Laga handbags, handmade by tsunami survivors of Indonesia

Checkout our website, www.laga-handbags.com

Handmade Handbags Company Holiday Dinner 2008

Laga Handbags 2008 Holiday Dinner
By Louise
Roy and I were so happy to have been able to spend a wonderful evening together with our staff and Laga Consultants last night. Although not everyone was able to make it, those in attendance made our time very enjoyable! ...
http://laga-handbags.com/events/

Hello Friends!

We have had such a great response to our Holiday sale this year, that we have decided to offer you another opportunity to save money on your Laga purchases for Christmas!
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Laga Holiday Boutique - Extended!!!
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We will open our doors for ONE MORE DAY!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12th
from 10am to 9pm, at our Laga Showroom
where you can browse AND SAVE on your favorite Laga bags and accessories!
Yes, we have wallets, belts, book covers, and much more.

Receive 20% to 40% OFF**
when you visit us at our Laga Showroom ~
possible savings on every style and color in stock!!!
**draw for savings upon time of purchase ~ you must be present to qualify for these special discounts

**BRING A FRIEND & GET A FREE GIFT!**

Receive 50% OFF
when you visit our Holiday Boutique ~
on ALL overstock items and ALL Final Sale items


Visit us THIS FRIDAY at:
40 Summerfield, Irvine, California 92614

Or CALL US to make an appointment 949.654.8360
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December is Laga Cyber Month!
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From now until December 31st
Receive 15% OFF*
when you order ONLINE at www.laga-handbags.com ~
15% off every style and color available (see "Currently Available in:" for available colors)

There is still time to have your holiday gifts sent to your loved ones~ be sure to visit us online TODAY!
*to receive discount, be sure to use coupon code: SAVE15

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We look forward to seeing you again this Friday...
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..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**
...and to hearing from you online!..
..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**..**

Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen
Co-founders

www.laga-handbags.com

Laga Handbags Owners Dubbed “Boneheads” at Boneheads Restaurant

Laga handbags Owners Dubbed “Boneheads” at Boneheads Restaurant

Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen of Laga Designs International, Inc. were dubbed “boneheads” (people who ignore experts and conventional wisdom, follow their hearts and achieve great success against steep odds) by local Orange County
Boneheads Restaurant

Click here to read the entire article!

Laga Handbags Open Boutique December 6 from 10am to 3pm Irvine, CA

Laga Design Boutique Dec 6th
By maliahill(maliahill)
Laga Handbags are handmade by women who survived the tsunami in Indonesia. Every bag sewn and sold brings hope for a better tomorrow. An average-size bag takes almost a full day to complete; each piece is an amazing work of art! …
Saddleback College Fashion - http://saddlebackcollegefashion.blogspot.com/




You Are Cordially Invited

3rd Annual

L a g a D e s i g n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l , I n c .

H o l i d a y B o u t i q u e

we invite you to do your holiday shopping

December 6th

10:00am to 3:00pm

SAVE 10% to 50% ON YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE*

40 Summerfield - Irvine, California

(in Woodbridge)

949-654-8360

refreshments will be served

* GUARANTEED SAVINGS APPLIES TO WEBSITE PRICING USING COUPONS TO BE DRAWN AT TIME OF PURCHASE ONLY
(other coupons not valid with this promotion)

Laga handbag “Kasih”

How To Buy Gorgeous Handmade Handbags From Indonesia

By dariuslauffer
One such company is Laga Handbags (online), which helps women who were survivors of the tragic tsunami of 2004 in Sumatra, Indonesia. The women workers of Indonesia are able to learn skills for a lifetime while providing a valuable …

Cookie-cutter fashion handbags are a dime a dozen, and thousands of them are produced in factories and sold in every town. But handmade handbags are delightful, rare treasures that any woman can be proud of. When a handbag is handmade, it is unique in many ways and reflects the skill and creativity of its maker. Many women in Indonesia choose to hand-stitch handbags to earn a living for their families. Their handbags are beautifully embroidered with amazing designs, but yet they usually possess the same or better quality as any factory-made handbag.

