Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Michelle Ford

I meet Randi Obenauer in her East Van studio at the Dynamo Arts space. When I enter, I can immediately sense the creativity flowing in the room – there are art pieces and random knick-knacks strewn about, ladies painted head-to-toe in pink and blue, and Bob Marley playing in the background. Surely, it is the perfect place to get inspired. It is also Randi’s second home, where she hand makes each and every piece in her line, Ora Bags.

Made from both new and recycled leather, Ora has caught the attention of publications like FASHION Magazine and has become a Vancouver fashion staple in four short years. With a background in fine arts, automotive upholstery, textiles and fashion design, it comes as no surprise that Randi’s work is carefully thought out and well-constructed. The result is bags that are intricate, functional and beautiful at the same time.

I chat with Randi about Ora, her fashion memories and taking her collection to the next level.

Valerie Tiu: What was your first fashion memory?

Randi Obenauer: I come from a very modest income family, and I always ended up with a ton of hand-me-down clothes from the neighbour’s kids that never fit. I think it just made me so much more driven to make more clothing for myself. The first really cool thing that I remember making was in Home Ec. class. I went and bought a few vintage pairs of corduroys, cut them up into rectangles and made a bunch of yardage of patched earth tones. I made a pair of pants from an old pattern that my mom’s friend had from the sixties. I still have them and they still almost fit. That felt like the first real thing that I made, and I just couldn’t stop after that.

VT: How did you come up with the idea for Ora Bags? What’s the story behind the name?

RO: As fashion-obsessed as I’ve always been, I was never a purse girl. I’ve always had a messenger bag or a rucksack. I always say comfort before style, and I truly mean that. Once I got into fashion school, I started feeling like it was time that I had a purse. I had all this black scrap leather that I had from upholstery work, so I bought a bunch of hardware, and I made myself and my sister each a bag. I just made my dream bag – it was crescent shaped and it had two leather braided straps and a tassel on one side. The response that I got on those bags was just crazy, and the next thing I knew I had a shop in Victoria wanting them.

I also entered this student contest through Portobello West. I didn’t win, but Rebecca Tay, the Western Editor of FASHION Magazine at the time, happened to catch wind of that contest. She was like, “I know you didn’t win, but I want to interview you.” So she did a little write-up in Fashion Magazine in November 2008, and ever since then I’ve had snowballing press.

My name is Randi Obenauer so the name comes from that, the O-R-A. I also love things in threes and the whole circle logo. And the concept of the aura, I think that’s a beautiful idea of the energy around the body. Around the time I started it too, I had just come from Costa Rica, and there was a river by the hotel that I was staying in, called Aura. So it all just sort of clicked together.

VT: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

RO: I personally draw a lot of inspiration in the hands-on making process. If I have a leather jacket that I love, I just play with that and see how I can change its shape. I went from making those little satchels to bigger, slouchy shoulder bags, backpacks, and duffels. It was sort of a natural progression. I basically make things that I need in my life and that I want. So I guess it’s really self-indulgent, but there’s always a level of practicality in there.

VT: Every product you create is one of a kind and you hand-make each piece. Can you take us through this process?

RO: I initially only worked with recycled materials, so I get vintage leather garments from non-profit sources. Dress for Success takes donations all year, but not all of them are appropriate for their program. They actually set aside their leather stuff and I go pick it up once in awhile. I make bags to donate to their gala fundraisers for them to auction off. My mom actually ends up donating a lot [of leather] to me because she does a lot of thrift-store hunting up in the interior.

My recent styles, the Stevie, the Sadie, the Bike Bags and some of the wallets that I’m making are some of my first shift into using new hides. That’s been a really amazing process aesthetically, and that quality of leather has been really awesome and inspiring because I can do more minimal designs, verses my recycled pieces, which have an intense construction process.

There’s a book called The Prophet, and it’s just this beautiful book about wisdom and life. There’s a quote in it that says, “Charge everything you fashion with a breath of your own spirit.” I think about that in my making process because I truly love being at that machine and being the designer and the maker, so that quote resonates with me.

VT: You take a very unique approach to promoting Ora Bags with your videos and look books. How does that play into your aesthetic?

RO: This recent look book is the first time I’ve worked with a stylist. Araceli Ogrinc is actually the assistant to Luisa Rino, so she has adds a level of articulation to this photo shoot. In past editorials, it was sort of this organic and natural process of going out and enjoying the day and capturing those moments. With this latest one, we’ve actively tried to maintain that earthy, vintage film that captures the Ora vibe and aesthetic, but taken to a more high fashion, polished production. It’s been a really amazing experience working with Araceli and [photographer] Shane Oosterhoff, to try and make that shift with Ora. Essentially, my bags are luxury items, so I have to broaden the spectrum of who my editorials are reaching.

VT: What’s the biggest challenge of having your own business?

RO: Time is a huge challenge. I’ve made over 300 bags but sometimes I go through these inner battles where I feel like I haven’t produced enough lately. But I have to realize that I’ve made every single one, plus hundreds of those crystal pouches too. It’s just me.

VT: What’s next for Ora?

RO: We’re already working on new editorial concepts for the fall shoot. Araceli and I are really excited to continue collaborating together, so that’s pretty cool. Ora has typically been non-seasonal, so for Spring/Summer 2013, I’d really like to push towards entering the industry on a wholesale level and expand Ora. Essentially, I want to see my bags in more stores in the US, Europe and continue expanding the line.

VT: Why Vancouver?

RO: I grew up in Logan Lake, but I was actually born on Vancouver Island. When my family moved up to the interior and left the island, I was devastated. I felt like we left the ocean and lush forest and moved to the desert (that’s an extreme exaggeration) in the middle of nowhere. So I always saw myself moving back by the ocean. And here I am.

Being a part of Dynamo is incredibly inspiring and I love being a part of this artistic community that is so supportive. I really do have a special place in my heart for Vancouver.

Check out the Ora 2012 look book on March 1^st at OraBags.com.