SasakiBags
Kailua Village (historical), Hawaii |
SasakiBags
Recycled & Novelty Bags and Accessories Made in HawaiiKailua Village (historical), Hawaii 1419 Sales On Etsy since 2009
SasakiBags is taking a short break
Reviews
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Fern Leslie on Oct 17, 2018
5 out of 5 starsThis is the perfect little bag! Not too big and not too small. The colors are exactly like the photo, and the strap is removable so you can use it two ways. The lining is a high quality coordinating print. My octopus-loving daughter is going to love it! And Barb was really great to work with. Don’t hesitate to make a purchase from this shop - you won’t be disappointed!
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carolyn greenan on Jul 25, 2018
5 out of 5 starsLove my bag! Everything Barb makes is excellent quality. Even better to support the Puna district! 💙❤️
Updates
About
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Big bags...little bags! I make them all right here in Hawaii!
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I started out my career making burlap totes and purses. I still make them among many other textiles.
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silk kimono yoga mat bag
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I have collaborated with Maui tattoo artist Keahi Raikes for the design on this fabric.
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I love beachy fabric!
Lemons to Lemonade
How did you start your shop? How does it all work?
I was injured at my place of employment and following two surgeries, I began wondering "what on earth will I do if I can't go back to my job?"
During my rehabilitation, I suffered depression and my weight yo-yo'd. I began thinking about what types of things I spent money on regardless of my size or mood. For me, it was jewelry or handbags. They always "fit"!
I have always figured myself to be quite "average". My feet were average, I often wore an "average" size in clothing. I even finished middle of the pack when I ran the Honolulu Marathon (many years ago). So I thought there must be other "average" women out there who have similar spending habits.
At first I took a jewelry making class with my husband. He excelled at it...me, well, not so much! But I did know how to sew (Thank you momma!)
I worked hard at my physical rehabilitation and was able to return to my original job, but by then, life had changed so much that I knew I had a new goal. It was starting my own business and making it my sole source of income within 4 years.
It was at a bad time in the economy, so living in Hawaii, I also wanted to sew something "different" that would make my creations stand out. I live in the middle of Kona Coffee Country so using coffee bags seemed like a no brainer. My very first sale was for 100 tote bags to a retail store.
My background working in a 5 star hotel gave me knowledge of the corporate incentive world. I now sell to several companies who bring their clients to Hawaii for incentive trips. I love it when they call me year after year. That is the greatest compliment!
In January of 2011 after 3 years and 3 months of bag making, I was able to close the door on my former career and open a new door to being self employed. Doing something I love makes the long days pass quickly. An added bonus is that I can even sew in my jammies without any makeup on!
One of my biggest lessons has been to dream BIG .....and then dream BIGGER! Not every idea I have is a good one, but I'm not afraid of giving it a whirl. Stay tuned. The journey isn't over yet!
Shop members
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Barb Sasaki
Owner, Designer
Barb Sasaki is a hardworking determined woman who dares to dream big. She has been making bags since 2007 and has big goals for the future.
Shop policies
Thank you so much for stopping by my shop. I am aware that Etsy has many shops to choose from so my goal is to always offer great customer service and let you know that you are buying from a real person working in a "one woman sweat shop" in Hawaii.
Feel free to "convo" me about any of my items. If you are purchasing a gift, please let me know and I will enclose a complimentary gift card and wrap it for you.
Accepted payment methods
- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
- Other Method
Returns and exchanges
I want happy customers. Please give me a chance to give you great customer service!
Payment
I require custom orders to be paid in advance of making your item.
Hawaii orders will have sales tax automatically added to your purchase price.
Shipping
If you require additional insurance, please inform me prior to your purchase so I can adjust the cost.
I do ship internationally.
All customs import fees are your responsibility.
I am not responsible for items once they leave my control. It is very rare for items to be lost in the mail, but since many of my items are "one of a kind", a replacement will not be possible. Please consider purchasing additional insurance if you are overly concerned. *note: I have never had a bag not arrive to the location I shipped it to out of over 1000 orders.