An Exciting Year for Laga Designs

After one look at a Laga handbag, one can immediately tell that it is no ordinary bag. Not only are the designs striking and beautiful, they are individually handmade by survivors of the devastating tsunami that struck Indonesia in 2004. Laga handbags feature unique patterns and designs that are native to the province of Aceh, passed down from generation to generation. The one of a kind bags are a way for tsunami survivors in Indonesia to share their culture with the world while earning a living that allows them to support themselves and their families.

On December 26, 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history struck off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. An earthquake and subsequent tsunamis killed over 285,000 people and destroyed the lives of countless others. Aceh, Indonesia was the closest major city to the earthquake’s epicenter. After the disaster, Roy van Broekhuizen was asked by his church to lead a trip to Indonesia to bring medical teams and funds during the initial relief crisis phase. After several trips to Indonesia, Roy, along with his wife Louise van Broekhuizen, founded Laga Designs International as a way to help survivors rebuild their lives. The company is dedicated to providing income and a secure future for as many victims of the disaster as possible. When Laga first started, there were only 12 women making the handbags. Since then, the company has exploded with orders. Today, Laga Designs is proud to employ over 300 tsunami survivors. They hope to expand further as the demand for the beautiful handbags increases.

2010 turned out to be a very exciting year for Laga when Malaak Compton-Rock, a social activist who wrote the book, If it Takes a Village, Build One, began to work with Roy and Louise. Malaak recommended Laga handbags to be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show because she thought that Laga story was a great example of what she wrote her book about. The Laga handbags as well as the story behind them were presented by Malaak on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Although the segment was less than a minute, orders for Laga handbags began pouring in. Additionally, airing on Oprah gave Laga the opportunity for more coverage through other media. Since the handbags were presented on Oprah, the Laga team has been hard at work to fill all the orders they have received. Although they are very busy, they feel truly blessed to be given such a great opportunity.

Laga has something for everyone! Priced as low as $15, Laga’s exquisite fashion handbags are beautiful and affordable. In addition, Laga offers small and large travel bags, backpacks, wallets and more in many different colors and designs. You can find more information about Laga products at www.laga-handbags.com.