If you’re just yearning to own an elaborate - but unusual - handbag, here are some great tips. Let’s explore what types of Indonesian handbags are available and how to choose the right one for you.

Look for Practicality

Before falling in love with a certain design, be sure the handbag will meet your everyday needs. Do you need the handbag for work or play? Do you plan on using it every day or only for special evenings out on the town? Also, consider how many items you will need to carry in the handbag. Handmade handbags come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They range from petite to very large travel handbags. Some come with shoulder straps while others have hand straps. There are even very small make-up carriers for trips. It depends on how and where you plan to use it.

Choosing a Design and Color for Your Handmade Handbag

Handmade handbags come with a variety of styles and designs. Embroidery is used to create unique patterns such as diamonds, curved lines, circles, stars, and floral patterns. Indonesian handbags are often creatively labeled to express the type of design and color on the handbag. The words gift, live, great, eternal, recover, morning, believe, and so forth reflect the personality behind the purse as well as the style and color. Choose a style that matches several of your outfits, or that blends well with your body shape and hairstyle or color.

For spring and summer, there are colors such as red, cream, light blue, or olive. For fall and winter, colors such as black, dark brown, dark blue, and silver are excellent choices.

Help those in Need with Charity Bags

Another option to consider when buying an Indonesian handmade handbag is to shop for charity bags (or charity purses). Charity bags are made by those in Indonesia who need the money for daily food and supplies. Some companies in the United States offer to buy the handbags and resell them to Americans or through the Internet. A few companies will even train the workers and provide sewing and embroidery supplies to work with. One such company is Laga Handbags (online), which helps women who were survivors of the tragic tsunami of 2006 in Sumatra, Indonesia. The women workers of Indonesia are able to learn skills for a lifetime while providing a valuable service to handbag lovers.

When choosing a company for handmade handbags, research online to find companies that offer authentic Indonesian handbags, not replicas. The real handmade handbags are usually priced from $35 up to $150, depending on the style and size of the bag. Companies should provide detailed information about how and where the handbags are obtained, and where the company is located. Look for companies that are up-front about their procedures and customer policies.

A handmade handbag from Indonesia can also be a memorable surprise as a gift for Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, or other occasions. The handbags are reliable and affordable, and the remarkable craftsmanship of Indonesian women makes them highly desirable in the fashion world. Go online today to find that perfect handmade handbag for you!

Laga Handbags on Mary Lou Weidman Blog

Google Blogs Alert for: Laga handbags
Need a great handbag where your money will go for a good cause?
By Mary Lou Weidman(Mary Lou Weidman)
I had a friend send me this site and I think you will enjoy looking at it.
"If you're going to carry a handbag anyway, why not carry one that helps rebuild lives?" www.laga-handbags.com.
MARY LOU and CHERRIES TOO - http://marylouweidman.blogspot.com/

Laga Handbags at HUMC, Hollywood, California

Today Laga Handbags was invited to participate once again in Hollywood United Methodist Church’s pre-holiday “Alternate Christmas Mart” shopping event. I have to say, since having met this truly amazing group of people two years ago, my life has been enriched.
Reverend Kathy Cooper-Ledesma is one of the most sincere church leaders I have had the pleasure of meeting… We have appreciated her support of the work we endeavor to accomplish in Aceh with and for the tsunami survivors there, and she has such a wonderful heart. It is evident that this church body stands in the gap for its community; how blessed we are to know them.
Our dear friends Rae Sowell and her husband Jay are dedicated members at HUMC. It was Rae who was instrumental in getting our foot in the proverbial door at HUMC. She is such a genuine and giving person, and you just know that she always thinks of others before herself. She is always offering to help us in any way she can, and is faithful in spreading the “Laga” story to all who will listen… We just love you, Rae! And thank you so much for the scones and coffee this morning!
Another member is Pauley Perrette, who plays “Abby” on the hit TV show NCIS. We first met Pauley last year when she purchased some of our handbags at HUMC. We met her again today, as she ranted and raved about our Laga bags! “I gave my sister a Laga bag and to this day she tells me time and time again that it’s her favorite bag and that she just LOVES it!”
Pauley was so generous as to purchase several more bags from us today, and she posed with Roy for a picture. She also autographed a postcard for us to give to one of our dear volunteers, Louise Bauwin, who we mentioned to her is such a fan of NCIS and is always faithful to tape all the episodes so she does not miss seeing “Abby.”

