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I'm Linda Ly. I'm the designer behind begeren, a two-season-old line of handbags and accessories. Ever since I was little, I had a thing for bags... bags of all kinds... purses, totes, beach bags, backpacks, pencil bags, all of it. I like to believe I was way ahead of the trend... haha... showing off my shiny red patent leather bag in grade school and being the envy of my 5-year-old friends. (Who would've guessed that patent leather would become the current It trend in fashion and not be something you'd simply find on Hollywood Blvd?)

I studied design at FIT in NYC, and to sustain my "champagne lifestyle on a college beer budget" (nightly cocktails, $20 mac 'n cheese at Canteen, Broadway tickets) I took up modeling and ended up sticking with it for a while. I moved to LA upon graduation and started my sparkly new career as a graphic designer.

But after almost a decade of modeling and several years of clocking in 12-hour-plus days on the computer, my creative energy was faltering fast. I needed a new outlet to explore. I decided to pursue my passion for purses, and began sketching and sampling a collection for Summer 2006. Years of travel, collaborations with art directors and photographers, an eclectic sense of style and a great eye for detail all fueled the growth of this little line that has become my baby. I nurture it, watch over it, and want to see it emerge into something beautiful and successful.

With the upcoming Spring 2007 collection, we've expanded into a vintage-inspired line of jewelry, and offer a wider range of handbags to suit every type, whether you're uptown or downtown or somewhere in between. Please add us as a friend and stay in tune with all our latest news and updates!