Our story
How it all started
KAAI was founded in 2017 in Antwerp, Belgium, by Ine Verhaert and Helga Meersmans who set out to reimagine the perfect work-life bag for the eclectic woman with exquisite style standards.
Before, the duo spent a lot of time travelling around the world. Rushing from one meeting to the next during their corporate careers. Their main companions: a laptop, a mobile phone, lots of paperwork, and women’s essentials, all stuffed into their handbags.
Desperately looking for a stylish bag to complement their active lifestyles, they knew they could do better. So they got a handle (pun intended) on their idea: creating a new bag concept for women on the go.
Capturing the ongoing energy of the city and the ever-moving water of Antwerp, KAAI (meaning ‘the quay’ in Dutch) symbolises the fluidity of modern women, going places.
Read more: in conversation with the co-founders Ine & Helga.
By women, for women
We take inspiration from the lives and desires of successful modern women.
From in-depth interviews with active women, discussing their relationships with their bags we discovered that women are:
‣ irritated by the chaos in their fashionable but often impractical handbags,
‣ bored with the masculine looks of their workbags.
KAAI brings change by creating bags that are both functional and fashionable, feminine and fearless. Some have called this our best kept secret.
We empower women to follow their ambitions. On their terms —without compromises.
Sophisticated simplicity
Drawing inspiration from the colours and pure graphic lines of Art Deco, we reinterpret this era’s timeless allure into magically modern, minimalist handbags with forever appeal.
Both contemporary and utterly covetable, we design for a variety of occasions. From casual to formal, from day to night.
KAAI women around the world
From London to Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney, women around the world have been spotted toting around with a KAAI bag.
