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

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.

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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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

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

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

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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.

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."

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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."

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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!"

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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."

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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."

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

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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Brand: Erica Harel
Designer: Erica Harel
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Inspiration: "I wanted to design a unisex work bag that is actually fun to carry. And since all my bags are multi-functional, this bag had to have that element as well, so I turned it around to provide the backpack option."

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Brand: BREUL Lefties' Finest
Designer: Susanne Breul
Hometown: Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Inspiration: "I have been inspired by the idea of a professional with clear cut priorities who has learned to focus on the essential things in life."

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Brand: Hebe Rose
Designer: April Rose
Hometown: Delafield, Wisconsin
Inspiration: "Many people have complained to me that they cannot find a great work bag. Even for myself, my back is usually killing, or the strap is not long enough to throw on my shoulder. It's just a simple satchel but I added all the bells and whistles  to make your life better as you carry up to 10 pounds of business stuff with you each day."

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Brand: Bona M. Kim
Designer: Minjung Kim
Home country: Korea
Inspiration: "A lot of people, like myself, who bring their laptop to work need professional-looking backpack."

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Brand: Jennifer Hamley, England
Designer: Jen Hamley
Hometown: Glossop in the Peak District, UK
Inspiration: "My inspiration comes from years of snowboarding and running a business. Snowboard jackets have a pocket for everything, and in business you need everything with you. It's a blend of my passions."

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Brand: TIKA
Designer: Tika Kuchukhidze
Hometown: Barcelona, Spain
Inspiration: "The materials I've selected, PVC, nylon and polyester are very practical for a style meant to be used daily. They are hard to spoil and are easy to clean. When I saw PVC with peachy finish I was excited to include it on the inner side of the handles because, it is soft and velvety and has a nice feel on the skin."

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Brand: Mondrina
Designer: Monica Frisbie
Hometown: East Hampton, NY
Inspiration: "I wanted to use canvas to keep it light weight and washable and leather for the lips so when it is detached it can be used a fun clutch to go out with."

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Brand: ACF
Designer: Alyssa Fishenden
Hometown: Leominster, MA
Inspiration: "I was thinking of a durable black vinyl exterior that could be wiped easily as well as protect the contents inside. The interior is comprised of polyester as it is affordable and easy for the makeup to move against."

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