DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: NNEKA HURLEY

November 7th, 2007

Meet Nneka Hurley. This 28 year old graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and recent student at the Fashion Institute of Technology is already making moves in the fashion industry. Originally from Petersburg, Va, currently residing in New Jersey, she started ‘Nneka Hurley Handbags‘ in 2005. Currently Nneka creates limited numbers of each design, allowing customers to rock one-of-a-kind looks.

Her hand-made clutches and handbags are very popular among celebrities. People from Eve to Keyshia Cole have been seen rocking her original designs.

NNEKA ON HER INSPIRATION & HER HANDBAGS


I get my creative spirit and edge from my mother, we were always making things when I was a child. Funky prints and unique fabrics really inspire me. My handbags and clutches really speak to the trendsetting woman, the fashionista at heart!

Currently, I make everything by hand. Ultimately, I want my bags mass produced and available in boutiques and major department stores across the country.

CELEBS WITH THEIR NNEKA HURLEY HANDBAGS

Celebrities like Eve, Keyshia Cole, Vivica A. Fox, and Bre (America’s Next Top Model) have been seen with her bags and clutches.

Nneka’s handbags and clutches offer the perfect balance between fashion and function.

For more info & to make purchases:

  1. 1.
    BEAUTY SCHOOL DROP OUT

    Her bags are fire…i would defnitely rock one…very different and unique…i luv it….i hope she makes it big…and it’s nice to see a lot of up and coming black designers doing it up in the industry

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  2. YEA ID DEFINETLY SUPPORT HER!!! THIS IS A GOOD LOOK!

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  3. 3.

    Oh those are on point!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. 4.
    gimme gimme more

    Big ups to Miss Nneka! I love her clutches. Hand-made too? Now that’s talent. Shout out to concrete loop for supporting black designers and innovators.

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  5. Cute! I especially like the one with all of the colors and swirls on it.

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  6. 6.
    lola

    that girl is from nigeria…..go girl

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  7. 7.
    dreamstacy99

    I cant wait to get my manicured hands all over one of those bags! I am so sick of all those other “designers” that make knockoff bags (not mentioning any names). Okay Momma Knowles, Kimora, and whoever makes the babyphat knockoffs “babygirl”. Wow I had a lot of built up anger towards the handbag industry….

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  8. The bag Eve has is cute. The others are just ok.

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  9. 10.
    Tacara

    I am sooooo estatic that this sister is really making moves! I am even more proud that our black celebraties are supporting her and her business! I am even more elated that she is well eduated and is not waiting for things to come to her, but actually going out to get it ! In so many words, Nneka you go girl, you are truly an innovator,and I will surely be looking into getting my hands on one of these fabulous desinger bags…..

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  10. 11.
    Valennea NYC

    Damn, the bags looks good, I like the one Bre is rocking.
    I wish there are m ore creatvie people that make nice,a fforsable and unique collections to rock. cause Baby phat sucks and make you just look as ghetto as hell ( at least for most items). House of dereon is not particular, I mean, their jeans, their bags but they have NICE shoes though.
    But more creative people. I also like the collection of Alexis (kanye’s girlfriend ) but I do not have nay idea of the prices?!!

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  11. 12.
    kimwill02

    nice bags, good luck Nneka!

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  12. 13.
    1prettyb

    OOH OOh OHH!! Me being the fashinista of the dirty south I love handbags and clutches!!! I live in MS and it is rare to see women my age 25-30 carry clutches. This chic knows her fashion and trends. These bags look great and I cannot wait to purchase one for me and my BFF! This is a definite GOOD LOOK!!!!!!!

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  13. 14.
    kia

    i love her bags! i featured her on my site as well! fabulous!

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  14. 15.
    Ms. Bmore

    damn…this girl’s stuff is hot life fiyah!! A bag can make or break the outfit..which is why i kind of stopped carrying purses for while because I’ve seen a lot of wack purses in stores. And I hate wearing a designer logo on a purse…i.e. Louis Vuitton, Gucci…I think that shit is so tacky. Nneka has made me want to carry a purse again…this is so fresh and original. A purse should be work of art…not a ogo!!

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  15. 16.
    Ms. Bmore

    whoops..typo..i meant a purse should be a work of art..NOT A ***LOGO

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  16. 17.
    Babydoll

    Yo, these bags are fire. Handmade and very fab! Check out her myspace and support her!!!! Thanks for shedding light on this talented sister!

    VA stand up!

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  17. 18.
    Lori

    Okay I want one of each! Loving the designs, just my style :)

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  18. 19.
    ms. j

    another woman of color making BIG moves! that’s what i like to see…keep pushin forward, mama!

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  19. 20.
    Ms. Bmore

    ok..i just went to Nnekka’s myspace…and everything appears to be sold out!! Must be high in demand..

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  20. 21.
    Flochine

    what an inspiration to me, another igbo girl out there making it, on day my designs will be known

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  21. 22.
    Staci

    Nneka has a great eye for mixing colors and patterns! It’s just a matter of time before a Nneka Hurley original is in every trendsetter’s closet!

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  22. 23.
    CapCityChick

    Another VA representer doing big things!!!! I love it!!!

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  23. 24.
    vinci

    hot bags! many successful wishes, nek! :)

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  24. 25.
    SHA

    I have known Nneka growing up in the tri-city area in VA, and she has always been a trendsetter..I am so proud of her!!!!!!!!!! She will continue to do big things and stay reppin VA!!!!!

