The tsunami destroyed 90 miles of coastline, going inwards anywhere from 1 to 2 miles, wiped out buildings, homes, and everything that came in its path at 400+ miles per hour and as high as 60 feet, can you imagine something like that coming at you?

There were many times I just stood on the beach in Aceh and tried to picture the wave coming at me, how frightening that must have been.

As we helped clean up buildings, homes, streets and build new homes, boats, clinics, invested in local folks with micro financing as a gift, not a loan, my wife Louise and I were so touched by the Acehnese people that we had to find a way to continue helping in Aceh.

We started a small handbag factory with 12 Acehnese in August 2006, today we are so thrilled that we are helping over 400 in Aceh and we continue the work that has been laid before us.

We are currently in Lancaster, PA, and have booth # 2411 at the AQS quilt show, http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/lancaster/2011/general_info/ that goes from March 16 to 19, 2011 starting at 9 am to 6 pm, March 24, 25 and 26 at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Cleveland, OH, http://www.sewingexpo.com/ClevelandOH.aspx, March 31, April 1 & 2, 2011 in Chicago, IL, held at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL, http://www.sewingexpo.com/ChicagoIL.aspx, and April 7: 5-9 p.m. (Preview Night), April 8 & 9: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., April 10: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the International Quilt Festival/Cincinnati held at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, http://www.quilts.com/newHome/shows/viewer.php?page=SpringFestival. If you are in the area of any of the shows, please stop by our Laga Handbags booth and let us know you read my post.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Best wishes from Lancaster, PA…..

Roy van Broekhuizen

Laga Designs International, Inc.

roy@lagahandbags.com

http://www.laga-handbags.com/

New Handbag Manufacturer Shows Plenty of Heart

With the coming of spring, our minds naturally turn to fresh new looks and fashion trends. We want to know what’s hot and what’s not, and we put time aside to find the right accessories and handbags to match each new outfit. Fortunately, there’s a new handbag manufacturer in town –handbags.com/about.html” title=”About Laga Handbags” target=”_blank”> Laga Designs International — that recently hit the market running with two lines of quality handmade handbags and one travel bag line from Indonesia that offer as much eye appeal as they do form and functionality.

Buyers everywhere have begun to snap up the handbags for reasons beyond fashion sense. First, with more than 30 handbag and travel bag styles to choose from, the lines offer lots of options. More important, however, is that a generous portion of the proceeds from every handbag purchase goes to help the tsunami victims of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The latter is a story of hope, help and healing for the people of Banda Aceh, and a tale of a path less taken for Laga founders Roy and Louise Van Broekhuizen.

What started as a short-term assignment to bring volunteer teams and distribute funds donated by members of Saddleback church to those hit hardest by the devastating tsunami event a month earlier turned into an ongoing personal effort for Roy and Louise, who created Laga Designs International as a way to continue helping the victims of the tsunami-ravaged country. It was following their initial visits to Banda Aceh when the Van Broekhuizens decided that manufacturing high-quality handbags could help them help the tsunami victims on an ongoing basis.

“We began manufacturing handbags after I had made several visits the tsunami-torn area of Banda Aceh,” explains Roy. “I was asked by Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA, to lead volunteer efforts in Banda Aceh in January 2005. We didn’t know the trip would put us on a path to a lifelong mission, but it has become our personal goal to help the people hardest hit by the tsunami to rebuild their lives.”

The Van Broekhuizens put their money where their mouths are, making regular visits to the Banda Aceh area to work side by side with the locals to build homes and care for the sick and needy. Currently, Roy and Louise are leaving for Indonesia November 13, 2009, this will be Roy’s 21st trip since the tsunami December 26, 2004, lending much needed helping hands to the Indonesian people.

“The devastation left behind in the region of Banda Aceh continues to be heart breaking,” says Louise, who finds it difficult to hold back tears whenever she speaks about the people there. “They are still rebuilding now and still need a lot of help. In our manufacturing center, we started with 12 women August 2006, today we are supporting 300+. We want to help provide a new life for the people of Banda Aceh. We cannot give them back the loved ones they lost, but we can do a lot to help them rebuild their area’s infrastructure as we help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.”

It takes almost a full day to make an average size handbag, almost a week for the large travel bags, the bags are made on a single pedal treadle machine as shown here by our manager from Indonesia, Hana, when we flew her to the US and had her demonstrate at AccessoriesTheShow in Las Vegas.

