Shop Local Spotlight: Leah & Luella

The second in the installment of my shop local series! Read on to hear more about Michele’s handbag line Leah & Luella, why she changed careers and advice for fellow entrepreneurs:

Talk about your career transitions and going back to school for fashion?

At a point in my early thirties I found myself bored in my current position in the medical field and needing change. I began looking at positions that I would be interested in and decided I would go back to college to be a physical therapist. I left my safe and steady job and went on my way, driving an hour one way, four days a week to and from the college, studying, working part time and taking care of a family.

Initially, what I thought I was going back for turned out not that interesting (after 1 ½ years of classes). I made the jump and changed my major. I went into Fashion Merchandising and Design. I soon came to realize it was where I was supposed to be.

Tell me about your business and why you started it? Why did you want to design bags?

About a year prior to graduation I started thinking about how I was going to be able to utilize both my Major of Merchandising and my Minor in Fashion Design. I had already found a position utilizing my merchandising skills, but I wasn’t able to be hands on creative. This is what grounds me and gives me peace. I knew I would need that aspect in my life. I had been and still am attracted to beautiful and unique high-quality textiles.

While I was in design school, I seemed to be attracted to rich leathers and cowhides. I soon chose to take an added independent course in leather. I fell in love designing leather accessories, but I didn’t want to add to our landfills. Leather and cowhide are both natural products. That means their impact on the environment is far less than the man-made materials that are produced in the world. Cowhide is a byproduct of the meat industry. Therefore, no animal is hurt in the process. If we don’t utilize it, it is a natural product going to waste. That is where Leah & Luella was born.

Each piece hand crafted from leather and cowhide that have been responsibly sourced and made with almost zero waste. In addition to that, my bags designs have a very minimalist chic approach. I do not ship out my production. Each bag is designed, cut and sewn by me from the chosen leathers and cowhides to the natural suede linings. In this way I can make any adjustments you need to make your bag that one of a kind special piece. All my bags and accessories are hand made in the USA with all-natural fabrics. They are fully sustainable and will last the test of time.

What’s the best and worst part about owning your own business?

Some of the best bits of owning your own business are that you are in charge of ALL decisions, have full creative freedom, there is nothing that has to be fake in what you are doing and you have the freedom to lay it all out there and see what people think.

Some of the hardest bits of being your own boss are that you are in charge of ALL decisions, it is incredibly scary, there is the possibility of failing and going deep into debt and you will have many mistakes both large and small. Each of them is a lesson and some of them will be incredibly painful.

What advice would you have for other women entrepreneurs looking to start their own biz?

If you are a woman and you want to start your own business know that it is hard. It’s harder than most things you have done in your life. You will struggle with your decision when you can’t pay bills and you will question quitting. You will cry and question whether what you have done is good enough. You will question everything you know: about yourself, about your product about your life. You will spend countless hours making, producing and doing what you think is correct. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. You will learn so much about your person. You will learn to trust that this where you are supposed to be in life and do what makes you happy. Go ahead and question it. Then, go and do it. There is never one way to do things. There are a million different ways, find your way and jump.

Follow Leah & Luella on Facebook and Instagram (and shop her bags!)