Congratulations to Sugandh Agrawal (Industrial Design, 2005), winner of the Best Retail Handbag Award at the 2018 Independent Handbag Designer Awards. The award, presented by Macy’s, recognized a handbag “designed with the Macy’s customer in mind” and included 1,500 entries from around the world.
Agrawal said she was honored by the industry award. “The judges are accomplished professionals within the fashion world and it means so much to have them endorse my work,” she said.
Along with the recognition, Agrawal received a spot in the 2019 Workshop at Macy’s, a vendor development program that is designed to give select high potential women- and minority-owned businesses tools to achieve success in retail. She also received a yearlong membership to the Accessories Council.
A native of India who came to the U.S. in 2001 to attend Columbus College of Art & Design, Agrawal lives in New York with her husband and daughter and runs Gunas, the vegan luxury handbag label she founded in 2009.
“I plan to work closely with Macy's to develop a collection specifically for their audience and continuing to pursue expanding my own line in a 100% plant-based direction,” she said. “The workshop at Macy’s will be an amazing exposure for the brand and a great learning experience for me personally, from a business point of view.”
The Independent Handbag Designer Awards are presented by Handbag Designer 101 and were created by Emily Blumenthal, known as the “Handbag Designer Fairy Godmother.”
