Founder's Letter

Dear Friend,

I am incredibly honored to introduce you to the Cara Benevenia Brand and digital shopping experience: an exclusive and immersive inside look into the world of Cara Benevenia.

For those of you who are new, I'd like to extend a warm welcome and tell you a little bit about my brand story and mission. Cara Benevenia is a contemporary line of women's handbags that are handcrafted in the United States using only the finest leathers imported from Florence, Italy. My passion for celebrating local artisans stems from my family's humble roots here in America, after whom I am proud to name my eponymous label.

My paternal great-grandfather, Anthony Benevenia (1903-1979), emigrated from a small village on the southern coast of Italy to industrial Newark, New Jersey in the early 1920's. He was an artisan by trade, and found work as a tailor at the exclusive men's clothier, American Shops, on Broad Street during the city's Gilded Age of Shopping.

My favorite part of the story, second to hearing about how Anthony always presented himself in "La Bella Figura", is hearing about the true pride Anthony had in his work, despite the pennies it paid.

Growing up in the traditional Italian-American household ingrained in me a deep desire to celebrate my family's heritage. My pride in being an Italian-American from New Jersey with Artisan roots has inspired the entirety of the Cara Benevenia Brand and Mission; a celebration of the values of integrity, passion, and purpose while sustaining life, jobs, and the beautiful craft of leather-making in one of New Jersey's inner cities.

As a result, the Cara Benevenia collections are designed and handcrafted in the only place I have ever known as home, placing honor upon the work of local artisans, most of whom have immigrated to the United States in search of American Dream, just like my great-grandfather Anthony.

I am delighted to have you here on this journey with me.

with love, Cara