I also met another amazing lady today. I believe her name is Linda. She is a beautiful lady with white hair in a wheelchair and we chatted as she admired our bags on the table. She shared with me that she was partially blind and partially deaf, and that she was turning 100 years old on January 19th ~ can you imagine? I told her that my birthday was January 7th and she said, “You’re a Capricorn! Do you know who was the most wonderful Capricorn who ever lived? Jesus!” That was something I had never heard before, or even thought of. I will always treasure my little chat with Linda today. And I’m glad that Roy took a picture of us together~

For contact information:
Roy or Louise van Broekhuizen
Laga Designs International, Inc.
roy@laga-handbags.com or louise@laga-handbags.com
www.laga-handbags.com
949-654-8360

Laga Handbags’ Co-Founder Louise van Broekhuizen and Maria Shriver at The Women’s Conference

Laga Handbags’ Co-founder and President, Louise van Broekhuizen, was again invited to exhibit at The 2008 Women’s Conference, held on October 21st and 22nd at the Long Beach Convention Center.

“Under the leadership of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, The Women’s Conference has grown from a small government initiative for working professionals into a far-reaching organization, a life-changing experience, and an international network of women from all walks of life, backgrounds and perspectives.

“The Women’s Conference event is the largest and most dynamic gathering of women in the nation. Recognized for its unparalleled capacity to empower and inspire women to become architects of change, the annual conference unites more than sixty internationally-acclaimed leaders and visionaries with 14,000 women in one arena, plus thousands more virtually, to share enriching stories of transformation and success, words of encouragement and life lessons.”

Among the speakers were Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Madeleine Albright, Bono, Warren Buffet, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Billie Jean King, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jenny McCarthy, Jillian Michaels, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rachael Ray, Condoleeza Rice, Deborah Roberts, Gloria Steinem, Rita Wilson, and many, many more!

Here is the link,
http://www.californiawomen.org/the-womens-conference/.

It was an amazing conference and we were honored to participate. Laga Handbags had a record show, receiving an overwhelming response to our bags and our story. We want to thank those who support our efforts, those who attended and purchased a Laga bag or two of their own, as well as those who stand together with us and are dedicated to retell the story about the victims of disaster we serve.

The winner of our drawing and the recipient of a new Laga travel bag is:

Brenda Gough of Winchester, California

CONGRATULATIONS, Brenda!

Contact Information:
LAGA DESIGNS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
40 Summerfield, Irvine, CA 92614-7533
949.654.8360 office
888.LAGA.BAG toll free
888.305.4056 facsimile
714.623.3671 mobile

www.laga-handbags.com
"...when you buy a Laga bag you're not just getting a beautiful handbag, you're investing in the future of a precious life.."

Laga Handbags Consultant on Irvine World News TV

Louise Bauwin and her husband Henk were the first volunteers to help Laga Designs International, Inc. She represented Laga Handbags Saturday October 4 at the Irvine Global Village Festival 2008 held at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. The Laga bags were well received by the attendees and the Laga handbags and accessories caught the eye of a reporter from the Irvine World News Channel.

You can view the video here.

Henk and Louise Bauwin are faithful helpers for the Laga Designs company since it started August 2006. They help out with inventory, clean up and setup events, home parties, trade shows, provide food at times and an occasional Starbucks coffee and caramel frapuccino for Louise van Broekhuizen, Laga’s President and Co-Founder.

“We really appreciate the Bauwins couple and it is always a joy to have them with us,” says Laga’s Chairman & CEO, Roy van Broekhuizen, who co-founded the company with his wife Louise.

