About the Designer

Bay Area native Karen Nepacena spent most of her childhood in the ballet studio, following her dream to become a professional ballet dancer. After performing professionally with companies around the country, Karen retired from dance in 1997 to receive her business degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Karen started learning sewing basics from her crafty mom, Lita, during breaks from Northeastern.  Simple designs evolved into more styles, with the bags soon gaining boutique presence in the Boston area.  The Nepacena line continues to evolve, both online and in select retailers around the nation.


About the Bags

Since Karen's first design, she has named each handbag after a woman who has inspired her through life. The individuality and creativity of each design represents the personalities from within these women. With the use of unique textiles and bold color palettes, her designs are a fusion of sophisticated elegance and spontaneity.  Her experience living abroad and studying design in Italy also contribute to her design aesthetic. 

All bags are proudly manufactured in the USA.