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  25. 26.
    Young Kanye

    I know Ms Hurley personally, and this spotlight is one well deserved because she is a hard working designer who takes time in perfecting each bag to ensure satisfaction! Congradulations on your hard work and achievments Neka, I see a empire in your future, and a shoe-line…..creatively directed by me of course… Louboutin better watch out!

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  26. 27.
    Malaikas Sense of Fashion

    I love her designs! They are unique and so classy! I cant wait to offer them to my clients in my boutique! True talent and a gift! Take care of those hands girl!! Keep us in style!
    ~Miss Angel of Malaikas Sense of Fashion

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  27. 28.
    Classy Kay

    Those bags are NICE!!! I’m checking out hr myspace right away!! I want one!! I love funky, unusual fabric bags!

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  28. 29.
    Birago

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the bags. They are so unique. Man, this is so creative. I NEED one (or more) in my wardrobe. Keep up the awesome work!

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  29. 30.
    Sha Butters

    I have the Kelis bag and I am very happy with my purchase!!! The bag is made of quality product and it is very well designed and put together!!! I will see you on the 17th chica!!!

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  30. 31.
    Z4U2NV

    I personally own one of the clutches and LOVE it!!! I cant wait to purchase another one!!

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  31. 32.
    Cattt

    I love all kinds of purses and totes and I would definitely buy from her.

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  32. 33.
    zee

    wow ..her bags are reli nyce nd her name seems to indicate shes nigerian :)

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  33. 34.
    vexxed

    too gaudy/ not for me.

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  34. 35.
    ENVIED

    HOT!!!!!!!!!!

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  35. 36.
    charlee

    those kinda purses really are not ma style…….but if they are cheap (like no more than 25 dollas) then yea i will rock it..other than that…NO!!

    but do ur thing gurl!!

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  36. 37.
    charlee

    how much do they cost?????

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  37. 38.
    whyaskwhy

    Nice to see black women doing big things!

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  38. 39.
    Dlayne

    I just got my Nneka Hurley clutch in the mail last week! (i know you’re jealous…) And I LOVE it! It’s great to see a black woman doing big things!

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  39. 40.
    natural mystique

    Good for Nneka! Though they are a bit flashy for my personal taste, she’ll definitely have a huge following. Her stuff looks very similar to Betsey Johnson’s.

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  40. 41.
    ThinkAboutIt

    Beautiful thing seeing this young sister get on design and Entrepreneur spirit on.
    She’s very talented – I will have to check her out.

    Good Look CL. Giving the sister some shine and introducing new things to the masses.

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  41. 42.
    KSH

    Good look for you girl! I LOVE those patterns on the bags. I will def cop one if it fits in my budget!

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  42. 43.
    LAY L

    IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE SPRUCED SOMETHING UP!

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  43. 44.
    Queen Tee

    Gurl make that money i’m all about paper chasing baby!! Do ur thang sista!!!

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  44. 45.
    THE BIG EASY

    mADE MY ORDER ALREADY………….GOOD XMAS GIFTS FOR THE LADIES IN MY FAMILY…..GLAD I TOOK CARE OF THAT, THEY SHOULD DEFINTLY LOVE THEIR GIFTS THIS YEAR

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  45. 46.
    Jay

    Great pocket books!!! Wish you much success!!

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  46. THIS WOMAN IS GOIN PLACES! SHE IS BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL, COLLEGE GRAD AND ALL. BE INSPIRED, A MIND IS A VERY TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. SHE MUST HAVE A GOOD MOTHER. I WILL DEFINATELY SUPPORT HER, THOSE BAGS ARE GENIUS! IF U CAN BUY LV, GUICCI, AND WHATEVA OTHER NAME BRAND BAG, THEN U SHOULD SUPPORT ONE OF UR OWN.

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  47. 48.
    Tonya

    It’s refreshing to see a beautiful young black female doing her thing and reaching a successful status. It especially makes me smile to know that this talented young lady is reppin’ my hometown of VA.

    I love her bags because they are UNIQUE and in VA you rarely see variety when it comes to ones personal style. So with that being said, I would definitely like to cop one of her bags just to stand out and have females say, “Wow where did you get that bag?” Lovely indeed.

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  48. I LOVE ‘em…pure hotness indeed. Lawd lemme get my hands on one before the prices are outta this world….well lets re-phrase that outta my world lol!

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  49. 50.

    I’ll pobably cope a bag for my sister…she has all of these 5 ñ 6 hundred dollar bags… All white designer. She could use a hot bag by a sexy blk designer

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  50. 51.
    Reepee

    I love, love these clutches…..its so hard to find funky, originial chic accessories and these are definitely on point. I was on her myspace and some of the clutches actually fold out into larger bags….HOW FREAKIN HOT IS THAT!!!!!

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  51. 52.
    tybu

    Love them. I’ll wear them. They have this unique look similar to Sharif bags on HSN or QVC.

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  52. 53.
    n**ggaz who play too much and da' b*tches dat' luv em.

    gotta cop one, two, or three.they are cute.

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  53. 54.
    Angelita

    I love to see a fellow FIT graduate doing their thing!!!!
    Keep up the good work!

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  54. 55.
    Kesh

    The bags are HOT!! :)

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  55. 56.

    Well done girl! Keep doin your thang! Can we get them in the uk???

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  56. 57.
    MS THANG

    YUP ENUVA NIGERIAN DOIN IT BIG YUPYUP!! AINT DEY SOO CREATIVE ND BEAUTIFULL!

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  57. 58.
    Lihara

    she looks like rihanna but she has brown eyes
    her bags look HOT!!

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  58. 59.
    KiKi B.

    her bags are niceee, I like ‘em.

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  59. 60.
    Miss Tres Chic

    Absolutely Fabulous Darling….

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