In 2015, Clara made a simple leather envelope for her daughter. Her daughter told her to start selling them. Eleven years, countless leather hides, and one brand later, that advice turned into Clara J Design. Before she was a handbag maker, she was a nurse, and the precision, patience, and steady hands that come with years of patient care are the same ones she brings to every bag she cuts and stitches in her Boca Raton studio.
The name "Eritaj" means heritage in Haitian Creole. "Ayiti" means Haiti. These aren't just collection names, they're reminders of where the work comes from. Clara J Design draws on African-inspired fabrics, bold color stories, and a sense of craftsmanship that treats every material as something worth respecting. Each bag carries that identity in its textures, its patterns, and the way it's put together, not as a label but as a foundation.
Every Clara J Design handbag is made one at a time. We source quality leather, haircalf, and upholstery materials for texture and durability, then cut, stitch, and assemble each piece by hand. Brass bee hardware, medallion plates, hand-cut tassels, and contrast stitching are all placed with intention, not pulled from a parts bin. The result is a bag that looks and feels like someone actually made it, because someone did.