Inspiration: "This handbag becomes the centre of attention of any outfit. The simplicity of forms presents a metaphor about the use of the space. This piece, thus, becomes in a jewel handbag but it makes no concessions to functionality."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: ELLIA WANG
Designer: ELLIA WANG
Hometown: Guangzhou, China Inspiration:

"All my handbags are designed and handmade in Savannah, GA. I began by studying origami techniques, then design ideas, paper samples, revisions and finally leather samples. Each bag went though a revision process. I made at lease 3 different pattern sets and samples for each in order to tested out the best structure and ensure a look that is unique and functional."

Love it? Vote for this bag now at our handbag poll.

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The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: CARMEN CHEN WU
Designer: CARMEN CHEN WU
Hometown: Valencia, Spain
Inspiration: "We work out of premium handbag studio and sample room in New York, and our bags are designed with constant feedback from the experienced craftsmen at the shop and constant experimentation in both 2D and 3D. This first collection of handbags is created by exploring the properties of nubuck leather."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Alexa Jay
Designer: Indre Jakumaite
Home country: Lithuania
Inspiration: "We actively promote a 'flirtatiously colorful' attitude and way of life. I come from recruitment background and started the label with no training or knowledge. I worked hard to learn everything there is to learn about designing and making handbags and also what it takes to build a business from scratch."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Mandy Chang
Designer: Mandy Chang
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Inspiration: "My goal is to push limits on handbag styles that are brought into the workplace. Working under the parameters of fitting papers and a laptop, my designs utilize subtle yet intriguing angles to draw attention, and exude the poise and polish that fit in the boardroom."

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The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: deWolfe
Designer: Gina DeWolfe
Hometown: Boylston, MA
How are your bags produced?: "I make them all myself in my small Boston studio."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Kabo Leather
Designer: Boris Matveev
Hometown: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
How are your bags produced?: "I make and design the bags by myself."

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The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Sataya
Designer: Kamon Satayaphanitkul
Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand
How are your bags produced?: I make all of my bags in my studio at home.

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Christina Chi
Designer: Christina Banjo
Hometown: London, UK
How are your bags produced?: "The bags are designed in London and we then work with our artisan, Yassine El Artesano, in Spain to produce our bags. We believe our collaboration is unique and makes the design process very inspiring."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: WILLaCY NY by Kamilah Willacy
Designer: Kamilah Willacy
Hometown: New York, NY
How are your bags produced?: "I have made every initial design under my Kamilah Willacy Signature Label. This allows me to help explain and show production staff how to make it, should I need volume pieces done. When I get a bespoke request,it is always  me who has made it by hand. Every minaudière or evening clutch is made by hand and cannot be done any other way due to the unique materials and process used to create it."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT Most Socially Responsible Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Eileen Garcia
Designer: Eileen Garcia
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
What makes your brand socially conscious?: "We visit the village where our bags are made everytime we start a project and design together all the participants. It is somewhat difficult because some of them do not speak Spanish, they speak in local dialects,  so we explain with drawings and mockups to make sure everybody understands and gets involved in the project. We also recommend other designers to work with them."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT Most Socially Responsible Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: DOIZPE
Designer: Dora IZQUIERDO
Home country: Mexico
What makes your brand socially conscious?: "DOIZPE works with indigenous women from Pachuca and Merida in Mexico. These women create the cloths and petate used on the handbags."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT Most Socially Responsible Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Forteza
Designer: Lea Forteza
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
What makes your brand socially conscious?: "Lea Forteza believes in the idea of team work. She works closely with her workers and artisans. She believes that the energy which each artist emanates can help the creativity and can notch it up a level higher.  She is also a firm believer of the fact that a good and creative idea can come from anyone even if it is a local artisan who has learned from you and works for you on petty tasks."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT Most Socially Responsible Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Leonor
Designer: Ana Maria Plata
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
What makes your brand socially conscious?: "We work directly with the native woman from the Kuna tribe, to buy from them the Mola fabric pieces that we use to design and construct our handbags and shoes. We buy what they create without interfering with their designs."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT Most Socially Responsible Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: O'Eclat Designs
Designer: Gbemisola Johnson
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
What makes your brand socially conscious?: "According to World Bank, 60% of the Nigerian population live below 140% of the poverty line, which is close to two dollars per day. So we help alleviate poverty in our own little way by employing young skilled  artisans who might have been on the streets jobless and paying them to help sustain themselves and their families."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The KLEAN KANTEEN Best Green Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Deneau
Designer: Hanna Varner
Hometown: Metro Detroit, MI
Inspiration: "I create products with materials that are sourced locally and are 100% recyclable. The quality of materials used in the market today pushed me to create a line that is socially responsible and high quality that my consumer would be proud  to wear year round and for years to come."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The KLEAN KANTEEN Best Green Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: GUNAS
Designer: Sugandh Agrawal
Hometown: Pune, India
Inspiration: "Making a 100% vegan and cruelty free stylish bag is the inspiration behind this style. The leather industry is largely responsible for our water supply pollution/depletion. The animal husbandry industry contributes to the worlds food supply  shortage. Creating bags using hi-tech materials and leather alternatives is the core of our brand."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The KLEAN KANTEEN Best Green Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Rewilder
Designers: Jennifer Silbert & Lisa Siedlecki
Hometown: Hollywood, FL & Medford, NJ
Inspiration: "The design of the collection is inspired by the material itself, drawing on its strengths (lightweight, durable, distinctive patina) to make utilitarian pieces that are thoughtful in purpose and design. The different patinas come from filtration  of different beers -- amber beer leaves a coppery tone, while dark beer leaves a silver-grey tone to the fabric. No two are exactly alike. Our brand revolves around salvage material and thoughtful process, making product that balances elegance with environmental  integrity."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The KLEAN KANTEEN Best Green Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Ian James
Designer: Ian James
Hometown: Corona, CA
Inspiration: "I love to repurpose old materials into something new and make heirloom pieces that will last for years."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The KLEAN KANTEEN Best Green Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Janis Lee New York
Designer: Janis Lee
Hometown: Korea
Inspiration: "My inspiration is to create a clutch that is green, yet looking extravagant. I designed abstract jewel-like prints in achromatic hues that go with every color. I printed them on silk satin for luxurious sheen. Digital printing technology  is used which is non-toxic unlike traditional dye."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The Trina Turk Best Student Made Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Laura Sabolich
Designer: Laura Sabolich
School: Parsons New School
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Would you rather work independently, or for a brand?: "I would rather work for a larger brand."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The Trina Turk Best Student Made Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Timson Rad
Designer: Blake Felty
School: Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Hometown: Houston, TX
Would you rather work independently, or for a brand?: "I could see myself being very happy in both situations."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The Trina Turk Best Student Made Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Angie.Bae
Designer: Kyungmi Bae
School: Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Would you rather work independently, or for a brand?: "Both ways are great, because I get to design regardless!"

