Lesa Wallace Handbags

Handbag designer Leesa Wallace is originally from Phoenix and is now based in Los Angeles. Armed with inspiration from her Southwest roots Lesa has plenty of design talent to spare.

When and why did you start your company and collection?

I started my handbag collection in 2003; I wanted to create stylish funky functional bags without the big brand label and $1500 price tag. I am an artist. I paint, design, and write poetry. Creating a handbag collection provides me with a medium which allows me to develop a piece of art that can be used in a women’s everyday life. I was attracted to designing handbags because of the personnel attachment to it. A women’s handbag is a very personal item. A woman’s mood will determine the bag she will carry. For evening to be she’ll choose something with freedom. For days she has alot on her mind so she will carry something that fits her entire life. It’s If you compare what women carry to what men carry to secure their essentials it is very amusing.

What is your inspiration for the latest collection?

For this collection I was inspired by Native American art and jewelry. I incorporated braided embellishment on the Tiva bag and the Tash bag that is popular in Native American culture. The color palette I used also represented this theme.

On your path to starting, were there any major challenges in the beginning?

Yes, mainly my lack of business savvy, like understanding costing, etc. But fortunately I’ve been blessed to have smart business people in my life to help me out.  Read more...