We choose full-grain leather because quality should become more beautiful with time. It preserves the strongest, most natural part of the hide, giving each bag its own texture, character, and lasting durability.

It takes greater skill to shape and work with, but the result is worth it: leather that softens, develops a rich patina, and tells the story of how it has been carried. That is what turns a bag from something seasonal into something you keep for years.

TAH is based in Portland, and our bags are handcrafted in León, Mexico- a city with generations of experience in leatherwork. Angelina first met TAH’s lead leather maker in Los Angeles, and when he returned home to León, the relationship continued.

After exploring production closer to home, we found that the craftsmanship, quality, and small-batch approach we needed were already there. More than a decade later, every TAH bag is still made by the same dedicated team.

The first TAH design was a tote with a dedicated compartment for the heels Angelina carried to work each day.

Tote And Heels.

The name stuck, and the idea grew into a collection designed for the many roles women carry every day.

Angelina was raised in a small town in Eastern Washington. Her father, who was from Mexico, was a master carpenter. Her mother, born in Hollywood, California, was a lover of style and fashion. From them, she inherited an appreciation for craftsmanship, beauty, and the importance of how something feels.

At 18, Angelina was a young mother of two when she began working at Nordstrom. From the moment she walked through the doors, she knew she wanted to become a buyer, one of the most sought-after roles in the company. The ambition may have seemed unlikely to some, but she earned their respect through how hard she worked, her instinct for style, and her genuine love of helping people find what felt right for them.

Over the next 17 years, Angelina worked her way through the company, eventually becoming a buyer for women’s apparel, responsible for millions in buying power. She had a natural ability to understand what women wanted and anticipate what they would want next. It was a career she loved and had worked incredibly hard to build, which made leaving it all the more difficult.

Later, while working as a store manager, Angelina began to see a clear void in the handbag market. Women were often asked to choose between fast fashion and designer luxury. She believed there should be another option: the timeless beauty of a luxury handbag, the utility of a work bag, and the craftsmanship of exceptional leather, hardware, and materials.

A bag rooted in touch, feel, and ease.

That idea became TAH.

Building the brand was an uphill journey. Local production houses told Angelina there was no place in the market for what she wanted to create. The craftsmanship could sit beside designer, but the price did not fit the category, it was too high to compete with contemporary brands and too attainable to be considered traditional luxury.

But that middle ground was exactly the point.

Angelina knew she was the customer. She trusted there were more women like her, and she kept going until she found a way.

More than a decade later, TAH is still here because women like you continue to believe there is room for something better.