Handbag Designer 101 Announces Finalists for the Fourteenth Annual “Handbag Awards”
Being Live Streamed for the first time ever on Wednesday, June 10th, the Handbag Designer 101 announced the finalists for the Fourteenth Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™. Forty finalists have been selected from 1000 submissions sent from 5 continents and 28 countries. The brainchild of handbag designer turned curator, Emily Blumenthal, The Handbag Awards (www.thehandbagawards.com) has created a global discovery platform for unknown designers and brand-launching prizes and opportunities,since 2007. Past IHDA success stories include Danielle DiFerdinando of Danielle Nicole and The Affordable Luxury Group’s Founder, Aimee Kestenberg; both of whom are sponsors for this year’s Handbag Awards.
This year, the IHDA will honor founders, Paul and Lainie Schreiber of Latico Leathers, with the 2020 Carlos FalchiICONOCLAST Recipient Award, celebrating 35 years in independent handbag design.
Below is a list of finalists in each category. Their submissions, background, and personal videos can each be viewed at http://thehandbagawards.com/finalists/2020
The NY NOW Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design
These bags represent the best execution in complete style and design. The Winner will receive a complimentary booth from NY NOW at the October 2020 market. The Winner will also receive a mentorship with Hilldun, and a brand consultancy with the Accessory Think Tank.
- Leisarà, Génesis Warner, VENEZUELA
- Martania Bags, Marta Torres, EL SALVADOR
- Carat23, Carolina RiffiOllite – Hopman, THE NETHERLANDS
- ALEXANDRA KLIMEK, Aleksandra Klimek, POLAND
- AndReal, Andrea BenahmedDjilali, HUNGARY
The Danielle Nicole Student Made Handbag – These bags were all created by student designers. The Winner will also receive an opportunity to work with IHDA Alum, Danielle DiFerdinando, Founder and Creative Director of Danielle Nicole, as a design apprenticeship on the Danielle Nicole NY design team.
- Haley Fila, Haley Fila, USA, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Mr.Soliloquy, Siyi Li, CHINA, Fashion Institute of Technology
- MAE, Eva Cass, USA, Parsons School of Design
- reginagaraicoa, Regina Garaicoa, VENEZUELA, Instituto Universitario Santiago Mariño
- KAiQi, Kaiqi Wang, CHINA, Academy of Art University in San Francisco
The LEATHER, SUEDE & SKINS Best Handmade Handbag – The bags in this category can be made by hand, machine sewn, crocheted or knitted. The Winner may receive an opportunity to work with New York’s top supplier, Leather Suede Skins as a brand ambassador.
- Myura, Ho Kuan Teck, SINGAPORE
- Romero New York, Jonathan Romero, USA
- Askina Collection, Anissa Mekrabech, POLAND
- Jérôme Bocchio Paris, Jérôme Bocchio, FRANCE
- ALEXANDRA KLIMEK, Aleksandra Klimek, POLAND
The K. Carroll Accessories Best Green Handbag – All bags submitted in this category are made of renewable, organic, or recycled materials. Winner will also receive an opportunity to work with K. Carroll Accessories, as well as receive a consultation with the Queen of Raw, former IHDA Finalist, Stephanie Benedetto, on how to keep their brand sustainable.
- DOIZPE, Dora Izquierdo, MEXICO
- maniartica design, Juliana Villarreal, COLOMBIA
- Curic and Curic, MarijaCuric, CROATIA
- Iridescence New York, Yiming Lin, HONG KONG
- Celtic Irish Art, Siobhan Corr, NORTHERN IRELAND
The Global Goods Partners Most Socially Responsible Handbag – All entries in this category must meet specific ethical and moral standards with regards to production, employment and philanthropy – all while impacting the local culture. Winner will work in partnership with Global Goods Partners and one of the artisan communities with which GGP works to fabricate an exclusive handbag designed by this year’s winner. GGP will offer the handbag on GGP’s website and promote it extensively through GGP’s social media and other outlets.
- Soli & Sun, Clare Hynes, UK, Made in the Philippines
- FROM BELO, Charlotte Bingham-Wallis & Maria Costa, UK & BRAZIL, Made in Brazil
- KC Malhan, Devinder Singh, INDIA, Made in India
- Notadaydream, Sheri Scott-De Leon & Martine de Leeuw, CANADA & THE NETHERLANDS, Made in the Philippines
- Erika Lynn, Erika McKelvey, USA, Made in Hispaniola
The Animal Print Bag Inspired by Nine West– From sketch to actual bag, designers must create a unique interpretation of Nine West animal prints fusing fashion and function in a hands-free bag. The Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the Nine West Handbag Design Team using the winning bag as inspiration.