You can read more about the Laga story at http://www.laga-handbags.com/events/

The beautiful handmade Laga bags can be seen http://www.laga-handbags.com/handbags.html

Please feel free to contact us toll free at 888-524-2224 or email roy@laga-handbags.com.

Thank you.

Laga Handbags CEO at Live & Invest Overseas Conference for International Living

Laga Designs CEO at Live & Invest Overseas Conference for International Living


Dear Friends:

I spoke at this amazing conference where a number of experts on how to invest, live and retire overseas will share their experiences, knowledge, and skills. I shared the Laga handbags story and how we took samples of handmade bags made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia 2 years ago and made it into a $ 1 million business in 2 years. My actual presentation was on Sunday October 5, 2008 from 10:05am to 10:30am.

Hilton hotel, 2 World Trade Center, Long Beach, CA 90831
(562) 983-3400

You can read about the entire 3 day conference here,

http://www1.internationalliving.com/events/los08/w_sov.htm

Day-by-Day Snapshot
2008 Live & Invest Overseas Conference
Long Beach, California

Thursday, October 2, 2008 — Courtesy pre-event check-in from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. featuring an optional networking cocktail (cash bar).

Friday, October 3, 2008 — Event officially begins with check-in from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

The first day is a “who’s who” of International Living and investing. We’ll focus on the current opportunities and strategies to retire early. You’ll hear from people who’ve made the move themselves and get their advice and hard-earned insights.
We’ll end the day with a networking cocktail reception.

Saturday, October 4, 2008 — Today we’ll cover the top six places in the world we’re recommending right now. The “Pockets of Prosperity” you need to know about.

Our experts will give you the details about the current situation in Mexico’s Yucatan, the top opportunities in Panama, coastal Ecuador, Brazil’s north coast, Uruguay, and Italy’s “deep south” hill towns and coastlines.

Mid-afternoon, we’ll break into smaller groups to brief you more closely about the areas that interest you most. This will also be your chance to get all your questions answered personally.

In addition to our top six “Pockets of Prosperity,” we’ve also found possibilities for profit and prosperity in other countries as well. In each, a unique situation has created a special opportunity. It might not be right for everyone. But we’d be negligent if we didn’t at least bring them to your attention. (It might turn out, in fact, that you find there exactly what you’re looking for.)

So during this afternoon, you’ll have the option of attending workshops about these special locales as well. We’ll cover Nicaragua, Argentina, France, Romania, Costa Rica, Belize, and Morocco… to name just a few.

Sunday, October 5, 2008 — This is when we get into the nuts and bolts of moving, retiring, or doing business overseas. You’ll hear from our experts on topics like: health care strategies, how to save a fortune on premiums and still get the top treatments abroad… tax strategies… title insurance… managing health risks… step-by-step practicalities of making a move… international tax planning… and much more.

In the afternoon, we’ll once again break into smaller groups so you can get the details about the topics that interest you most.

We’ll wrap up with a farewell cocktail reception from 6:00 to 7:00pm.

We had a wonderful time and made many new friends that are living in different parts of our world.

See you at the next Conference.

Best wishes,

Roy van Broekhuizen

Co-Founder & CEO Laga Designs International, Inc.

Laga handbags are made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia.

Local woman works for company that gives profits to tsunami survivors

Local woman works for company that gives profits to tsunami survivors

By Jimmy Tomlin
jtomlin@hpe.com

JAMESTOWN - The handbags Joyce Darr sells are appealing enough on their own, but when potential customers hear the story behind the product, the sale is pretty much in the bag.

Darr, of Jamestown, is North Carolina's sole Laga consultant - and one of only a few on the East Coast - for Laga Designs International, a California company whose handbag, travel bag and beaded purse sales benefit people in Indonesia who were devastated by the 2004 tsunami.

"Everyone who has seen these bags loves them," Darr says, "and when people hear the story behind the bags, that really helps make the sale."

The Story, in fact, was what persuaded Darr to begin selling the high-fashion bags about three weeks ago.

