Angelica Cheyenne 
Elizabeth Laine is the Founder of her self-titled brand
Accessories are just as essential as clothing when it comes to a woman’s ensemble. Oftentimes, the handbag or piece of jewelry that a woman picks to pull her outfit together can either zhoosh up a look or diminish its hipness.
Understanding the criticalness of having the right add-on, designer Elizabeth Laine launched her self-titled handbag and jewelry line. Laine defines her brand as “feminine, bold, and unique,” three words that are exemplified in the accessories she creates.
Search through Laine’s e-commerce website, and you’ll see brightly colored, uniquely shaped purses in various sizes, as well as Avant-Garde necklaces and earrings. Laine’s design choices are very intentional, stemming from her love for a good handbag.
“I’ve always been obsessed with handbags,” Laine told ACHDA Digital Media Generation via email. “It is the one accessory that was most important to me when putting together an outfit.” The Los Angeles native’s passion for purses is evident, and so is her desire to be daring.
Laine isn’t phased by the fashion market being saturated with competing handbag brands, whether they’re established like Louis Vuitton and Coach, or more contemporary like Telfar, because of what her company brings to the category.
“I stand out [from my competitors] with my original designs, my attention to detail, and the quality of the product,” Laine told us. While interning at the handbag and jewelry brand CC Skye, an accessories label that has been featured in Vanity Fair and co-signed by Kim Kardashian, she discovered an affinity for jewelry making.
“I’ve always been obsessed with handbags”
Elizabeth Laine
Laine revealed that when she was an intern, and later an employee, for CC Skye, she found inspiration for her then-forthcoming fashion line.
“[CC Skye] introduced me to the artistry of costume and fine jewelry,” Laine disclosed. Her experience with CC Skye led her to take an interest in geometric art, which she now uses when constructing most of her earring and purse designs. Laine’s experience at CC Skye, along with her Fashion & Design degree from Los Angeles Trade Technical College, gave her the confidence to launch her eponymously named handbag and jewelry line, Elizabeth Laine, in 2009.
“Working for others, I felt boxed in,” the designer admitted. “I felt that I had something meaningful to say with my art and love of accessories. The passion within me was worth the risk of entrepreneurship and to do things on my own terms.”
Not wanting to be under anyone’s thumb any longer, Laine worked diligently to build Elizabeth Laine, refusing to let anything get in her way of entrepreneurship. The road to success hasn’t always been easy, especially when it came to getting others to believe in her dream.
“The most challenging part is the funding. You have to prove yourself before others are willing to invest; at the same time, it takes capital to get the message out about your brand,” Laine revealed.
Using all of her knowledge acquired from years of trial and error, Laine revamped and relaunched her company in 2024.
“We have to be understood and accepted into that [fashion] space in order to experience any real type of success.”
Elizabeth Laine
“I started my brand more than 10 years ago. At the time, there was so much more for me to learn, but I had to put my brand on hold and take time to learn the industry,” Laine confessed. “Now, after years of knowledge and drive to succeed, I relaunched my brand. The most powerful lessons I learned are to have patience and remain consistent.”
Laine divulged that she felt as if she “faced more obstacles” as a Black entrepreneur compared to other entrepreneurs from different ethnic backgrounds because “Black people are a minority” in the fashion industry.
“We have to be understood and accepted into that [fashion] space in order to experience any real type of success,” she added.
Despite the uphill battle, she takes pleasure in providing products for her consumer base that will make them feel beautiful.
“The most rewarding part to me is seeing others wear my designs and how they pair it with their own wardrobe,” Laine stated.
Laine has a big vision for her brand, and that vision includes music mogul Pharrell Williams. Williams has long been revered for being a trendsetter. He is also credited with making the Japanese streetwear brand Bathing Apes (BAPES) a household name in America. Willams now holds the title of Men’s Creative Director of Louis Vuitton.
All of Williams’ accomplishments in the high-fashion world, plus his knack for being vogueish, is why Laine would like to collaborate with him for Elizabeth Laine.
“The most rewarding part to me is seeing others wear my designs”
Elizabeth Laine
“I would want to collaborate with Pharrell Williams,” Laine disclosed. “Louis Vuitton has always been a part of the top five handbag brands I admire. I think that he has a dope point of view with designing and to reach the level of success that he has accomplished I believe there is a lot that I could learn from him.”
Not only does Laine want to work with Williams, but she also wouldn’t mind certain celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé, Lori Harvey, Teyana Taylor, and Janelle Monáe rocking her purses at New York Fashion Week in September 2024.
“I believe they all truly embody the essence of fashion at a high level,” Laine complimented.
Laine genuinely believes that anything can be achieved with patience and diligence.
“The only way I’ve noticed growth or gained accomplishments is when I was patient and consistently working hard,” Laine noted. “The validation comes when you know what you’ve put into a goal to get results.”
Alex Tisdale 
Demanyé 
