LAURA VELA

“A woman’s handbag is the most personal part of her wardrobe. It should be a reflection of her, both inside and out” – Laura Vela

Laura Vela is a New York-based accessories designer and the President and Creative Director of LAURA VELA,LLC.

For as long as she can remember, the free-spirited 26-year-old designer has always had an affinity for fashion and travel. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, Laura lived in seven countries by the age of 16.

After graduating from ESADE Business School in 2010, Laura felt she still hadn’t found her life’s calling. She sought guidance from her friend who advised her to pursue what she enjoyed as her life’s work, so she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a handbag designer.

Laura studied at Parsons The New School for Design, and split her spare time between interning at PRADA and Bergdorf and designing her first collection. Laura’s stylish handbags quickly gained the attention of the fashion world. She was the youngest designer to show at the accessories exhibit at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2011, and she debuted her eponymous first collection in 2012, setting her on the path toward making her dream of being a designer come true.

Laura’s contemporary, chic designs are inspired by the different cultures she has experienced firsthand – from the busy streets of Manhattan, to the beaches and vast fields of South America, to the art and architecture of Barcelona. Each collection is named after an individual who has impacted her life in some way.