Courtesy of korédé
Korede 1
The Milola Clutch in action
Motherhood changes many aspects of a woman's life—including, sometimes, their style. It might be forced to take a step back while moms adjust to their new role. However, one St. Louis mother is looking to change that.
Meet Ronke Faleti, working mother of three and founder and CEO of Korédé, a new purse brand designed for mothers. Korédé, which means "bring goodness," was created for a very specific reason.
"I created the brand last summer when I was getting ready to go back to work from my maternity leave," Faleti says. "There wasn't really anything on the market that catered to today's women: on the go and office appropriate, but still had the functionality I needed. And I wanted something that was pretty. So I decided that I would make it."
"I started with researching luxury brands... and spoke to a bunch of different handbag salespeople at Nieman's and Saks to try and understand what today's women are looking for," Faleti adds. "[I also] researched online for the complaints that women have. [Many] wanted diaper bags that didn't look like diaper bags."
Faleti began designing on her dining room table, which has led to her very own company. For Faleti, one of the most surreal aspects has been sending her drawing off and receiving that very design about six weeks later.
Courtesy of Korédé
Milola Clutch 2
Korédé has created something that hasn't been easy to find: a purse that gives women the style of a standard purse but the versatility needed for a mother. Korédé's first design, the Milola clutch, features a patent-pending baby-wipe dispensing pocket, a detachable cross-body strap, water-resistent lining, and more. The bags are also made from genuine leather and come in three different colors.
"I've had opportunities to show [the purse] in Vegas, DC, and St. Louis, and women light up when they see it," Faleti says. "Women see me pulling a wipe out of [the Milola clutch] and think they can use it for their makeup."
As for the future of the line, be sure to look out for future designs in the Milola collection, including a backpack and a satchel. Furthermore, Korédé has plans to expand into 20 retailers across the country. And they will be attending events, where, as Faleti puts it, "women will come together to hang out and be empowered."
