Hollywood Trender: Urbandillo Bags are style, function and all heart

By April MacIntyre Feb 8, 2011, 5:36 GMT

Cruelty-free, reasonably priced, travel friendly and human KIND, the small business Urbandillo is owned and operated by a former single mom who was struggling, until she got her education completed and was able to dive headfirst into a rewarding career that played up her design strengths.

“Don't thank me. Show me… My grandfather told me that when I thanked him for helping me go to college. That statement made an impact on me and became my fuel to make a difference.”  —Veronica James, founder of Urbandillo

Urbandillo bags are one of the hottest fashion-friendly non leather handbags and totes seen all over Hollywood sets currently.

Cruelty-free, reasonably priced, travel friendly and human KIND, the small business Urbandillo is owned and operated by a former single mom who was struggling, until she got her education completed and was able to dive headfirst into a rewarding career that played up her design strengths.

Meet Veronica James, who invented the Urbandillo stylish bags that can expand or shrink up to a teeny ball, and are perfect for travelers and are stylishly chic.

The bags, which sell for between $20 and $69 depending on the bag, come in weekender, hobo, totes, backpack and wristlet styles.

For information, log on to www.urbandillo.com.

The "Human KIND" reference is for James' core charity that she has woven into the fabric of Urbandillo, that no child in need should go wthout a clean new soft blanket.

Veronica grew up in New York and did well in school, heading to Drexel University in Philadelphia where she pursued a degree in graphic design. But an unplanned pregnancy at age 20 derailed that.

Despite her struggles to finish school, she found herself on state welfare assistance to support herself and her son. (She still carries her welfare identification card to remember what she overcame.)

Years of financial struggle and uncertainty were the launch point for Urbandillo's "Buy One Give Love" program Veronica created that provides a new blankie for a disadvantaged child when you purchase items from her company.  On her website, you can even email her information privately for an at-risk or in-need child.

Veronica says, "When I created Urbandillo, I wanted to be able to use it for the good of others…. so I created our mission Buy One. Give Love. This meant that when someone chose to buy from Urbandillo, they were also choosing to love a child in need through their purchase. It is because of people’s purchases that we can then turn around and give our Smiley Blankets to a child in need."

Urbandillo's name and the brand mark was inspired by the Armadillo, according to Veronica. The Armadillo has the ability to compact it's body into a ball shape, exactly like her bags and totes.

The standout color seen at the TCAs and other Hollywood pow-wows (blame Oprah's influence maybe, with the launch of OWN and its purple theme color?) is a royal purple colored "Hobo" style bag, a fantastic shade everyone is clamoring for, but there are other color choices too.

For a fashionable bag that is white hot, cruelty-free and from a female-owned American company, Urbandillo is a must-get for your wardrobe.