When Nikki Duerden started to get leather goods made in Bali for friends back home as gifts, she had no idea it would be the beginning of a new business venture.
During the week, she is a regional director at a large government-owned corporation, overseeing a team with a $200 million portfolio, but after hours, she’s a small business owner alongside her husband Richard and sister Simone.
In February, the trio launch Pure Folly, a leather goods company that is committed to giving back to underprivileged communities, in particular women in need.
“We want to be able to make a difference, while creating beautiful products that make people feel great about themselves,” Duerden said.
The Pure Folly range includes bags, satchels, totes and pouches made from carefully selected leather and fabrics with pieces priced from $39.95-$395.
A portion of every purchase is paid forward to help support women in need, including providing college education for Balinese girls, homeless women and victims of domestic violence.
Most recently, Pure Fully has contributed a handful of bags to Share the Dignity’s ‘It’s in the bag’ initiative, whereby bags are filled with personal hygiene products and everyday luxuries, before being distributed to homeless women and women in need.
With its roots in Geelong, Pure Folly has also sponsored local group Barwon Centre Again Sexual Assault, who provide women in need with bags of essentials.
“Having a bag that makes you feel beautiful is often a forgotten comfort,” Duerden said.
The Pure Folly journey started in October last year, when Nikki and Richard took a break from their corporate jobs to visit Bali.
“We visited the same tailor we’ve been visiting for 14 years and this time I took a few bags over that I liked to see if he could replicate them as Christmas gifts for friends.
“The quality was outstanding, and it was then that we realised this could be something much bigger. Although we may not be designers at heart, we know what we like and what women want in a bag,” Duerden said.
The Pure Folly winter range includes classic tones of black, grey, sand and tan, while the newly released summer range is a lighter palette of blush, cream, nude, silver and teal.
“Each piece is handmade and I think that makes a big difference – you can feel they are made with love," Duerden said.
“We want purchasers to know that they’re not only buying a beautiful handmade bag, but that they’re also contributing to a wider cause and helping women in need.”