- Natasha Gilliam, Natasha Gilliam, UK
- misty bag, Jinjiao Yu, USA
- Martania Bags, Marta Torres, EL SALVADOR
- MIC & BEN, Kok Hui Michael Lee, MALAYSIA
- ASIRI, Heidi Zárate, BOLIVIA
The SUJA Cold-Press Mini Bag – From sketch to actual bag, designers must create a mini bag inspired by the bright colors of plant-powered SUJA, and its sunny home of San Diego. The Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the SUJA, using the winning bag as inspiration.
- MARS Guajardo, Virginia Marisela Guajardo, MEXICO
- ALEXANDRA KLIMEK, Aleksandra Klimek, POLAND
- Iridescence New York, Yiming Lin, HONG KONG
- Marigaby Designs, Maria Duque, VENEZUELA
- Courtney Gunn Bags, Courtney Gunn, USA
The Mr. Bag by American Leather Co. – From sketch to actual bag, designers must design a men’s bag inspired by the DNA of American Leather Co. The Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the American Leather Co. Handbag Design Team using the winning bag as inspiration; receive a one-on-one strategy meeting; be featured on the American Leather Co. Social Platforms; receive a finished professionally made sample of the final bag design; and be considered for an apprenticeship with The Affordable Luxury Group in New York City
- Natasha Gilliam, Natasha Gilliam, UK
- MIC & BEN, Kok Hui Michael Lee, MALAYSIA
- ASIRI, Heidi Zárate, BOLIVIA
- CL Bag Designs, Cristina Lozano, HONDURAS
- Adan Ballou, Adam French, CANADA
This year’s Audience Fan Favorite is hosted by Bella Magazine where the handbag obsessed can vote on the next “it bag” brand and the winner will be featured in-book in Bella Magazine. Votes can be cast at BellaMag.co/bella-handbagawards-2020
This year Paul and Lainie Schreiber of Latico Leathers will receive the 2020 Carlos Falchi IHDA ICONOCLAST Award.
Fresh out of college in 1985, Paul began selling leather goods out of his car trunk store-to-store in NYC. His casual, down-to-earth ways translated into bags that reflected the same qualities- mellow, leather basics with laid-back comfort and artisan quality. Specialty boutiques in Greenwich Village couldn’t keep his merchandise in stock and soon the ever-famous rock group, The Grateful Dead and crew became fans of his naked-leather bags. As this was Latico’s first lucky charm, it invited many other musicians to seek out our bags. Paul’s fledgling leather company with a rock & roll twist was on its way to grow further in the leather basics industry.
So the story goes, downtown boy meets uptown girl and … beautiful bags were born. With a New York Fashion background and an eye for crafting modern classics, Lainie launched Latico ‘s celebrated seasonal women’s collection. Attention to details such as patent-pending dual function hardware, saturated colors, unexpected leather treatments, and extensive interior organization have become Latico signature features. In addition to private label, Latico has also been the exclusive licensee for The Sharper Image, Frye, and Invicta. Latico always remembers the grassroots from which we came, supplying heirloom-quality leather goods to boutique specialty shops across the country as they celebrate their 35th anniversary of their truly independent brand.
The IHDA Sponsors are NY NOW, NINE WEST, Signal Brands, Leather, Suede & Skins, Danielle Nicole, Global Goods Partners, Affordable Luxury Group, American Leather Co., K. Carroll Accessories, Pantone, Hilldun, The Fashion Class, The NPD Group, Bottomless Closet, The Accessory Think Tank, Comfort Cases, Kent State University, Queen of Raw, and The TassenMuseum of Bags and Purses.
For complete information for the Independent Handbag Designer Awards, check out www.thehandbagawards.com.
ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT HANDBAG DESIGNER AWARDS: Founded in 2007, the Independent Handbag Designer Awards by Handbag Designer 101 was created to celebrate handbag design and creativity from the United States and around the world. Now in its fourteenth year, it is an industry staple and is the only international design competition to discover, recognize and create brand awareness for independent handbag designers.