Handbag Designer 101, the handbag designer resource, announces today the long awaited results of the finalists for the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. Over 600 applications were received from around the world ranging with diverse backgrounds from South Dakota to Colombia to Lithuania. The Independent Handbag Designer Awards is the only design competition of its kind in the world for handbag designers to receive credibility and recognition to stand out in today’s competitive accessory market. The winners will be announced on June 18th at the IHDA event at the New York Historical Society.

Finalists compete for a variety of prizes such as an apprenticeship with Henri Bendel’s handbag accessory design team for the Best Student Made Handbag; an opportunity to have their bags on Bag Borrow or Steal for the Audience Fan-Favorite, to design an original 360 Vodka eco-luxury handbag for the Best Green Handbag; a feature in Taunton Press’ CraftStylish.com and a brand new Singer Curvy 8763 sewing machine for the Best Handmade Handbag; a chartable donation to their cause for the Most Socially Responsible Handbag, their bag featured on ABC’s All My Children and a free booth at WWDMAGIC Accessories Show in Las Vegas (worth over $7000) for the Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design as well as other press-related accolades, a trunk show and being part of a trunk show and window display at Henri Bendel in addition to being named the best in their respective category. (Yahoo.com)

Nyasha Manyonda who hails from Zimbabwe, is one of the finalist for “Most Socially Responsible Bag” amongst four others…

To read more about this competition, please click HERE

Congratulations Nyasha!!

- Wadami.