Elizabeth, born in Ethiopia, discovered her sense of style from her very sophisticated and fashionable mother, Zina. A ballerina and actress in Russia, Zina brought elegance and European worldliness to the African town where they lived, dressing in the finest Italian couture of the time. Zina was naturally the inspiration for her daughter's designs.
Elizabeth's inherited flare for style, fashion and theater lead her to follow in her mother's footsteps to a career as a model and actress. Capturing titles on her way towards the Miss USA pageant, she designed all of her competition evening gowns and wardrobe. Handbags, however, remained a personal favorite.
Her first bag was a hit with everyone who saw it and very quickly, her friends' friends wanted one for themselves. With the drive and enthusiasm inspired by her mother, Elizabeth named her first handbag line Zina. It didn't stop there. Boutiques and celebrity stylists were demanding to see her pieces.
Five years later, her unique and timeless designs form the foundation of each individual handbag, skillfully crafted with the highest-quality European leathers and materials.
A graduate of Philadelphia's ivy league school, the University of Pennsylvania, Elizabeth earned a bachelor's in International Relations and History of Art; providing her with the skills and artistic appreciation that have helped make her into one of the industry’s hottest independent designers.
The sky's the limit for this young designer who has begun to take her designs to specialty boutiques and retailers across the country.
Elizabeth Bayu Handbags was established in 2002 and has developed into a premier handbag line -- being featured in Philadelphia Style, Philadelphia Magazine, The Daily News, NBC-10, Oxygen Network, Fashion Fest and numerous fashion events.
Inspirations for the collection
The beautiful gardens of Paris... that’s my inspiration for my latest collection.The awe-inspiring colors of the changing flora that seem painted with fine brushstrokes; they take one’s breath away. Flowers inspire us emotionally and there’s something magical about flowers planted with such order and moderation. The rich colors of the earth: the expresso of moist, fertile soil, the teal night sky and delicately perfumed bouquets make for a wonderfully romantic aura.
This romantic majesty was translated to the handbags for this season. A season of color, beauty and style.
About the Handbags
Each season a collection is borne from my desire to accessorize women beautifully. Rather than focusing on trends and what’s hot at the moment, my design aesthetic is to create bold and beautiful handbags that women will want to wear day and night - from a power lunch to a casual night out with friends or a romantic evening.