Kayu handbags

I'm so excited to finally share some photos of my shoot for KAYU - gorgeous bags with a mission.

I met KAYU's founder, Jamie Lim, via Twitter and as luck would have it she's originally from Malaysia. She was in town over the holidays to visit family and take care of business (her clutches are hand made in South East Asia) so we were able to meet in person and collaborate for her Spring look book photos and graphic design. We hit it off immediately and I was in total awe of her designs. She has somehow accomplished making the traditional artistry of weaving look completely modern and sexy. And as if good looks weren't enough, a portion of sales is donated to perform sight-restoring surgeries in India and to purchase backpacks and school supplies for children in Cambodia. Win-win.

I had a blast walking around KL together with only a bag full of clutches and a determination to "get the shot" despite the hot day and hungry mosquitoes. Felt like quite the urban-jungle warriors at the end of the day!

I can't finish writing this post without mentioning the stall owners at Chow Kit Market. They thought we were nuts every time we asked "can I put this bag here and take a photo?". Sure, crazy ladies...go right ahead. The strange looks were totally worth it as my fave shot is the trio of clutches on the Durian scale. It doesn't get any more Malaysian than that.

Shop KAYU at kayudesign.com and Shopbop.com

I never imagined that an engagement ring would do anything other than sit and look pretty on my finger but in fact, it has inspired me to create a brand new product. Introducing: Ring Cozy, a jewelry ring protector designed for people who want to keep their ring on while enjoying an active lifestyle.

The idea to protect my ring came after constantly worrying about damaging it while working out at the gym and fretting about taking it off for "safe keeping" elsewhere. I wanted a comfortable and easy way to cover my ring without interfering with whatever I was doing. It also needed it to be versatile enough to use in the water while swimming (you know how those fingers can shrink). Several prototypes and neoprene sheets later and here you have it, the Ring Cozy! I've designed two different styles for rings with or without raised stone settings and will have sizes for men and women. Because yes, men wear rings, too.

I came to LA with 350 samples that I sewed at home and have been giving them to friends and strangers to try out in exchange for their feedback. Since I can't reach through the computer screen and offer the same to you (really wish I could!), I invite you to take a quick survey. It's painless, I promise, and it will help me see whether or not people share my concern for protecting that special ring on their finger! Make sure you provide an email address at the end and check off "blog" + write "Anamu" so that I can send you something special if you make a purchase within a month after sales launch online. I wanna show you, my awesome readers, some extra love!

So, now you know what's been keeping me busy these days and hopefully for many more to come. This trip has been so insightful and encouraging that it makes finally sharing Ring Cozy with you that much more exciting. There is still much to do but the important thing is that it's happening! I'm going for it. Thank you for being a part of it via this blog!