"The thing that appealed to me most was that this helps rebuild someone's life from the tsunami that hit in Indonesia," she says. "Roy describes it as a business with a mission."

Roy is Laga Designs International co-founder Roy van Broekhuizen, of Irvine, Calif. A native of Indonesia, he returned to that country 10 days after the tsunami to lead a mission trip; the devastation he encountered prompted him to launch Laga Designs International ("laga(k)" is Acehnese for "beautiful").

"It was the worst thing I've ever seen - so much death, and the smell of death," van Broekhuizen recalls. "It totally changed my life and my wife's life. She was really touched by the people there."

Before the couple left Indonesia, van Broekhuizen's wife, Louise, became intrigued with some fashionable handbags she discovered that were handmade by local artisans. She brought them back to California, where she hosted a home party and sold some $2,000 worth of the bags, and the business quickly grew from there.

According to van Broekhuizen, the company now has about 50 consultants nationwide - most of them on the West Coast - as well as about 250 retail outlets and a wholesale division.

"We've probably sold about 5,000 to 6,000 bags of all sizes," van Broekhuizen says. "We're a small business, with under $1 million in revenues, but we may reach that within a year. And all net profits go back to the people of Indonesia - my wife and I don't get paid at all."

Van Broekhuizen says the handbags have been handed down from generation to generation in Indonesia, but Laga Designs International
is the first company to bring them to the United States.

"The story behind the bags is really an enhancement," he says. "Women, especially, love to help other women, and this is a great way not just to buy a bag, but also to help a woman in Indonesia who gets empowered by doing something productive. This helps give her a new life."

In Indonesia, the number of women making bags for Laga has grown from a dozen when the company started in 2006 to about 150 today.

The handbags and travel bags range from $24.95 up to about $399, depending on size, Darr says.

According to Darr, selling the handbags has been a blessing.

"I had been praying about finding a ministry of some kind," she says, "and every time I did, a phrase kept coming to me from Roy's Web site: "If you're going to carry a handbag anyway, why not carry one that helps rebuild lives?' So I look at this as a ministry that's helping change people's lives.”
Joyce Darr can be reached at 336-987-5274 in NC

Laga handbags CEO to speak at 2008 Live & Invest Overseas Conference October 3-5 - Long Beach, California

Dear Friends:

I have been invited to speak at this amazing conference where a number of experts on how to invest, live and retire overseas will share their experiences, knowledge, and skills. I will be sharing the Laga handbags story and how we took samples of handmade bags made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia 2 years ago and made it into a $ 1 million business in 2 years. My actual presentation will be on Sunday October 5, 2008 from 10:05am to 10:30am.

It will be held at the Hilton hotel, 2 World Trade Center, Long Beach, CA 90831
(562) 983-3400

You can read about the entire 3 day conference here,

http://www1.internationalliving.com/events/los08/w_sov.htm

Day-by-Day Snapshot
2008 Live & Invest Overseas Conference
Long Beach, California

Thursday, October 2, 2008 — Courtesy pre-event check-in from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. featuring an optional networking cocktail (cash bar).

Friday, October 3, 2008 — Event officially begins with check-in from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

The first day is a “who’s who” of International Living and investing. We’ll focus on the current opportunities and strategies to retire early. You’ll hear from people who’ve made the move themselves and get their advice and hard-earned insights.
We’ll end the day with a networking cocktail reception.

Saturday, October 4, 2008 — Today we’ll cover the top six places in the world we’re recommending right now. The “Pockets of Prosperity” you need to know about.

Our experts will give you the details about the current situation in Mexico’s Yucatan, the top opportunities in Panama, coastal Ecuador, Brazil’s north coast, Uruguay, and Italy’s “deep south” hill towns and coastlines.

Mid-afternoon, we’ll break into smaller groups to brief you more closely about the areas that interest you most. This will also be your chance to get all your questions answered personally.

In addition to our top six “Pockets of Prosperity,” we’ve also found possibilities for profit and prosperity in other countries as well. In each, a unique situation has created a special opportunity. It might not be right for everyone. But we’d be negligent if we didn’t at least bring them to your attention. (It might turn out, in fact, that you find there exactly what you’re looking for.)

