Leeza Diehl: Handbags inspired by “fashion, drag racing, surfing, my love for early Hollywood glam”
Classic vintage chic with a modern twist” is how fashion handbag designer Leeza M. Diehl describes the style of her exclusive, custom handbags that have been flying off the shelves and keeping her sewing around the clock. Diehl has been sewing her unique creations since the late 90s, but only recently has been blessed with an explosion of business thanks to her current webmaster. Her company is called Nitro*A*gogo! Kustoms and is dedicated to “keeping ladies fabulous.”
“I first started selling by word of mouth and at my husband’s drag races,” said California native Diehl. “Then I started hosting purse parties in California. I met my webmaster Dawn Mazi-Hovespian at the drags. She is a photographer and is amazing! I’ve learned a lot from her.”
Aside from having a solid business plan and a great webmaster, Diehl strives to give her customers anything that their hearts desire. “If you can dream it up, I can make it,” says Diehl of her custom handbags. “I believe that handbags are a female thing and should always be sexy, feminine and an extension of the beautiful female carrying it. I’m a very feminine, lip gloss kind of girl and I try to bring that out in all my designs.”
Diehl draws her inspiration from designing greats like Coco Chanel. “I’ve always been a Chanel girl to the core! I believe Chanel designs are the sheer epitome of class and femininity,” said Diehl. “I don’t like the gaudy, masculine, heavy, chain-ridden bags that have been coming out from a lot of designers.”
“I try not to look at other people’s work too much to keep my ideas fresh and from my head, so learning was a lot of guessing and figuring out,” said Diehl. “I really taught myself. Everything I do and have done is all self-taught. Lots of trial and error involved, but I think it’s turning out nicely.”
And where do her designs come from? “Usually in a dream, then I freak out and have to draw it out when I wake up and it goes from there. My life inspires me – fashion, drag racing, surfing, my love for early Hollywood glam; it’s all in there!”
Diehl’s favorite and most unique creation is the Black Dahlia which is made from black 1960 Buick upholstery and features an arched bottom. Diehl describes the bag as being very sleek, sexy and classic.
Future plans include adding an embroidery machine and perhaps a couple of employees to her arsenal. Currently, Diehl alone sews for most of the day using her own hands and a Singer industrial sewing machine.
Diehl sales most of her bags from her website www.nitroagogo.com, but has also ventured into the world of retail. “It’s hard to let your babies go for a lower price just to get them out there in the stores,” lamented Diehl. “The stores are the ones making the money off them, not me. But I do get the exposure needed, and the bills get paid.”
