Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, founders of Ashya. Image: Adrienne Raquel
When you’re a devoted world traveler, you know what and what not to carry with you. Large bags are not always comfortable or smart to lug around in the States or abroad. They are a burden to carry and make you easy targets for plucky pickpockets.
Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece are the founders behind the popular eco-friendly bag line Ashya. Founded in 2017, the luxe accessories brand was created after the pair made a trip to South India together. The friends met while in college at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and decided to go into business with one another after separately working at different fashion companies.
“The brand emerged as an ode to exploration. Motivated by global Black, Brown and indigenous communities and transient modern life, we approach design with effortless mobility and essentialism in mind,”
Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, founders of Ashya
As savvy world travelers, the design duo decided the first release from their Brooklyn-based line would be a chic take on the practical bet bag—which ended up being an immediate hit with the jet set and fashion community. Ever mindful of the ecosystem, the designers craft their sleek, streamlined bags using pieces of vegetable-tanned leather. They also produce their collections in small quantities to limit excess waste.
