Angela Valentine
Angela Valentine Handbags exude lady-like silhouettes with a modern bohemian vibe. An obsession to find only the best and most unique leather fuels Angela's inspiration to create the perfect match of quality and design. Every bag is handmade one at a time in the USA.
After her daughter was born, Angela realized how precious our time is, so she decided to be true to herself and follow her heart. She took a head full of ideas to the sewing machine and designed her first collection. Angela launched {AO3} Designs in October 2003 in Minneapolis, MN. Through the years, {AO3} Designs has carved out a niche market in the wedding industry specializing in bridal bags created from vintage wedding dresses.
In 2013, after many years of collecting leather and dreaming of a full leather line, she launched Angela Valentine Handbags. Transiting into leather as an artistic medium has allowed Angela to clearly showcase her vision for each handbag designed. Every hide is hand picked to best articulate the shape, structure, and personality of the handbag, whether it be a slouchy leather used for the laid-back style of our bohemian transition bag or a structured leather used for the lady-like silhouette of the Loel mini bag. Each piece of the colorful collection is designed, patterned, cut and constructed one at a time in Angela's 1870’s home studio. Angela feels honored to have been featured in InStyle Magazine, InStyle.com, Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine, Southern Weddings Magazine, Minnesota Bride, Twin Cities Metro, MN Monthly Magazine, Harpers Bazaar Bride India and Forbes.com.
To see Angela's designs in person, be sure to stop by the upcoming Fashion Week MN Spring 2017 Market at Modist Brewing put on by Minneapolis Craft Market.
Talk about the beginnings of Angela Valentine Handbags. What inspired you to begin this endeavor? Simply, my obsession with fashion and desire to create pushed me to launch Angela Valentine Handbags. In June of last year I was awarded "Best Handmade Handbag" in a competition sponsored by InStyle magazine. More recently we have been featured in MN Monthly Magazine and Harpers Bazaar Bride India.
Were you always directly pursuing a creative path?
I grew up among musicians, fine artists and writers. When I was 8, my mother taught me to sew. I felt like I had received some sort of superpower! “I can turn nothing into something!” I thought. Through the next 15 years I pursued dance, fine art, fashion design and acting before settling on a degree in Graphic Design.
You described your handbags to have, “lady-like silhouettes with a modern bohemian vibe.” How does this style reflect your own artistic aesthetic?
I love contrasts. Growing up I was a preppy “girly" girl loving fashion with somewhat hippy parents. I naturally tend to create with these two styles consciously or subconsciously as a driving force.
What does your creative process look like from start to finish? What is the most fulfilling part for you?
I love bringing an idea to life. From problem-solving the construction details, to choosing the leather type, to drafting the pattern pieces and finally making the first sample… The entire process of making something out of just an idea is truly exciting.
