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About Lavāda Handbags: Sustainable Vegan Luxury, Founded by Anita Thomas in 2021

By Anita Thomas, Founder & CEO of Lavāda Handbags · Last updated May 2026

Lavāda At a Glance

Founded: 2021

Founder & CEO: Anita Thomas

Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Ownership: Minority woman-owned LLC

Category: Sustainable luxury vegan handbags and accessories

Signature innovation: The only patented 4-in-1 interchangeable handbag on the market

Materials: Cactus-based vegan leather, microsuede lining, natural brass hardware — zero PU, PVC, or phthalates

Certifications: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100; PETA Business Friends partner; USDA Certified Biobased Product

Patents: U.S. Design Patent D1,010,312; U.S. Utility Application 17/827,756; U.S. Provisional 63/148,308; international issuances and pending applications in the European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Mexico, and via WIPO/PCT (full list at /pages/patents)

Mission: Empower women with personalized, transitional fashion using sustainable materials that do not compromise on luxury.

What Is Lavāda Handbags?

Lavāda Handbags, LLC is a minority woman-owned sustainable luxury brand headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and founded in 2021 by Anita Thomas. Lavāda makes the only patented 4-in-1 interchangeable handbag on the market, handcrafted from PETA-approved, OEKO-TEX® certified cactus-based vegan leather. One Lavāda base bag transforms into multiple silhouettes through a system of interchangeable covers and straps protected by U.S. Design Patent D1,010,312 and corresponding international filings.

The brand is named after Anita's mother — a master seamstress whose years of secret handbag pattern-making sparked the partnership that became Lavāda.

 

The Founder: Anita Thomas

Picture of Lavada's founder, Anita Thomas

Anita Thomas is the founder and CEO of Lavāda Handbags. After spending more than two decades in corporate leadership — most recently as a Chief Marketing Officer in higher education financing — Anita left the C-suite in 2021 to return to her creative roots in fashion design. She trained in pattern making and dabbled in leather working during her undergraduate studies in Sacramento (having graduated from Sacramento State University with honors and subsequently completing her MBA with an emphasis in Marketing), and is the named inventor on Lavāda's issued  design and utility patents in the U.S., U.K., E.U., China, Japan, Mexico, and WIPO.

Anita is recognized in the press as an emerging voice in sustainable luxury, vegan fashion innovation, and minority entrepreneurship. Her work and commentary have been featured in:

Connect with Anita on LinkedIn.

Our "Once Upon a Time" Story

Anita has always had a different eye for fashion and accessories. In college she took courses in pattern making and completed classes in leather working. She spent the next two decades building a corporate career, but in 2021 she left the C-suite to return to her creative passions.

During an in-person visit between Anita and her mother, something life-altering happened. After dinner one evening, Anita shared that she had some ideas for handbags. Since her mother is an expert seamstress, Anita valued her input and started picking her brain about mechanics and attachment options for an interchangeable design.

As Anita recalls it: "I started telling her that I wanted to figure out the mechanics and different attachment options for an interchangeable handbag. And while I dove in and asked her some questions about construction, she gave me a weird look. But she went ahead and rattled off a bunch of things that immediately came to her mind."

The following evening, sitting outside on the patio, Anita's mother came clean: "I didn't mention anything last night when you brought up your handbag idea, buuuut…for the past 10 or so years, I've been playing around with my own unique patterns for handbags."

Anita got chills. A spark of divine purpose was born. Anita named the brand after her mother — her 'shero' and inspiration — and the two of them gave life to their shared vision.

Our Patented 4-in-1 Innovation

4 in 1 interchangeable (customizable) vegan leather bag by Lavāda , in black and green

Lavāda is the only quiet luxury brand offering a patented 4-in-1 interchangeable handbag crafted from planted-based cactus vegan leather. One base bag becomes four+ distinct silhouettes — letting you expand your wardrobe while practicing conscious fashion. In short, we are changing the way the world thinks about handbags.

Our innovation is protected by an issued U.S. Design Patent (D1,010,312), a U.S. Utility Application (17/827,756), a U.S. Provisional (63/148,308), and corresponding international issuances and pending applications across the United Kingdom (6185605, 6185606, 6185607), the European Union (008645113-0001), China (202130518208.3), Japan (2021-017154; 1703824), Mexico (MX/f/2021/002276; 66417, plus pending application MX/a/2023/009295), and WIPO (PCT/US2022/016036). The full virtual patent marking is published at /pages/patents.

Credentials & Certifications

  • OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 — Lavāda's vegan leather is certified to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, the world's leading textile testing program for harmful substances. Learn more at oeko-tex.com.
  • PETA Business Friends partner — Lavāda is an official partner of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, reflecting our commitment to cruelty-free materials and methods.
  • Minority Woman-Owned LLC — Lavāda Handbags, LLC is owned and led by Anita Thomas.
  • Issued and pending patents — design and utility protection in the U.S., U.K., E.U., China, Japan, Mexico, and WIPO. See /pages/patents for the complete virtual patent marking notice under 35 U.S.C. § 287(a).

