Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Burrows.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Emily. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Always born to travel, literally born in Spain and been all around the world. I had a love for culture. Vaalbara was established in 2010 and inspired by my love of creating. I started collecting fabric when I moved to Ecuador on a volunteer program through my school. After that I had the bug to keep going. Places such as Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Vietnam, and Cambodia… the list goes on.
I first started sewing the bags for myself because I preferred pouches over big purses that every woman lugs around. My husband and I launched the line right before Christmas and was quickly recognized and loved by many. Vaalbara bags are all handmade with love in Venice, California. Each of the bags are one of a kind and all are lined with 100% recycled plastic bottles. All of the leather used in the pieces is local Californian cow and bison hide. Our store opened 2016, in Newburyport, MA, where I grew up and my family is from. It was always a dream of my sisters and mine to have a business together. Our store carries a variety of hand crafted goods locally made and collected pieces from travels.
Vaalbara is a big supporter of Surf Rider Foundation, which is a non-profit organization based out of California and helps keep the beaches and oceans clean on the West coast. Vaalbara is inspired by the bohemian surf and beach culture of Venice, California.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course with every business there are bumps along the road. My husband and I had never owned a business before, so everything was a learning process. Finding the right leathers to source, took years and even the proper hardware and tools to use. Wholesale was a challenge when we first started because I was sewing everything in the beginning. We would get store orders of 15- 20 bags and it would take me all night cutting and sewing in my living room. We eventually found a great little team to help us learn and grow.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Vaalbara Supply – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Vaalbara Supply specializes in handcrafted goods for women and men made in the USA. My husband James Burrows and my sister Amanda Prescott and I opened the store in 2016. The store offers our personal designs-unique, vibrant and environmentally conscious bags handcrafted in the USA. Also featured are a host of other American designers who hand-make clothing, candles, soaps, hats, blankets, pillowcases, lotions, oils, and jewelry. There is also a vintage section and an assortment of gems collected from travels around the world.
We are known for our Vaalbara bags and its unique look. It can be worn as a clutch or you can custom design it into a messenger or fanny pack bag to wear. I am most proud of the fact that our product is made in the USA and most of our products in the store are too. We are supporting our local economy and artist across the nation. I still get excited when I see a stranger walking up the street in one of my designs.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We plan to grow our company and maybe open more stores.
Contact Info:
- Address: Vaalbara Supply
1 Water St. Newburyport, MA. 01950 - Website: vaalbara.com
- Phone: 978.212.9678
- Email: emily@vaalbaradesigns.com
- Instagram: @vaalbarasupply
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaalbarasupply/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: @vaalbaradesigns
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