News / Enterprise

Woman switches from legal career to high-fashion handbags

By Betty Woolerton  Thursday Mar 24, 2022

An independent business from Bristol has secured a one-year feature in The Ritz’s publication.

Amschela started out when Keri Andriana became redundant in 2016 after a 15-year legal career.

Originally starting the luxury handbag brand as a part-time venture, Andriana told Bristol24/7 how her venture was just supposed to be a “Instagram shop side-hustle” whilst she looked for another legal position.

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But Amschela was quickly spotted by Vogue, Tatler, Vanity Fair and London Fashion Week, and five years on, the business will now be featured in a renowned luxury hotel’s guest guide in London.

Amschela has secured a 1-year feature in The Ritz’ Hotel Guest Luxury Guide publication – photo: Amschela

Amschela, which is based in Westbury-on-Trym, will be featured alongside brands like Bentley & Skinner, Richard Mille, De Beers and Watches of Switzerland.

The handbags balance style with ethics, and are vegan, cruelty-free, recycled and sustainable with designs ranging from cross-body and shoulder to purses and designer.

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Read more: The high-end handbag designer who learned from Youtube

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About her business journey, Andriana said: “I started the business after transitioning from a 15-year legal career and was made redundant in 2016, the business launched in 2017.

“Initially, it was just supposed to be a Instagram shop side hustle whilst I looked for another legal position but we featured as an advertisement feature in February 2018 in British Vogue and the brand took off from there.”

The Ritz hand picks luxury brands from around the world to feature within their Guest Luxury Guide – curating a list of 10 for guests to peruse during their stay.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbZWbD1sRsq/

Main photo: Keri Andriana

Read more: Bristol graduate starts Uk’s first fish leather firm

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