Leoluca - Classic Bags With A Modern Twist.

Created by two best friends—Lauren Letizio and Emma Lezak—from San Diego, CA. Leoluca is a collection of luxurious handbags that are lovingly made in the USA. The bags are elegant and sophisticated with just the right touch of attitude. Styles range from contemporary to chic and are accented with edgy details like zippers and studs. Check out the Spring/Summer 2012 collection at www.leolucahandbags.com

Why did you start Leoluca?
We have always had a passion for fashion, accessories, and handbags and we wanted to put our creativity into something we were passionate about. We believe that the accessories you finish your outfit with really make it stand out and add that touch of personal style you need to stand apart from the crowd. It’s fun for us to be able to put our creativity into bags that can help women define their personal style.

How did the name come about?

Leoluca is derived from an Italian Saint, Saint Leoluca, as well as a 1950's mobster, Leoluca Bagarella. The duality of a Saint and a Mobster really mirrors our line and our designs. We love to combine classic design elements with an edgy twist.

Since the two of you were good friends before starting Leoluca, what would you say is the most important factor when it comes to balancing your personal and professional relationship?

Keeping our personal relationship personal and our business relationship business and not mixing the two has helped us keep a healthy, well balanced, and professional relationship.

Where do you find your design inspiration?

We find our design inspiration from so many different areas of our lives. We have a strong passion for personal style and feel that our own personal style, in addition to the street style that we view on the different blogs, helps inspire certain designs. We also look to music and architecture to inspire certain designs.

What is the most important thing you've learned about designing handbags?

It is important to us to keep going when the going gets tough. We've learned that there are going to be bumps along the road but it is important to stay focused on your end goal.

What can you tell us about the Spring/Summer 2012 collection?

Our Spring/Summer 2012 collection has a lot of bright colors and a lot of versatile bags that can be worn from day to night.

What is your favorite bag style?

Currently we find ourselves carrying a lot of the cross-body style, but we are suckers for a great satchel!

What is your best seller?

Frances- she is large enough to carry just about everything.

Madrid- her versatility and bright color has caught the eye of many people.

Which celebrity would you most like to see with one of you bags?

Nicole Richie is one of our style icons, and we would love to see her sporting a Leoluca Handbag!

Interview by Nikki Neil. Photos courtesy of Leoluca.