(CBS DETROIT) – Maksym and Alla Kondratenko enjoyed a comfortable life in Ukraine.
They ran a successful handbag company and had two small children when the war with Russia started. Their warehouse was bombed and after months of living in a war zone, they decided to flee to the United States.
They have lived in the Ann Arbor area for two years and are relaunching their fashion brand Kondra Bags.
“People very often ask me – because I sometimes sell personally – what it means,” says Alla Kondratenko. “Our last name (is) Kondratenko.”
“We have some friends from Ukraine who still make these bags,” Maksym Kondratenko said. “I’m thinking of doing this here and supporting them as well.”
The couple regularly receives bags from Ukraine and stores them in their basement.
They launched a website and sent the bags from home, but thanks to customers and volunteers who helped them resettle, they have also started selling in established stores in the area.
“I was truly moved and inspired by their story,” said Mara Davidson, women’s fashion buyer for Bivouac.
For Davidson, their story hits close to home.
“I actually immigrated to the US when I was four years old with my family,” she said. “We moved here from Romania, so I know something about coming here and the resilience and hard work it takes for an immigrant parent to try to provide a better life for their children. It’s kind of the first that sold me like, ‘Okay, how can we help these people? Can we bring their products into our store?'”
Mary Cambruzzi, owner of Found in Kerrytown, partnered with Jewish Family Services to host a pop-up for Kondra Bags, and in one weekend they sold more than 100 handbags.
“On the second day, Maksym was on the phone with his friends in Ukraine, who actually make the bags, and ordered more,” Cambruzzi said. “And that was exactly one of the best parts. There’s a group of people whose lives are affected by what they do here.”
She said she was very touched by their story.
“They are amazing people with a story that really breaks my heart, but also the resilience they have shown to get their business back on track. It has really touched my heart,” said Cambruzzi.
In addition to the couple’s background, both Davidson and Cambruzzi said the product also impressed them.
“The materials are absolutely amazing,” Davidson said. “The quality is great. The colors are beautiful. You can tell a lot of energy and attention has gone into each piece.”
With a steady flow of inventory and materials, Alla and Maksym hope that Kondra Bags can become the success it once was in Ukraine.
For more information, please visit the company’s website.
