Caoilionn Hurley, an Irish accountant working in London, found that she could not fit her heels in any of her handbags. She believed that many other women likely had the same problem and wanted to find a solution.
Hurley spoke to several handbag manufacturers and asked them to create a high-end leather handbag big enough to carry the essentials, with a separate, easily accessible compartment for shoes. All of them told her it was impossible.
Hurley was determined to find a way. She decided to design the handbag herself, even though she had no experience with sewing and had a full-time job. She kept her day job, bought a sewing machine, and began taking sewing lessons on the weekends. She later bought a leather sewing machine and took classes at the National College of Fashion in London, where she learned about patterns and gluing leather.
Hurley realized that in order to create upper and lower compartments, the handbags would need a design similar to a bridge. She attached carefully-measured leather panels to the sides of the bags and held them in place with rivets to create her unique Hidee handbags.
She wanted the handbags to be made with unlined leather so that they would be easy to clean if owners put wet shoes in the lower compartments. She also wanted the bags to be made in classic colors, such as black, grey, and tan.
Hurley again spoke to manufacturers in London and found one who supported her idea. Production of her Hidee bags began in September. They are already being sold at some top London boutiques and online. She is currently working on a collection crafted with fabric with leather trim.
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