SosiLeone

Hi, I’m a Venezuelan designer, creative, and entrepreneur. This is my story:

In 2017, I moved to the New York area. I was a freelance designer and commuted to Manhattan for meetings. I walked every day for around 15 minutes to the train station, and in the meantime, I listened to podcasts and audiobooks about entrepreneurship and design. I remember one particular day, I was walking to the train while listening to a Ted Talk on how good product design can truly improve your life, and on the other hand, how poor design can make you feel so frustrated!
At that exact moment, I was carrying a heavy leather tote bag with a 13-inch laptop inside. I felt exhausted and frustrated. I was wearing that uncomfortable bag to look “professional” for the meetings but I’d always end up with back pain and a sore shoulder. Part of me just wanted to get a huge masculine or even childish-looking backpack, just for the sake of comfort. But deep down, I really wanted a grown-up women’s bag.

A convertible bag that could adapt to my lifestyle, one that I could wear in multiple ways and make me feel feminine, professional, and stylish. Also, a bag that could fit my 13-inch laptop with ease, along with my snacks, laptop charger, and makeup.
I still remember myself walking down the street dealing with the sticky leather strap in my shoulder and hurting my neck while listening to this talk about "changing people's lives through design..." The idea came to me immediately. I needed to design my dream bag! But then, I forgot about it and moved on with my life. But the idea kept coming back to me, after all, I really needed that dream bag.

It wasn’t until Spring 2018 that I started making drawings, and finally agreed on a design, and created the first sample. To be honest, I cried once the sample was ready. It was so amazing to see my idea becoming an actual physical product.

I wore the bag for almost 3 months and it solved all my problems. Then, people started asking me about it and I realized that other women shared similar struggles. So, I decided to make a 2.0 version of the original sample bag and start selling them on Etsy! :)

I already sold out the original brown bag. Then, I created the black version with some extra improvements (Always improving!). So far, It’s been a great journey. I’ve learned a lot and keep learning from this experience. But most importantly, I love reading how my bag design has helped other women live their lives better.

Never doubt your ability to make a difference in the world. I might not sell thousands of bags per month, but the ones that I do get to sell, make a huge difference in my life and the lives of the wonderful women who used them or give them as a gift.

The end, for now :)