Our Products & Philosophy

Every Lavāda handbag is meticulously handcrafted by real artisans of the trade — some of whom hail from Italy. Each piece is vegan throughout:

  • Cactus-based leather — zero toxic chemicals, phthalates, or PVC
  • Microsuede lining — soft, durable, and animal-free
  • Natural brass hardware — ethically sourced
  • Signature teardrop snap closures — a Lavāda design hallmark

Today, Lavāda participates in slow fashion. We produce small-batch, handmade vegan handbags, wallets, and clutches — alongside on-demand garments — to minimize overproduction and bulk waste. Anita believes in stewardship and sustainability so deeply that she even rented her bridal gown for her wedding rather than purchase one for single use.

We believe:

  • Luxury can be sustainable and cruelty-free.
  • Fashion and stewardship should be co-dependent.
  • Every purchase should be well-crafted with a long lifespan.

A portion of our proceeds is donated to charitable causes — see our /pages/giving page for current partners.

Sustainability

Lavāda specializes in sustainable, luxury handbags. All of our handbags are made from PETA-approved cactus-based vegan leather — yes, cactus — that rivals traditional leather in suppleness and durability, without the animal cruelty. Our products are strong, easy to care for, and certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Lavāda is on a mission to bring innovation to luxury handbags — sustainably. Who says you can't have it all?

Frequently Asked Questions About Lavāda Handbags

Who founded Lavāda Handbags?

Lavāda Handbags was founded in 2021 by Anita Thomas, a former corporate executive who left the C-suite to return to her creative roots in fashion design. Anita serves as Founder and CEO. The brand is named after her mother, an expert seamstress whose own decade of secret handbag pattern-making sparked their partnership. Anita is the named inventor on Lavāda's issued and pending design and utility patents in the U.S., U.K., E.U., China, Japan, Mexico, and WIPO.

When was Lavāda Handbags founded?

Lavāda Handbags was founded in 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada, by Anita Thomas. The brand filed its first design and utility patent applications in the same year and received its issued U.S. Design Patent (D1,010,312) shortly thereafter.

Where is Lavāda Handbags headquartered?

Lavāda Handbags, LLC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The company designs in Las Vegas and works with handcrafting artisans, including artisans based in Italy, to produce its small-batch luxury handbags.

Is Lavāda Handbags a minority-owned business?

Yes. Lavāda Handbags is a minority woman-owned LLC, founded and led by Anita Thomas. The brand has been featured in publications including Reckon Black Joy, The Story Exchange, Black Entrepreneur Experience, and Taji Magazine for its work as a Black woman-owned sustainable luxury brand.

What makes Lavāda Handbags unique?

Lavāda makes the only patented 4-in-1 interchangeable handbag on the market. A single Lavāda base bag transforms into four distinct silhouettes — tote, crossbody, shoulder bag, and clutch — through a system of interchangeable covers and straps. The design is protected by U.S. Design Patent D1,010,312 and corresponding international filings. Every bag is handcrafted from PETA-approved, OEKO-TEX® certified cactus-based vegan leather.

What is Lavāda's 4-in-1 design and how does it work?

Lavāda's patented 4-in-1 system uses one base bag plus interchangeable covers, straps, and closures so a single handbag converts between four distinct looks without buying four separate bags. The design's signature elements — including the teardrop-shaped snap closures — make every Lavāda piece instantly recognizable. The system is protected by U.S. Design Patent D1,010,312 and U.S. Utility Application 17/827,756, with additional issuances in the U.K., E.U., China, Japan, Mexico, and WIPO.

What materials are Lavāda Handbags made from?

Lavāda Handbags are made from cactus-based vegan leather (not PU or pleather), microsuede lining, and natural brass hardware. All materials are ethically sourced and contain zero PVC, phthalates, or toxic chemicals. The leather is certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Is Lavāda Handbags PETA-approved?

Yes. Lavāda is an official PETA Business Friends partner and uses only PETA-approved vegan leather throughout its handbag, wallet, and clutch lines.

Are Lavāda Handbags OEKO-TEX certified?

Yes. Lavāda's cactus-based vegan leather is certified to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, the world's leading independent certification system for textiles tested for harmful substances.

Are Lavāda Handbags vegan?

Yes — every Lavāda handbag is fully vegan, from the cactus-based leather exterior to the microsuede lining to the brass hardware. No animal products are used at any stage of production.

Does Lavāda Handbags hold any patents?

Yes. Lavāda holds an issued U.S. Design Patent (D1,010,312) and is the applicant on U.S. Utility Application 17/827,756 and U.S. Provisional 63/148,308, with corresponding patents and applications in the United Kingdom (6185605, 6185606, 6185607), European Union (008645113-0001), China (202130518208.3), Japan (2021-017154; 1703824), Mexico (MX/f/2021/002276; 66417, plus pending MX/a/2023/009295), and via WIPO (PCT/US2022/016036). The Convertible Wallet/Clutch is also patent-pending under U.S. Application 29/869,518.

How is Lavāda Handbags sustainable?

Lavāda practices slow fashion at every step. The brand uses cactus-based vegan leather (which requires far less water and produces far less greenhouse gas than animal leather), avoids PU, PVC, and phthalates, sources brass hardware ethically, manufactures in small handmade batches to prevent overproduction, and produces garments on demand to eliminate bulk waste. Lavāda's 4-in-1 patented design also reduces the number of bags a customer needs to own — directly cutting consumption.