My Story
The Origins
For too long, using handbags felt like a series of compromises—beautiful designs often lacked functionality, while practical bags rarely suited a night out. As a petite woman, I empathize with the universal struggle many of us face with heavy, awkward, and strangely-designed carryalls while also trying to lead an active, vibrant multi-tasking life.
In 2019, my predicament changed when compounding health conditions led to a rarely diagnosed connective tissue disorder. This severe presentation of a worsening genetic condition forced me to confront my increasingly debilitating physical impairments. I realized that I could no longer accept trade-offs in what I desired from my carryalls; my body requires more care and support.
I am inspired to create everyday bags that can carry-it-all, for many purposes, for most individuals, for anytime day or night. It is essential for me to create handbags that are not only lightweight but also highly functional and ergonomic-friendly. To be frank, my doctors suggested increased awareness toward carrying excessive weight that often strained their patients’ musculoskeletal system, and the doctors ordered greater mindfulness surrounding these common daily habits. Simply put, heavy carryalls with limited functionality demands more from our physical health.
I envision bags that will elevate beauty and elevate physical well-being, embracing a sense of affluent ease and comfortability, otherwise known as “l’aisance”. These bags would seamlessly combine comfort and aesthetics, allowing us to navigate daily life with greater ease, without carrying the burden of unnecessary weight.
Before becoming physically disabled, I was deeply engaged in outdoor adventures—backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving, and even flying gliderplanes. In these high-adrenaline activities, having superior gear is critical— often determining success or failure, and even life or death. Transitioning to a travel and professional lifestyle, I longed for the same high-performance, durable gear that I had relied on in my outdoor adventures, and I continue to apply these concepts to my mobility impaired state: well-designed gear becomes an imperative to effective functioning. Trustworthy gear improves our everyday lives. We desire efficiently getting from point A to point B, and we flourish when we look and feel good while we do it.
I envision adaptive carry-alls that serve as reliable tools for living our best lives. Elegant and highly functional, these bags allow us to focus not on the gear itself, but on what we do best—letting our talents shine, because we have the appropriate tools and comfort to achieve our greatest feats.
With this vision in mind, I set out to design handbags with common features: Carryalls must stand upright on their own. Leading busy lives, we can easily manage the bag with one hand, ensuring quick access to essentials. Fundamentals like Structure, organization, clean lines, and featherweightness increases usability. Versatility means we can alter how we choose to carry the bag throughout the day, with the option to go hands-free. Adaptive carryalls carefully curated to our active lifestyles feel both empowering and freeing.
I hope you find joy and beauty in these carry-alls, just as I have. Together, we can embrace a new era of fashion conscious handbags that emphasizes adaptive styles, universal aesthetics, and a versatility that resonates deeply with our everyday lives.
Elaine ChouCEO & Founder, Creative Director
In 2019, my predicament changed when compounding health conditions led to a rarely diagnosed connective tissue disorder. This severe presentation of a worsening genetic condition forced me to confront my increasingly debilitating physical impairments. I realized that I could no longer accept trade-offs in what I desired from my carryalls; my body requires more care and support.
I am inspired to create everyday bags that can carry-it-all, for many purposes, for most individuals, for anytime day or night. It is essential for me to create handbags that are not only lightweight but also highly functional and ergonomic-friendly. To be frank, my doctors suggested increased awareness toward carrying excessive weight that often strained their patients’ musculoskeletal system, and the doctors ordered greater mindfulness surrounding these common daily habits. Simply put, heavy carryalls with limited functionality demands more from our physical health.
I envision bags that will elevate beauty and elevate physical well-being, embracing a sense of affluent ease and comfortability, otherwise known as “l’aisance”. These bags would seamlessly combine comfort and aesthetics, allowing us to navigate daily life with greater ease, without carrying the burden of unnecessary weight.
Before becoming physically disabled, I was deeply engaged in outdoor adventures—backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving, and even flying gliderplanes. In these high-adrenaline activities, having superior gear is critical— often determining success or failure, and even life or death. Transitioning to a travel and professional lifestyle, I longed for the same high-performance, durable gear that I had relied on in my outdoor adventures, and I continue to apply these concepts to my mobility impaired state: well-designed gear becomes an imperative to effective functioning. Trustworthy gear improves our everyday lives. We desire efficiently getting from point A to point B, and we flourish when we look and feel good while we do it.
I envision adaptive carry-alls that serve as reliable tools for living our best lives. Elegant and highly functional, these bags allow us to focus not on the gear itself, but on what we do best—letting our talents shine, because we have the appropriate tools and comfort to achieve our greatest feats.
With this vision in mind, I set out to design handbags with common features: Carryalls must stand upright on their own. Leading busy lives, we can easily manage the bag with one hand, ensuring quick access to essentials. Fundamentals like Structure, organization, clean lines, and featherweightness increases usability. Versatility means we can alter how we choose to carry the bag throughout the day, with the option to go hands-free. Adaptive carryalls carefully curated to our active lifestyles feel both empowering and freeing.
I hope you find joy and beauty in these carry-alls, just as I have. Together, we can embrace a new era of fashion conscious handbags that emphasizes adaptive styles, universal aesthetics, and a versatility that resonates deeply with our everyday lives.
Elaine ChouCEO & Founder, Creative Director