How it all began

Growing up with a single mom, most afternoons after school were spent wandering the mall while she worked. I remember being mesmerized by the women who looked so put together. I didn’t have the words for it then, but the way they carried themselves, down to their handbags and jewelry, felt almost magical to me. 

Those early observations stayed with me. Growing up, we didn’t have much, so as soon as I could, I started earning my own money through every side hustle I could find and reselling became my way of contributing. I experimented with reselling all sorts of things, but handbags were the ones I kept returning to. I’d buy them secondhand, take them apart, clean them, restore them, and study how they were made. The more time I spent with them, the more I noticed they weren’t all created equal. The beautiful bags were often the least functional, and the comfortable ones were rarely the stylish pieces women actually wanted to use every day.
Over time, this grew into me becoming a trusted designer handbag seller on Poshmark and eBay, growing to nearly 400,000 followers. Customers relied on me not just to find great pieces, but to help them understand what worked for their lives. That shaped how I show up for customers today, with intention, honesty, and care. It also gave me a front-row seat to what women needed, what frustrated them, and what they wished existed.

Designing my own bags became the natural next step. After years of buying, fixing, and taking bags apart, I understood what made something beautiful, what made it usable, and what made it worth carrying every day. When I released my first small collection, it wasn’t sudden. It was the result of years of listening to women and studying quality. The first batch sold out, confirming that there was space for a handbag brand built with intention.

Everything I learned in those years became the foundation for AALLYN. It’s why we operate thoughtfully, treat our customers with care, and build our team with flexibility and respect at the center. Every decision comes from those same values, and that is the heart of our ethos.

Our Ethos

How We Run the Business

• We grow slowly and deliberately.

• We produce in small, thoughtful batches.

• We partner with a family-owned factory.

• We choose quality and trust over speed.

• We stay bootstrapped so our growth aligns with our values.
  
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How We Design

• We design for real life, not for trends.

• Beauty matters, but never more than usability and comfort.

• Versatility should be included, not sold separately.

• We consider different bodies, different seasons, and different routines.

• Materials must balance comfort, strength, and longevity.

• Our shapes reflect the duality of women: soft and strong.

• Thoughtful design stands out without trying to be loud.
  
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How We Treat Customers

• We price with intention.

• We respond with speed and kindness.

• We always choose long-term trust over short-term wins.
  
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How We Build Our Team 

• AALLYN is built with women who prioritize flexibility, balance, and meaningful work.

• Everyone on our team works in a way that supports real life, not the other way around.

• Many of the women behind AALLYN are mothers, and their roles are intentionally shaped to give them room to be present for their families.

• Our wider circle of creators and freelancers includes women building careers that fit their lives, and we are proud to champion that path.
  
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