she + lo Handbags at Nordstrom Ala Moana

Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian

Laura Darrah, co-founder of she+lo, will make a special appearance at Nordstrom Ala Moana Saturday, June 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. Darrah, who was born and raised in Kailua and graduated from Punahou School, returns home for this special event debuting she+lo’s summer 2015 handbag collection. There also will be a live DJ, photo booth, and gift with purchase for the first 15 customers.

Founded in 2014, she+lo offers a full line of accessibly priced handbags, crossbody bags and clutches designed using 100 percent genuine leather. The company is headquartered in New York, but its design studio is in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Marita Maeland: she + lo ‘Take A Chance’ hobo $298. Photos by Nathalie Walker.

According to Darrah, since launching their first collection last fall, they already have experienced tremendous growth. Their designs can be found in most major department stores, including Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as popular online retailers shopbop.com, revolveclothing. com and more. They also have built a large celebrity following, as their bags have been spotted on the arms of Kate Bosworth, Olivia Palermo, Julianne Hough and Nikki Reed, as well as several top fashion bloggers from The Chriselle Factor, Clothes Encounters, Feral Creature and Walk in Wonderland.

“This is our first official Hawaii event and we are thrilled,” says Darrah, noting that they plan to add jewelry, footwear and clothing next year. “We have had such a great reaction to the line in Hawaii, so I’m very excited to meet our local customers. I am, of course, also excited to go home to the warm ocean and visit with my friends and family.”

The label is named after Darrah and her business partner Sheila Nazarian (“She” and “Lo” are their nicknames), and captures their personal contemporary and edgy aesthetic. Nazarian, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from University of San Diego and worked as a fashion buyer.

“She + lo bags all have a very West Coast, casual chic vibe to them, making them everyday bags that can easily go from desk to dinner,” says Darrah. “We use only soft, lightweight leathers to maintain a slouchy aesthetic, but combine edgy components like zipper and hardware details.

“She + lo designs are perfect for women in Hawaii, who might be looking for something casual that can be used every day, but sophisticated enough to wear to work or a night out.” For more information, call 310-280-2030, visit sheandlo.com or visit @sheandlo on Instagram.