So during this afternoon, you’ll have the option of attending workshops about these special locales as well. We’ll cover Nicaragua, Argentina, France, Romania, Costa Rica, Belize, and Morocco… to name just a few.

Sunday, October 5, 2008 — This is when we get into the nuts and bolts of moving, retiring, or doing business overseas. You’ll hear from our experts on topics like: health care strategies, how to save a fortune on premiums and still get the top treatments abroad… tax strategies… title insurance… managing health risks… step-by-step practicalities of making a move… international tax planning… and much more.

In the afternoon, we’ll once again break into smaller groups so you can get the details about the topics that interest you most.

We’ll wrap up with a farewell cocktail reception from 6:00 to 7:00pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Roy van Broekhuizen

Co-Founder & CEO Laga Designs International, Inc.

Laga handbags are made by tsunami survivors of Indonesia.

Dana Point woman sells Laga handbags to help tsunami victims

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Dana Point woman sells handbags to help tsunami victims

By CHRIS DAINES

Staff Writer

Less than three months ago, Vivian Vanderwerd took her handbags and put them on display at the Dana Point farmers market.

Vanderwerd, who also has spent time acting the past five years she has lived in Dana Point, liked the attractive bags and the noble cause behind Laga Designs International Inc. and decided she should sell them.

Q. What are Laga handbags all about?

A. They help and are made by survivors of the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Roy van Broekhuizen's business is based here in Irvine. The bags are being featured in many magazines. In fact, a bridal magazine has picked them as one of the top 10 gifts to give a bride – other than probably a prenup.

Q. How do they help?

A. Well, you are going to buy a bag anyway; may as well buy one that helps. They help rebuild the lives of people who lost homes and families. Many women had no source of income after the tsunami. Their families were decimated. If you are going to purchase a bag, do something that will help rebuild some lives. It really is the gift that gives back. It is so great that you can put food on someone's plate by buying a purse, giving them something necessary while enjoying something luxurious yourself.

Q. How long have you been selling Laga bags?

A. I've been selling them for about nine months. They are all made by hand. Smaller purses take about a day and a half to make, while larger ones can take about a month. They are finished inside and out. But the cool part, these bags are made on a treadle ... you know, one of those old-fashioned Singer machines. They are made free-form of terrific quality.

Q. How has the farmers market helped business?

A. I get a lot of traffic and a lot of exposure. When people learn about the product, see the cause and the quality of the work, they are more willing to purchase the bag. It's not an impulse item. Putting up a booth at the farmers market catches people's attention.

Q. What helped you make the initial decision to sell these bags?

A. I like purses. I had sensory overload when I saw them. I bought one to see the reaction I would get. I never sold stuff before. People were like "Where'd you get that?" I have had people buy the bag off of my shoulder and I took my possessions home in a plastic bag. I was at Augustino's having dinner and there was a woman who really liked the purse and said she wanted it. So I sold it to her.

For more information on Laga handbags, call Vanderwerd at 949-939-1879 or visit www.laga-handbags.com.

Contact the writer: 949-492-5135 or cdaines@ocregister.com

Laga's Handmade Bags Blog from UK

Laga’s Handmade Bags Blog from the UK

Google Blogs Alert for: Laga handbags

Laga’s Handmade Bags
By admin
After seeing the devastation the 2004 tsunami of the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia first hand, Roy van Broekhuizen along with his wife Louise, formed Laga Designs International, Inc. to provide an income, refuge and hope for the …
Handmade Bags Blog - http://www.handmadebags.org

We are so grateful for blogs that share our Laga story, thank you so much.

