Handbag Designer Awards Finalists Announced

The UBM Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design​ – These bags represent the best execution in complete style and design. Winner will have the opportunity to have a 10x10 booth at Accessorie Circuit or Accessories The Show with full marketing and promotion. Winner will also receive a mentorship with Hilldun and a brand consultancy with the Accessory Think Tank.

• Lindsey Hirway, Larsen & Lund, USA
• Loukia Iliopoulou, Vitro Atelier, Greece
• Ilham Mohamed, illicia, UK
• Gizem Yucelen, Hooop the Bag, Turkey
• Parisa Wang, Parisa Wang, Hong Kong

The Best Retail Bag Presented by Macy’s ​ – These bags represent the best that were perfect for the Macy’s customer. Winner will receive a spot in the 2019 Workshop @ Macy's.

• Joy Egbejimba, Nuciano, Nigeria/USA
• Sugandh Agrawal, GUNAS New York, India/USA
• Elena Bourbour Ajdari, Neleni, Iran/USA
• Erika McKelvey, Erika Lynn, USA
• Ellia Wang, Ellia Wang, China/USA

The Global Brands Group Student Made Handbag – These bags were all created by student designers. Winner will receive the opportunity to work with a Global Brands Group as a coveted design apprentice working with their esteemed brand assortment.

• Zhu Wang, ZW, China, Savannah College of Art and Design
• Anh Nguyen, 502 department, Vietnam, Art Institute of Seattle
• Elise Glueck, Accessories By Elise, USA, Savannah College of Art and Design
• Denise Internoscia, internoscia design, USA, Savannah College of Art and Design
• Alison Chang, AlisonChang, Taiwan, Savannah College of Art and Design

The BERNINA Best Handmade Handbag – Bags in this category can be made by hand, machine sewn, crocheted or knitted. The winner will receive the BERNINA 560 sewing machine in addition to the prestigious opportunity to act as “Ambassador” via brand social channels and the Bernina We All Sew blog. The winner will also have the wonderful opportunity to represent the 120+ year-old company known for quality and tradition.

• Jonathan Rubinstein, JR, Venezuela
• Sergio Sevilla, Sergio Sevilla Design, Ecuador
• Yumiko Maki, youmemaki, Japan
• Krzysztof Paluch, K.Paluch Wooden Bags, Poland
• Patricia Richardson, Paddy K, Canada

The Basic Adhesives Best Green Handbag – All bags submitted in this category are made of renewable, organic, or recycled materials. The winner will have the opportunity to be a brand ambassador for the eco-industry’s top brand, Basic Adhesives, and receive their branded eco-friendly glue and edge paint for 1000 bags.

• Cristina Lozano Carbajal, CL Design, Honduras
• Thomas Casadei della Chiesa, PangaeA bag, Italy
• Fiona Liu, ddropp, China
• Jasmin Druffner, Druffner Rucksack, USA
• Jingwen Zhang, Serena Zhang, China

The Conscious Magazine 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. The winner will receive a feature in the top ethical publication, Conscious Magazine.

• Paola Palacio, Paola Palacio, Colombia, Made in Colombia
• Valeria Silva, Valeria & Elena, El Salvador, Made in El Salvador
• Ileana Quinones, ARTISANS OF IQ, USA, Made in Cambodia
• Abai Schulze, Gulo Bag, Ethiopia, Made in Ethiopia
• Charlotte Bingham-Wallis, BELO, UK, Made in Brazil

The Heritage Bag Inspired by Guess​ – ​From sketch to actual bag, designers must create a bag that embodies a creative and imaginative way of embracing the history of the Guess? brand and heritage. Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the Guess Handbag Design Team using the winning bag as inspiration.

• Maria Magdalena Suarez Anzorena, Maria Magdalena Suarez Anzorena, Argentina
• Missy DeGroot, DeGroot, USA
• Stephanie Wong, Stephanie Wacey, Canada
• Severe Erase, SELF FRAME, Haiti
• Pooja Sanghvi, Pooja Sanghvi, India

The Pure & Natural Yoga Bag Inspired by TAJA Coconut​ - ​From sketch to actual bag, designers must create a yoga bag inspired by the uniqueness of TAJA Coconut. Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the exciting launch of the 100% pure and natural coconut water, TAJA Coconut, using the winning bag as inspiration.

• Jisuk Song, Jisuk Song, Korea
• Laine Weber Callahan, Laine, USA
• Alyssa Fishenden, Aly Chantal, USA
• Jennifer Hamley, Jennifer Hamley, UK
• Shivani Suhag, AVOCADOE, India

The Aimee Kestenberg Signature Satchel​ - From sketch to actual bag, designers must create the next Must-Have Aimee Bag inspired by the brands iconic Tamitha Backpack. Winner will garner the opportunity to potentially collaborate with the Aimee Kestenberg Handbag Design Team using the winning bag as inspiration; receive a one on one strategy meeting; be featured on Aimee Kestenberg 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.

• Qing Guo, Handbagrace, China
• Nicole Holstein, Educe Handbags, USA
• Ayushi Rastogi, Acute Bags, India
• Tina Wang, Tina Wang, Taiwan
• Yung Yuen Wah Clara, Clara Y, Hong Kong