Lady LUX

Most women I know are obsessed with handbags.

My mother is obsessed with handbags. My sister is obsessed with handbags. My next door neighbor—not a fashion person at all—is obsessed with handbags.

OK, I am obsessed with handbags.

I love them, in all their myriad sizes, shapes, colors, and formulations. I like them oversized, and minaudiere, those with handles or those with long straps, in black, white, metallic, and suede, canvas and wool—I even have a bright Kelly green shoulder bag with gold hardware and a bright orange rectangular tote. I have knock offs and the real thing, sacs, satchels, quilted backpacks from way back, and proper vintage lady bags that are old but new again. Clutches, carryalls, Baguettes, bucket bags, hobos, totes, I’ve hardly met a bag I don’t like. If I had more room in my closet, many more would line my shelves. But I am, sadly, at maximum capacity. Perhaps I can build more shelves …………….

Because I will need to fit at least one more in there—one by Nyla Noor. Sisters Romaana and Saifra Zia founded the new handbag line last year after they both left their very successful careers in investment banking. The design duo was lucky enough to have grown up in the business: Their parents ran a leather goods store in the garment district for years after moving to the United States from Pakistan (their father was a textile engineer). With a background in design and retail that prepared them so well, both felt fully equipped to make a go of their new endeavor. Upon meeting the Zia sisters, one can fully see that they embody their company’s spirit to the fullest: Nyla translates as “achiever” in Pakistani, and Noor translates as “light”, a transcendent phrase for a sister act that is sure to bowl them over.

The debut Nyla Noor collection is as glamorous as it gets, with ingeniusly placed pockets and the highest quality zippers around. Any of the styles—the Port Vell Satchel, the Hobo Nouveau, the El Borne Hipster, or the Mercat Convertible Messenger—are sure to become the new “It” Bag. The bags are handmade right here in America as well—right in Manhattan, New York City, and are much more than just another handbag; they are sophisticated, luxurious, and eco-friendly to boot. Each element of the bags serves a higher purpose too: The leathers for the bags are fashioned from a special eco-friendly tanning process, one where vegetable dyes are used, a natural extract rather than a manmade one. And the linings are 100 percent organic cotton. How could one combine their love of Mother Earth and their wardrobe more???

Here, Romaana and Saifra share what their future holds and why their present is so exciting:

LadyLUX: Your bags are so fabulous! How did you come up with your designs?

Romaana and Saifra: The design is always a progression, and nothing’s ever wrong-that’s the nice part. So much influences both of us—architecture, art, the fashion we’ve seen over the years, and our family business. We had one idea to start and it evolved into another idea, we may change a grommet or handle or the total shape of the bag. It’s always evolving, and very boundless. The devil’s in the details, as we know.

LL: Your press release says launching this line has been a lifelong dream. Have you two always wanted to create handbags? And when did the company launch?

R + S: This past January. It took us only about a year from when we decided to start the line to when we launched. The bags were officially ready for ordering this January on the website, and now we’re looking for retail representation.

LL: You grew up in the fashion business, in a family that had a leather goods showroom and retail boutique. Did that give you the confidence you needed? Were your parents very supportive?

R+S: 100 percent. They gave us feedback every step of the way. They’re there now whenever we need advice too, which is great!

LL: Your website is dynamite. The styling is so wonderful and the look on the model, and the way she displays the handbag so unique. It’s a touch racy but still shows off the bags. How did you come up with the concept?

R+S: Romaana did the styling. We wanted the model and the mood to depict the different feelings that the bag evokes. Fashion changes so rapidly, and for the site we wanted something that would be memorable, not just follow the trends.

LL: You both made a bold move leaving your big jobs at investment banks to start a fashion company—and one in a very saturated corner of the industry. What made you think you could do it?

R+S: We had always talked about it, and kicked around doing something together for so long. We were in a different phase in our lives before now, a different chapter, but it was the time. We also work well together; we have the same work ethic.

LL: What were your doubts, if any?

R+S: I guess we had the same doubts as does anyone starting a new business, but launching Nyla Noor has been a total labor of love.

LL: Will you expand the line? Into other accessories maybe?

R+S: Maybe. We haven’t really gotten that far! For now, we’ve just been concentrating so much on launching the collection over the past few months. The product we started with is very different than what’s out there now. We know that so much goes into the development. We’re excited to see where it goes though. Never say never!

LL: The line is very eco-friendly. Was that important to you both?

R+S: Yes, we want women who are passionate fashionistas to embrace what we see as the next movement in the style world, which is conscious living.

LL: What do you still feel like you have to learn?

R+S: Everything! We are always learning.

Tagged in: lux exclusives, handbags, accessories, new designers, luxury pocketbooks, eco-friendly,

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