Roy van Broekhuizen

CEO

Laga Handbags Launches One-of-a-Kind Handmade Bags Made by Tsunami Survivors of Indonesia

					San Francisco, Calif. (PRWEB via PRWebDirect) July 23, 2008 -- Laga Handbags (laga-handbags.com), a manufacturer and distributor that offers unique up-and-coming handmade bags and travel bags made by tsunami survivors, today announced the release of its hot new collection for the new season at the San Francisco International Gift Fair held at the Moscone Center from July 26-29, 2008. Laga will be featured at the North Hall in booth # 6216. Co-Founder and CEO Roy van Broekhuizen says that it is important for Laga to participate at the SF Gift Fair so that attendees can see the beautiful bags that are truly considered a piece of art. The bags are made with a simple treadle machine, and an average bag takes about a day to make. "We are bringing an original piece of art and ancient history to the States for the very first time," says van Broekhuizen. The Laga bags newest collection features some fabulous and strikingly unique embroidery reflecting traditional Acehnese design, passed down from generation to generation. The wonderfully creative patterns are enhanced to offer exceptional quality and value, a new contemporary flare without compromising authenticity. You will definitely stand out from the crowd and it would not be a surprise if you are asked where you got your Laga bag. New designs are carefully selected for their original designs, unusual patterns and fabric, quality craftsmanship, and reasonable prices. And each design is made to be practical - even the smallest bags are large enough for items like cell phone, lipstick and credit card. And it definitely will not have that department store 'me too' look. Laga Handbags was formed to provide income and hope for a better future for those who lost their livelihood, but what transpired is much, much more. Laga's founders, Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen, developed personal relationships with the people of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, and we left our hearts in their homes. About Laga Handbags Roy van Broekhuizen started as tsunami Relief Coordinator January 3, 2005 for Saddleback church, Lake Forest, CA, the Sr. Pastor is Rick Warren, author of best seller "The Purpose Driven Life", immediately following the 2004 tsunami. His wife Louise started helping the cause in June 2005. Their vision is to help 1,200 tsunami survivors, they started with 12 in August 2006 and today they are able to support 150, mostly women that have lost it all. Extending far beyond just victims of tsunami, Laga ultimately hopes to touch generations of families and entire communities. For the betterment of humanity at large, Laga continues to grow, please visit laga-handbags.com or call toll free 1-888-LAGA-BAG. "...when you buy a Laga bag you're not just getting a really beautiful handbag, you're investing in the future of a precious life…" Watch Laga's TV interview on Irvine News Contact: Roy Van Broekhuizen 714-623-3671 roy@laga-handbags.com
				Handbag Manufacturer Announces Holiday Boutique Event to Help Rebuild the Lives of Tsunami Victims 2006-11-22

Gifts & Decorative Accessories article about Laga handbags "Giving Back"

Laga Designs Intl showed a collection of truly eye-catching handbags, wallets and small personal accessories. All of the bags are made by survivors of the Banda Aceh, Indonesia tsunami and all proceeds go back to support the workers and help to rebuild the communities. The bags feature intricate embroidery patterns that are indigenous designs and generally not widely seen previously by the outside world. The designs are crafted by the workers using foot-powered sewing machines. The bags all have a high fashion look and include interior pockets and compartments. Husband and wife team, Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen, owners of the company take no salaries from the business, preferring the monies to be returned to benefit the tsunami survivors in Roy’s native Indonesia. But this is a business they state emphatically, not a charity.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce article about Laga Handbags

A Chamber Member's Story

From Disaster Comes Opportunity

The van Broekhuizen's handbag business offers economic opportunity for Indonesian tsunami victims.

Laga Designs International, Inc., is a business with a mission. When Roy van Broekhuizen went to Indonesia as a relief coordinator after the 2004 tsunami, he saw scene after scene of total devastation-homes wiped out, schools and businesses flattened, and families fractured. But it was the survivors who affected him the most. "You would see them sitting on the floor, just traumatized. They had lost everyone and everything," van Broekhuizen says.

When van Broekhuizen's contract with his church's relief service ended in February 2006, he and his wife, Louise, vowed that they would do anything they could to help the survivors of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and the local economy. They found their solution in the one-of-a-kind embroidered handbags that Louise had purchased in the village. Encouraged by the interest that Louise's bags were generating in their hometown of Santa Ana, California, the van Broekhuizens held a party at their condo and sold $2,000 worth of bags.

