Last updated 09:18, Tuesday, 04 November 2008

Sonya Haandrikman wouldn’t say she was obsessed with her handbags – but her partner David might. He’s had to pack his clothes into boxes to make wardrobe space for them.

Sonia Haandrikman

“I have a wardrobe full of designer bags and shoes – all laid out perfectly,” she admits. “David, has had to resort to putting some of his clothes into boxes so I can fit them all in!

“I couldn’t possibly tell you how much I paid for my most expensive bag but it’s a Louis Vuitton, which I bought after a few glasses of champagne in Selfridges, London. It’s gorgeous and whenever I carry it I can’t stop looking at it. When we go for lunch the bag gets a seat of its own.”

Suffice to say, the lady is single-mindedly in love. Many of us are. And we know there’s no cure... not that we’d want one.

Sonya and her mum Tanya run Celebrations in Bank Street, Carlisle and shamelessly indulge their passion at work, offering up-to-the-minute handbag collections.

“We don’t sell ridiculously priced bags at Celebrations,” said Sonya. “We want our collection to be available and affordable for everyone, so they start from £10 for a small clutch up to £150 for one of the most expensive pieces.

“We definitely compete well with the larger department stores in Carlisle.When we set up the business we wanted to create a destination store and really bring something different to Carlisle. Five years on I believe we have created a beautiful shopping experience for our customers and this is what sets us apart from the larger department stores. Also, being independent means we are able to offer excellent one-to-one customer service and all our staff are trained in a particular area so they can offer expert advice.”

Branded bags in her stock include Saddler, Storm and Fiorelli. But Sonya also searches out small individual companies to bring that point of difference to her product selection.

“One of my particular favourites is by Glenda Gies, a New York designer who hand makes all her own pieces and ships them over to the UK for us. To my knowledge we are the only stockists in the UK and they are simply fabulous.”

So, just what is it about a gorgeous handbag that makes so many women go weak at the knees and reach for their wallets?

“It’s like an obsession…. the feel, the colour, the size, the style,” Sonya drools. “ Its one of those things you’ve just got to have.

“You carry yourself differently when you have a nice bag and the bag we carry says a lot about us as individuals or how we are feeling on a particular day. It’s a fashion accessory and a sexy bag can make a boring outfit look great.

“A designer bag is like an investment as you will always feel fantastic when you carry it.

“It’s about how it makes you feel. And no matter what size it is, a handbag always fits!”

Overall Fiorelli tends to be Sonya’s bestselling brand.

“They are so diverse with their designs and are really affordable,” she says.

Fashion experts told us last year that the IT bag had had its day. They were clearly very wrong and Sonya has her own thoughts on how they fell into the trap.

“I have always believed you should buy what you like not necessarily what’s in fashion. The problem is that when a particular style of bag is in fashion all the major high street stores stock only those designs or brands and limit their offerings to the customer, which I think is annoying.

“Because we are an independent company, we are not limited to certain suppliers and are able to offer a comprehensive range as well as stocking ‘this season’s must have’. I don’t believe the IT bag will ever have had its day; there will always be celebrities photographed with a particular bag which will make it a fashionable style to have and – however much we hate to admit it – this is how a fashion trend begins.

“But I do think it’s important that suppliers listen to their customers – that way they will be able to bring them exactly what they want.”

So, for the ultimate bag lady – is there anything remaining on her wish-list?

“I think I would like a Gucci and matching shoes for Christmas. I don’t necessarily think it’s about the cost or the designer name; it’s about how a bag makes you feel when you wear it.

“ For me, I don’t care if someone thinks it’s Prada or Primark – I don’t wear it for them, I wear it for me.

“I especially love Dior, which has to be my favourite designer brand. The designs are so feminine and stylish. But I also really like some of the Saddler ones we stock for £50.00, which are way more affordable and I have a particular weakness for the Fiorelli clutch bags we sell – they are so easy to match with an outfit for a night out.”