Meet Alicia Dakteris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Dakteris.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always worked in the area of creative design and love to blend different textures and colors to create unique pieces. Over the years, I’ve traveled extensively for both business and pleasure to several countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia. While traveling, I was always looking for the right purse – one that could carry my computer, presentation folders but, at the same time, something I could wear out to dinner. Out of this necessity, I set out to design my first product, “The Sack”, which is a functional, easy-to-secure large bag with exchangeable straps. It’s made of fine Italian leather and premium hardware for extra durability.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With every new business, you will always encounter challenges, and my business has been no exception. I come from the advertising industry, working as Sr. Art Director/Creative Director, and Marketing Manager for a variety of global brands. This experience helped me in so many ways, but this industry was also very new to me. I had to learn about leather quality, how to find the best hardware, and also an amazing manufacturer locally here in Los Angeles. For me, that was the highest priority, as I wanted my bags to be made in USA, so I oversee the quality. Competing with prices and products made oversees is not easy, but I dove into the industry headfirst, expending my savings and trusting that by doing business the right way, it would flourish. What has kept me moving forward is the love my customers have for their new handbags and how they’ve helped shape their daily lives. They know they can trust the quality of my products to last for a very, very long time. After some early challenges, I realized that I couldn’t do it alone and have hired a team of e-commerce experts that been extremely helpful.

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about you and your career so far?
When my company began, I named it “A Handmade Designs” after my first initial and because my bags are handcrafted here in LA; however, I changed the generic name to “ALICIA DAKTERIS” after I got married.
I’m very hands-on when it comes to the design of my products. I’m involved in everything from selecting the various hardware to searching out the best quality Italian leather that is just hitting the market. I love to curate various colors and textures into one-of-a-kind pieces. Most cheap products tend to overlook the hardware, and the quality shows after limited use. I personally work with my manufacturer supervising the quality, size and specifications for each bag. The high-quality zippers we select are personalized for each order. We don’t skip corners in quality and aim to deliver the best product each and every time. We’ve adjusted over time using client feedback to optimize the functionality of each of our products.

I designed my website and have taken most of the pictures featured on the website and social pages in my own time.

What drives me to do more and continue making new products is when my customers tell me how much they enjoy their purses – the quality, the smell of the leather, and their functionality that helps them along their daily routine.

I know I’m competing against thousands of great, well-known brands, but each of my purses are made with a level of detail & quality you don’t see anywhere else.

I was born in Peru, but I’ve built my family here – I’m married to an American and my sons were born here. I believe in products made locally and among other things, creating jobs here in the U.S. I receive emails all the time from various manufacturers all over Asia who offer to make my products for 1/2 of the price, but with that comes a significant drop in quality and durability. I personally choose to never produce any product out of my beloved LA.

Although I understand and support the root of their cause, I’m against “vegan leather” / “leatherette” because those bags only last a couple of years (1-3), and actually create more of a sustainability issue for our planet, creating significantly more pollution.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
We launched a new Crossbody bag named “Christina” after a pro golfer named Christina Lecuyer. I’m always trying to find ways to give back to the community, and so we decided to partner up with the Alzheimers Association, an organization that’s dear to me. Close friends of mine have lost loved ones to the terrible disease. I’m constantly reading of how these contributions can make a big difference in finding a cure and providing for those in need, and therefore pledged 20% of all proceeds to the organization.

Pricing:

• Free Shipping to VoyageLA readers
• Free shipping plus 20% off orders of $300 or more.
• We have an amazing reward program with free gifts and discounts
• Free Giveaways – I would love to feature traveler pictures on AD IG or create a giveaway for your readers to include a FREE Passport travel bag.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aliciadakteris.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @aliciadakteris
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliciadakteris1

Image Credit:
Photographer: Oscar Ortega www.oortega.com @oscarortega1

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