On Exhibit – Carol S. Miller Handbags

Hillsdale-resident Carol S. Miller is a handbag designer and manufacturer. Her handbag business evolved from her career in the NY fashion industry. “[That career] allowed me to travel for years to the fashion capitals of the world for my work. And while I adore all things fashion, my first love has always been handbags,” says Carol. 

Carol is part of the slow and sustainable fashion movement in which workers are paid fairly for their work and products are made with care. She designs soft, plush, and functional leather and Southwest-style wool handbags with real women and everyday life in mind. Each bag is proudly made in the USA in small factories in New Jersey and Brooklyn, NY.

Carol also designs a line of sustainable, handmade raffia and straw bags–Carol S. Miller Sun Bags–created in Madagascar by local artisans through a collective of five workshops in Manjakatompo. The raffia, straw, and sisal are purchased by the collective, dyed, shaped, and woven. Materials are locally grown and harvested, contributing to the products’ sustainability. Sun Bag sales directly support individual artisans, and a portion of profits from each bag go to a local charity-based NGO. 

On exhibit here is a sampling of Carol’s stunning and functional designs, which use hand-picked materials that ensure lasting quality. “I love all the shapes, sizes, colors, and materials that make up every bag, and how each can be tailored to create a specific look,” explains Carol. “What most of us want in a handbag is security, ease of use, and of course, beauty.” Carol S. Miller Handbags also sources jewelry from the Southwest as well as hand-painted glassware.