Soon, the van Broekhuizens were receiving via airmail up to 11 boxes of handbags at a cost of $250 per box. The couple brought in their first 40-foot shipping container of bags in August 2007. They have on hand as many as 6,000 handbags and 33 consultants to sell the bags through home parties. Laga handbags are also sold in area boutiques, at booths at accessories trade shows, and on e-retailer eBags.com. "We're showing people something they've never seen before," says Roy. "Each handbag is a piece of art."

One hundred percent of Laga Designs' profits go back into the business, including renting production facilities overseas and paying wages for 150 tsunami survivors in Banda Aceh. Laga Designs' products, which also include belts, wallets, and travel duffels, incorporate native patterns passed down from generation to generation. Even the name of the van Broekhuizen's company is indigenous--Laga is a variation of the Acehnese word for beautiful--and each product line is given an Acehnese word.

The van Broekhuizens are trying to balance their explosive growth with their current inventory. "We don't know what's going to sell, so we have to juggle all the different styles, colors, and sizes," Roy explains. With a supplier half a world away, filling orders quickly can present challenges. For example, with eBags, the couple has to ship an order within 48 hours. "We're trying to get warehouse space. We can't work out of our garage anymore."

The growing pains are worth it, according to Roy. "To see those women now, how they are so empowered--it gives us all hope. We do our little part to help people, and it makes us realize how lucky we are."

Smithsonian considering Laga handbags

Smithsonian considering Irvine handbags for its catalogs

June 4th, 2008, 9:30 am · Post a Comment · posted by Hang Nguyen

An Irvine company’s handbags may land in the Smithsonian Christmas and/or jewelry catalogs.

Laga Designs International’s five purses and a wallet have passed a pre-selection stage for the catalogs, said Danette Nguyen, assistant buyer for the Smithsonian catalogs.

The products in the Smithsonian catalogs are picked because they relate in some way to its museums’ collections. That allows it to keep its non-profit status.

The Laga bags will relate to the Asian ethological collection at the National Museum of Natural History. The collection comprises of 30,000 objects from Southeast Asia, Nguyen said.

The Laga bags are handmade by more than 150 tsunami victims in Aceh, the Indonesian province that was destroyed by the earthquake and subsequent tidal waves on Dec. 26, 2004.

The nearly three-year-old Laga business allows founder Roy Van Broekhuizen, pictured above, to reconnect with his childhood. His family, part Dutch and part Indonesian, fled Indonesia when he was 9.

A Smithsonsian buyer came across the Laga handbags at a trade show in Las Vegas.

The institution plans to sell these pieces from $30 to $140, slightly higher than what they go for on Laga’s Web site. The Harapan “Hope” purse, pictured right, which Laga retails from $130 to $190, is one of the bags Smithsonian is considering.

The local company will find out in about two to three weeks whether it made the final cut for the Smithsonsian catalogs that arrive in homes in October, Nguyen said.

(Register photo of Van Broekhuizen and his wife Louise with their bags. Other photo from Laga Web site.)

Laga Handbags Invites you to Holland Festival May 25 at Gemmrig Park, Long Beach, California.....

Laga Handmade Handbags invites you to the 19th Annual Holland Festival Sunday May 25 at Gemmrig Park, Long Beach, California…..

19th Annual Holland Festival Sunday, May 25, 2008 Gemmrig Park, Long Beach, California

Laga Handbags will have 2 booths at this festival,

please come and visit us.

Laga handmade handbags, fashion handbags, beaded bags and travel bags are unique

Roy & Louise van Broekhuizen

Laga handmade handbags, fashion handbags, beaded bags and travel bags are unique

Laga Handbags Mother's Day Boutique Saturday May 3, 2008 from 12 noon to 7pm

www.laga-handbags.com

Check out our blog at www.laga-handbags.com/events

"...when you buy a Laga bag you're not just getting a beautiful handbag, you're investing in the future of a precious life.."