Entrepreneur Mishka Prendergast has fashion and function in the bag

Happiness is having the right handbag, and no one knows this better than Mishka Prendergast. The corporate professional found it inconvenient to carry both a handbag and a laptop bag every day. So, she tapped into her inner designer and created the Maven tote. Today, she’s got fashion in the bag, offering four stylish designs under her Berly brand.

“My career in the corporate world inspired me to create Berly’s Bags. I noticed a common struggle among professional women, myself included, carrying both a handbag and a laptop bag to work. It was frustrating juggling multiple bags, and when I searched for stylish, functional laptop bags the options were limited,” Prendergast explained to Saturday Living.

As a natural creative, she thought to herself, ‘Why not design my own?’ And that’s how the Maven laptop bag was born.

The inspiration to expand her design range came from observing the dynamic lives of multifaceted Jamaican women, “I’m driven to design bags that can accompany them through each journey and task. Our designs capture the different aspects of a woman’s life from our sporty fanny packs to the Sav mini bag and Solana handbag for those nights out, or Marshell Midi Bag for those moments when you need to carry more than the essentials. So, there’s a design for everyone.”

And when it came to finding a name for the brand, Prendergast kept it subtle yet signature to her, going with Berly from the latter half of her middle name, Kimberly.

With a keen interest in drawing from an early age, she starts with a vision, puts pencil or pen to paper and sketches the idea. “This allows me to make the concept tangible. I then refine the design in one focused session. Once the sketch is complete, I share it with my manufacturer, and we may adjust based on their expert recommendations,” she revealed.

Berly’s Bags are made with vegan leather, which adds a sustainable yet luxurious touch. And since colours are a language that everyone understands, the hues featured were personally selected to transition seamlessly from day to night. Already, Prendergast is looking to experiment with more vibrant colours to add to the catalogue.

The versatility extends to the straps as well. Fashionistas can choose a crossbody style for casual outings or wear it on the shoulder for a more refined look. Plus, there’s the option to swap out the straps for added variety.

With that in mind, Prendergast decided to have her bags made in Africa after finding the perfect manufacturer that aligned with her brand, “This young entrepreneur is making waves in her community by providing job opportunities to many people. The fact that Nigeria has a large, thriving leather market also made it a perfect match. It felt right to support a talented business in ‘d mada land’ while bringing my vision to life.”

The designer has seen much success after launching her brand in November of last year, which was amazing, considering it took months to finalise designs, secure sponsorship and plan and execute the main event. The challenge was great, but so too was the reward.

“The launch was a success. Everyone enjoyed themselves and people shopped. The response to the brand has been incredibly encouraging. People have connected with Berly’s Bags and have found a design that they feel is their own bag specially designed for them. And the support has pushed me to keep evolving the brand,” she added.

Seeing her customers enjoy their handbags continues to bring immense happiness to this young business owner, “Spotting someone carrying one of my designs when I’m out and about fills me with so much pride and motivates me to keep going. It’s a reminder that people truly connect with what I’m creating, and that it’s serving a purpose for them. It shows me that my hard work is paying off and that I’m making a positive impact. I also enjoy the fact that I get to inspire others to pursue their dreams.”

So what’s next for Berly’s Bags? An expansion of the already incredible collection. She is also open to exploring collaborations that are in alignment with her brand’s vision and values. “My goal is to grow the brand into a global presence, offering a wider range of products that cater to the diverse needs of women everywhere. Long term, I hope to build Berly’s Bags into a household name in the fashion industry, known for its blend of style, practicality, and sustainability. I also want to empower other young entrepreneurs, particularly women, to pursue their dreams and make waves in their communities,” she enthused.

Berly’s Bags are currently available exclusively at berlysbags.com and the company ships across the island and globally.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com