May 2024

Our journey: Why shouldn't we be able to do it all?

I was on the road nearly every week for four years, building new business ventures for public-sector clients. The work mattered to me deeply, and I needed to stay sharp.

Yet, in a world of oh-so-serious blue suits and high-stakes missions, I felt like my personality and style had to be checked at the door. Between relentless travel, squeezing in workouts, making hotel rooms feel like home, or finding layovers for a girls’ weekend, I felt like a double agent, bouncing between my professional and personal life. The constant re-packing and lugging was draining.

I asked around for the perfect bag: elegant, durable, functional (And please, with a little personality!) Nothing delivered. My bag options were literally slowing me down.
April 2023

The Spark: what if I built what I couldn't find?

On the hunt for a bag that could keep up, I discovered designer bags were getting flimsier to protect margins. While beautiful, they aren’t functional. On the flip side, functional bags skewed bulky and masculine. I was left with creative, but cheaply made bags that were far from professional. This illuminated a new mission for me:
Make the change-makers of the worldtruly unstoppable and unapologetically authentic with a bag that does it all.
February 2024

A Daunting Road Ahead

I spent the next months going down “wrong paths” with the wrong designers and factories - none of which met my standards on quality, artisanal care, and a commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices. While navigating a new industry was daunting, I wasn’t willing to take shortcuts. I committed to learning.
April 2024

The Reset in Milan

In April 2024, I left client-focused business building to pursue entrepreneurship from a new lens. I flew to Milan for a creative reset. Immersing myself in the world of artisanal leather reawakened everything I wanted this brand to stand for: craftsmanship, beauty, and design with personality.
July 2024

The Right Team of Experts

In the summer of 2024, I got crisp on how I wanted Rohde Vene to be built: By a synchronized team of individuals, each experts in their craft, open to cross-pollinating ideas, and willing to push the boundaries. I wanted to be challenged to always level up, and I found the team of people who felt similarly (many of whom were mid launching their own businesses). With the right team, magic happened.
February 2025

Made in Portugal

We choose to move slow and intentionally. After four rounds of prototyping, countless material tests, and real-life trials, every detail was refined to create a bag that feels as good as it functions—streamlined, intuitive, and built to last. Meanwhile, I searched for partners who shared our values—craft, care, and integrity. I found them in Portugal: two family- and woman-owned factories where excellence is personal. Watching their hands at work and joy filling the room, I knew I’d found my people.

April 2025

Our first production run

In early May 2025, Portugal experienced a nation-wide power outage – at the
exact movement my flight touched down enroute to finalize production details.
With no power, cell service or cook-tops, we canceled our meetings, and I ended
up sleeping on my team’s couch. While we hunkered-down we formed real friendships
and now laugh at the story. I am beyond grateful for the local community (and
hospitality) that’s built into the Rohde Vene supply chain.

The next day the power was back and we missed no time. We kicked off our
first small-batch of 150 bags.

Rohde Vene is created by a coalition of artisans

From our designer, who brings years of experience and a keen eye for detail, to our sourcer—another incredible woman—who ensures our materials are both environmentally-thoughtful and of the highest caliber, each team member is dedicated to their craft.

Together, we’ve created a brand driven by skill, passion, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Featured collection

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The Nina weekender travel zip
The Louise everywhere tote