PROFILES + Ella Maiden

Ella Maiden

Address:

Ella Maiden Sydney GPO 708, Sydney, 2001

New South Wales, Australia

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Ella Maiden

In 1993 Australian fashion addict Lisa Allen started Ella Maiden Sydney as a small Australian manufacturing company; designing and handcrafting high quality and luxurious exotic leather goods for an exclusive niche market.

Ella Maiden, coined from Lisa’s nickname “Ella” (meaning beautiful fairy maiden) was born from Allen’s desire and passion to produce high quality handcrafted handbags, backpacks, luggage and fashion accessories, which are exclusive, superior in quality, unique in design and stand out in look & feel. Ella Maiden’s signature product has always been the two-tone cowhide - in either black and white or chocolate-brown and white. Over the years the Ella Maiden range expanded into quirky designs created out of the most beautiful leathers, ostrich, shearling, saltwater crocodile, kangaroo fur, barramundi fish leather, shark and several kinds of other exotic leathers and skins!


As founder of Ella Maiden Australia - now known internationally for its quirky and successful Ella Maiden Sydney fashion & designer label - Allen is the first to admit that it was a hard slog. “Anyone involved in manufacturing in Australia would say we are all mad,” she jokes. “It’s so difficult - just the sheer distances in Australia can be a problem.” While it is common for today’s fashion manufacturers to move their manufacturing offshore to cut production costs, Allen is adamant that Ella Maiden production always will stay within Australia. “All Ella Maiden designs are being handcrafted in our own workshops here in Sydney”, Allen proudly states. “This way we can manage the entire process; from hand selecting the leather hides to the final quality control of each and every product before it is being sent to our customers around the world.” “It also offers us the flexibility to make unique custom designs and to produce exclusive designs in limited editions”.

Ella Maiden products are sold and sent throughout the world. As well as a thriving Australian market, the business has a fast growing customer base in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia. To read more about how our clients experience their Ella Maiden creations.

Products

Handbags
Backpacks
Luggage
Wallets & Purses
Fashion Accessories

Services

ELLA MAIDEN SPONSORING
Besides having a passion for creating the most beautiful fashion accessories and homeware products, we also have a passion for sponsoring and supporting iconic and well-known Australians and Australian sports teams with international exposure. Our first sponsorship: The Formula A1 Grand Prix Team Australia lead by Alan Jones (former Formula One World Champion) are now travelling around the world with their custom handcrafted Ella Maiden travel & duffle bags.

Why we support the Sydney based Australian A1 GP team: A1GP pits nation against nation in the “World Cup of Motorsport". Drivers from 22 different nations compete as equals without financial or technological advantage. Speed and glamour are combined: A1GP offers a series of fast, adrenaline fuelled weekends set in sensational locations across the world, attracting passionate racing fans and the rich & famous. High speed action at every turn: Tight, twisty street circuits and world-famous venues guarantee genuine race excitement. In addition to the traditional motorsport fan base, A1GP attracts a new audience passionate about their country and heritage. Interaction with teams & drivers: Over three days of on-track action A1GP builds a close affinity between fans, teams and drivers.


Australian motor racing legend Alan Jones - who now owns and leads A1 Team Australia - won the world championship in 1980, and looked to win the following year until mechanical problems put an end to his championship campaign. With his wealth of experience, determination and positive outlook Alan Jones is the driving force behind the team. In the last race season, A1 Team Australia were one team to take advantage of the A1 rule that allows teams to swap drivers from race to race, using the highest number of different drivers competing in races than any other team. This method seemed to work, as by the end of the season, three different A1 Team Australia drivers had finished on the podium. This just goes to show the wealth of motorsport talent Australia has to offer. For the 2007/2008 Formula A1 GP race season, the Australian driver Ian Dyk from Sydney will be the lead driver. The 21 year-old red-head debuted with a podium place in Mexico last year, and is expected to take Australia higher than its mid-field finish last season. Ian is known as an ambitious, modest and very successful and promising young driver. In his very first Formula A1 race ever he ended up on the podium, so he's got it in him! There’s a lot to like about him, a young bloke busting to represent his own country.

Ian Dyk is one of a few changes at the Australian race team. Race Team Manager Adam Gotch spent four years at the Williams Formula 1 race team, and has beefed up his crew with new Chief Engineer Rob Arnott, who also has extensive Formula One experience. For more information on the Australian A1 GP Team please click here. For more information on the great Australian race driver Ian Dyk, please click here.

Within a couple of months, various Australian music artists and movie stars will also be able to show off with their custom Ella Maiden handbags and/or travel bags!

Other Information

Some of the testimonials we have recently received:

• "Over the years, I have purchased 3 duffle bags and 1 weekender backpack, which continue to be loved to death! They are super!” Source: Libby G. - Singleton, Australia

• "Ten years ago I bought an Ella Maiden overnight travel bag from you and it’s still in great condition and a beautiful piece of luggage." Source: Sean O’C - Sydney, Australia

• "I'm in love again! I'm in love with my new Ella Maiden ozzie ostrich shoulder bag. It's like walking around with a gorgeous male lover on my arm, because my bag is a real head turner. Thanks for creating my new love!" Source: Jill J. - London, UK

• “With my custom made black ostrich briefcase, I'm a real gentleman in New York! Thanks again!" Source: Matthew McC. - New York, USA

• “The quality of the materials used and the exceptional high standard of the finished product are excellent and are being well received by our customers and are particular popular with fashion savvy clients.” Source: Nikko Y. - Tokyo, Japan

• “I really love the Ella Maiden handbag I have bought. Walking around with it in my hometown Moscow, I have never had so many complete strangers giving me positive looks and compliments for my beautiful cowhide handbag!” Source: Nikki V. - Moscow, Russian Federation

• “It’s quite funny that thanks to your black and white cowhide travel bag I have made a lot of new contacts. People really stop me to ask me about my bag or just compliment me on it. It always gives me a positive and proud feeling.” Source: Jason B. - Shanghai, China

• “Finally Australia has its own equivalent to Gucci, Bally and Louis Vuitton!” Source: Judith M. - Melbourne, Australia

• “Wow, wow, wow! That’s the response I receive if my girlfriends see, touch and feel my new EM handbag! Many thanks from a very happy and proud Ella Maiden owner.” Source: Jane P. - Boston, USA

• “Just wanted to let you know that everybody who touches and feels my soft Ella Maiden handbag asks me if they can wrap themselves around it! Very funny. Thanks again for the fast shipment and great experience! I just love your exotic bags!” Source: Sandra J. - Southampton, UK

• “It might sound strange to you, but the crocodile travel bags I have from you give me a rich and happy feeling each time I look at them. Thank you very much/Большое спасибо!" Source: Sergey K. - St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

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