To read the whole story behind the creation of the company and how Roy and Louise hope to change the world of the tsunami victims … one handbag at a time … visit Laga Handbags. Learn:

Who makes all the handbags and why – All Laga Design International handbags are handmade by the local artisans of Indonesia. It is the hope of Roy and Louise that the memory of what happened to these gentle people on December 26, 2004 will remain in the hearts of those around the world so that work to rebuild their lives can continue.

More about Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen – A former VP of International Business Development for Online Trading Academy and owner of several businesses, Roy has partnered with wife Louise to create a truly unique and charitable handbag company.

What’s so different about Laga Designs International – Aside from manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, one-of-a-kind handmade handbags, the company was formed to provide employment and income for those who lost their livelihoods as a result of the tsunami disaster. By hiring and training local victims, Roy and Louise hope to help the people of Indonesia restore their economy and infrastructure.

To learn how a simple handbag purchase can help support the victims of the tsunami and to view Laga’s product lines, visit Laga Handbags. To schedule an interview with Roy and/or Louise, contact Sandra McGinty at 949.291.2265.

About Roy and Louise Van Broekhuizen

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1948, Roy fled Indonesia in 1957 to Holland, immigrated to the US (Oregon City, OR) in 1961 and 1970 on a soccer scholarship from Lewis & Clark College. Simultaneously, he pursued entry into the music business as a professional guitar player. His musical dreams were realized in the early 1970s, as he opened for Ike and Tina Turner, and opened for Jimi Hendrix and other groups. He then moved on to the business world, starting a number of import/export/international trade businesses (exporting American products to SE Asia), as well as a 300-seat restaurant, a catering business, a construction company, and a mortgage business in Southern California. Managing a number of large operations, Roy became one of the first day traders in the world in June 1997, eventually became VP of Sales and Marketing for Online Trading Academy, a company specializing in teaching how to trade for a living.

Louise Van Broekhuizen was born in The Hague, Holland, in 1955, immigrating to Pasadena, Calif. in 1961, where she eventually attended Torrance High School and El Camino Community College. She co-owned a variety of businesses and became involved in the mortgage loan business, where she was responsible for processing and underwriting mortgage loans for her own mortgage company (Harvest Mortgage Inc.) as well as DiTech, Consumer Portfolio Services and First Bank. Louise is a very organized, detailed and focused individual, traits that come in pretty handy working alongside Roy in the tsunami area of Banda Aceh, importing handbags and other products from Indonesia.

About Laga Designs International Handbags

Laga offers two distinct styles of handbag, no two the same aside from quality manufacturing practices. techniques. Delightfully distinctive, Laga handbags offer something for everyone in style and functionality. Laga is currently accepting applications from those interested in becoming Laga Handbag Consultants on a part-time or full-time basis here in the United States. Laga is also looking for party hostesses, distributors, and volunteers to assist with day-to-day operations of the company. For more information or to apply, please contact Roy or Louise by phone at 714.623.3671 or 714.623.3672.

For more information, contact:

Sandra K. McGinty, Public Relations Director

949.291.2265

Check out this website link:
http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/video/aceh+bags/

We also invite you to become a fan of Laga Handbags on Facebook!
Click here to join us and get all the latest updates and information!

I bought a wallet named Uang which means “money” at the Irish Faire in Irvine, CA on June 21^st. Listen to Sylvia Hassard-Johnson, a Laga Consultant as she shares the extraordinary story of who is responsible for making the wallet along with other handbags.

Roy and Louise van Broekhuizen are the founders of Laga Designs International, Inc in Irvine, CA. Through consultants and boutiques, they sell handmade bags made by Indonesian Muslim women from Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit villages in the December 2004 tsunami. These bags are uniquely hand stitched with great craftsmanship.

The photos shown in the video are courtesy of Roy van Broekhuizen.

Click here to view the interview

Top 3 Rising Designer Handbag Labels of 2009!

In: “Handbag“

21 Apr 2009

Every year the competition between handbag and accessory designers to make their styles stand out from the competition becomes more and more difficult. Top designer handbag labels like Prada and Gucci remain popular year over year but there are new and unique labels making their mark on the fashion industry and stealing the spotlight from the already-successful labels.

Below you will find a list of the three most popular handbag labels rising in popularity this year. If you haven’t heard of these labels yet, you will soon.

