Tomboy Totes are constructed and Purse-onalized for the bold, independent female who is a Spirited Sports fan, seeking uptown chic or the Tomboy who loves the rugged outdoors . Tomboy Totes are like “Diamonds-in-the-Rough” and many styles have emerged since they were first introduced into the fashion world in 2007.
The unique handbag design of Tomboy Totes is only half the story. The designer is Elisa Gaddy-Later, a wife, mother, grandmother, and a retired dental assistant of 30 years. Raised in Alvin TX, she now resides with her husband and daughter in Springfield, Oregon. She loves her job these days as it allows her to stay home and raise her youngest daughter, as well as the freedom to dream, design and create something she has a passion for--handbags.
Elisa is a self taught handbag designer who started designing and hammering out Totes in 2007 as stress relief when her step daughter was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a childhood cancer. Designing and constructing Tomboy Totes helped her cope and kept her mind busy creating something meaningful and useful as she watched a beautiful young life being destroyed by a debilitating disease.
After her first creation was TOTED out in public interest grew and people were asking where she bought them. Elisa received so many orders that she started rethinking her hobby and turned it into a business venture.
Every Year a Tomboy Tote sends a special edition to the Salute To Heroes Auction, one designed especially in the honor of a Veteran in the colors that do not run--Red, White and Blue. To her surprise, her first donation, a Lone Star Texas Tote brought the auction $950 ! What a great way to honor and help support the men and women who fight/fought for our freedom, who sacrifice daily in order that we can live FREE and do anything we dream. This year, a special Seal Team Six Tote was designed and delivered to the widows of our Navy Seal Team killed in foreign wars.
Elisa stands strong by her decision to have all her bags MADE IN THE USA, despite the prodding of others to take the easier, cheaper road.
Elisa has been named "Designer of the Day" through Handbag Designer 101 out of NYC and can be found in the designer roster there. Her Tomboy TEAM totes have been approved by the CLC and NCAA for the University of Oregon and Oregon State, and eventually Tomboy Totes would like to acquire many of collegiate teams around the country. *We are proud to announce the arrival of matching handmade Wallets made by Nancy Fields-Owner of Team Spirit Accessories [also in Oregon] which completes the Tomboy Ensemble.
Even so Tomboy Totes is still yet a work in progress-"in-the rough" so to speak... Isn’t everything about our life “in-the-rough?" Every life a work in progress, bits and pieces being chipped away so the real beauty can be unveiled. May we all be challenged to pursue those dreams in our life that will eventually help us to become that sparkling gem/diamond we always KNEW we could be...it just takes Faith and a little faith in yourself...