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The Trina Turk Best Student Made Handbag

Credit: Time Inc. Digital Studios

Brand: Nathalia Jacques
Designer: Nathalia Jacques
School: Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)
Hometown: Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil
Would you rather work independently, or for a brand?: "I would like to work for a larger brand upon graduation, but in the future I'd love to have my own brand."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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The Trina Turk Best Student Made Handbag

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Brand: GRIP Handbags
Designer: Danielle Gumina
School: Pepperdine University
Hometown: New Brunswick, NY
Would you rather work independently, or for a brand?: "I think I'd rather work for myself and remain independent. I love being in control of my destiny."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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Distinctly Denim by Guess Handbags

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Brand: TESSA SPIELHOFER
Designer: TESSA SPIELHOFER
Hometown: Luzem, Switzerland

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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Distinctly Denim by Guess Handbags

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Brand: Claire Patrick
Designer: Claire Patrick
Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA
Inspiration: "I am currently a Product Design student at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. I am a Junior, and throughout my years at Otis I have been building skill sets and design vocabularies that are helping me towards my end goal of becoming  a Product Designer. I am mostly interested in the field of fashion accessories and jewelry design, but not limited from furniture and packaging design."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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Distinctly Denim by Guess Handbags

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Brand: Marylai New York
Designer: Mary Lai
Hometown: New York, NY
Inspiration: "I love the mixed materials and textures of the woven denim. The chain is the perfect way to add the hardware and bling."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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Distinctly Denim by Guess Handbags

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Brand: Paykunapaq
Designer: Alicia Rojas Valdivia
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Inspiration: "I looked at the summer 2015 Guess handbag collection and was interested in the Doheny-Satchel bags. I imagined that I could apply particular elements from my inspiration (with Peruvian elements) to make an interesting variation."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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Distinctly Denim by Guess Handbags

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Brand: Carmen Nieto
Designer: Carmen Nieto
Hometown: Gijon, Spain
Inspiration: "I wanted to design a bag that was cool, elegant, practical, and full of personality."

Love it? Vote for this bag now in our handbag poll.

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