Ed Hardy Handbags

Ed Hardy handbags are unique, trendy and sure to please any fashionista. The edgy design of these intricate handbag designs can range from rocker-like skulls to dainty roses while maintaining an image that women desire. Never boring and the perfect accessory to any outfit, Ed Hardy handbags are the newest rage on the designer bag market. If you haven’t invested in an Ed Hardy handbag, you’re truly missing out.

Laga Handbags

Laga handbags are ideal for fashion-forward females who not only want to look great but enjoy piece of mind in knowing that the statements they’re making with their wardrobe are a positive message to the world. An average bag takes approximately one day to make and each design is completely unique. The bags are made by women who survived the tsunami in Indonesia and symbolize hope for a better tomorrow. If you’re looking for a stylish bag with a truly remarkable message, look no further than a signature Laga bag.

Perlina Handbags

Always classic and never dull, Perlina handbags are the ideal accessories for stylish women who love the quality of a true designer handbag but aren’t ready to fork over upwards of a thousand dollars for a handbag. Made with high-quality materials and designed for both casual and formal occasions, Perlina handbags are the must-have items of the season.

Women understand the importance of a quality handbag. As much as it’s important to recognize popular designers on the market, real fashionistas realize which new designers are popular before anyone else. Purchasing a handbag from any one of the designers above will make you the envy of all your friends – and you’ll become a trendsetter, instead of a follower.

Jessica Landry is a certified fashionista. She knows the upcoming trends before they hit the scene. She knows that Laga Handbags, Perlina Handbags and Ed Hardy Handbags are going to be hot this year and highly suggests checking them out before everyone else!

InStyle Handbag.com

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. This is the reason our organization, Friends of Child Advocacy, has asked celebrities across the nation to open their closets and look in their hearts. With the generous donations of actors, news anchors, musicians, writers, and other celebs, we will be hosting an online auction in April that promises to be quite remarkable!

All proceeds from the handbag auction will benefit the  Kane County Child Advocacy Center located in Geneva, Illinois.

Laga Handbags was asked to participate in this auction, along with other celebrities and their handbags, such as Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade and many, many more! Sit back and travel through their site to learn more about this organization and enjoy viewing the bags they will be offering (click here and scroll down to the bottom to see Laga’s handbag).

We were proud to be asked to join many other celebrities in an effort to help prevent child abuse. And we look forward to being involved in many more such events in the future!

PS: Check out the other links on which Laga Handbags have been featured lately:

too busy gals: Laga OPEN HOUSE
By Jessica and Alexis
Everyone attending will have the opportunity to purchase their Laga handbags at a 70% discount from full retail. For example, an Abadi, which has a full retail value of $144.95 and normally sells at a home show for $119 would cost you …

suede leather bag | salusinc.com
By Will
One such company is Laga Handbags, 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 …

Fashion-Network.com Featured Videos

Handbags of Hope…..: Laga Handbags in BoHo magazine
Friday, January 23, 2009
Laga Handbags
I was in Borders yesterday (always a dangerous place) in search of Bead & Button magazine when a different one caught my eye. Mainly because instead of the usual high gloss paper, this magazine uses a …

Laga Handbags Combo

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 399, 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 upfront 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 handbags.com/handbags.html” title=”handmade handbags, purses”> for you!

Laga Handbags Combo

“Embroidered Indonesian Large Bowler, called “Harapan” which means “Hope”.

handbags.com/events/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/harapan-handbag_s.jpg” title=”Laga handbag-Harapan”>

“A one-of-a-kind handmade creation, adorned with exotic Indonesian embroidery and lined with satin. They’re made, one at a time, on pedal-driven treadle machines, by tsunami survivors. A fabulous carryon!

Quite simply, you’ll never carry a more stunning bag.
“We were amazed to learn that these gorgeous creations are handmade on pedal-driven treadle machines! Each one-of-a-kind piece bears the exotic hand embroidery of Indonesia-where the artisans are working hard to transform tragedy into beauty. Crafted of water-resistant nylon/polyester and lined in satin. With embroidered handles, metal hardware and 5 metal/rubber feet. Black/cream shown.

“Large Duffel “Kuat” makes a great carryon – it fits easily in an overhead bin or car trunk. The extended top zipper has snap-down end flaps. Zippered inside wall pocket. 13½”x17½”x9½”.”