august: Travel Inspired Luxury Handbags

Fashion forward and made for travel, august is a locally sourced and manufactured luxury leather handbag and accessories brand based out of Los Angeles. Founded in 2011 by Charles and Jenna Jackson, the couple found their inspiration for their brand after traveling throughout Europe, Africa, India, and Asia for twelve months. In search of something more durable, they saw the need for functional and fashionable travel essentials that also captured the culture and beauty found on their journeys. And once they returned to the States, it was clear that their luxury handbags needed to value the level of craftsmanship and readily available materials that the U.S. has to offer.

Each piece in their collection comes with a story, a peek into Charles and Jenna’s adventures and an element of wonder that makes you think, “Hey, that could have been my vacation too.” Inspired by not only reading about the bags and accessories but by seeing them, august incorporates rich colors, patterns, and textures to emulate the luxuries of foreign lands.

VUE got a firsthand look at “The Marais Tote” rightfully named after Le Marais, a historic district in Paris. Whether you’re bringing the tote to breakfast at a café or shopping around the market, this tote assimilates to the versatility of everyday life without compromising design, as demonstrated by the Teal Fish color. Relatively large in size, the tote can hold all of your essential items and any gems you might find along the way. The straps fit comfortably along the shoulder and on its own, the bag is surprisingly lightweight and folds flat to fit in your suitcase.      

While Charles and Jenna have found success in their business, they’re also raising awareness and giving back to a cause that became a startling reality to them while they traveled, a lack of educational opportunities for children worldwide. In order to combat this, august partnered with Operation School Bell, and for every august bag that is sold, a backpack is donated to an underprivileged child in Los Angeles.