Handmade Embroidered Handbags

MOVED TO ACTION:

Roy van Broekhuizen and wife Louise founded Laga Designs International, Inc. to provide employment and income for tsunami survivors of Indonesia. Two years after the tsunami in Indonesia, Roy and Louise Van Broekhuizen keep helping the survivors of that devastation. They sell handmade bags by the survivors of that deadly event on Dec. 26, 2004. The founders, quit their job to run the business, work out of their condo in Irvine. The bags are mostly traditional to Aceh, the province that was devastated by the tsunami, but with a modern twist.

The bags are often popular among women who love designer brands such as Coach but hate that those purses are now everywhere and want something fresh.

"Our dream is to provide employment for 1,200 people," he said. "We cannot give them back the loved ones they lost. But we can… help the people of Indonesia restore their economy."
To achieve this goal, the van Broekhuizens are exploring several growth opportunities.



Laga Designs International Inc.
1-888-LAGA BAG
Founders: Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen
Headquarters: Irvine
Where to buy: http://www.laga-handbags.com/boutiques.html.
Materials used: Nylon-polyester blend, water-resistant exterior (polyurethane backing), polyester-cotton blend stitching, satin lining
How bags are made: The bags, which take roughly a day to make, are slightly tweaked by Louise to give them a contemporary flair without compromising the original Acehnese design that's been handed down through generations.