Ja’Maiya Ryan, Jamaiya Ryan & Co.
I specialize in handbags, fanny packs, cross bodies, wallets, and accessories. I always saw myself in the fashion industry, obviously. I did not think it was going to be handbags, but I really, truly feel like that shifted once I went to undergrad. My degree curriculum focused on footwear, handbags, and other accessories. Handbags, to me, are easier than footwear. They are more inclusive. They can fit anyone, you do not need to worry about someone’s calf size, foot width, or footwear sizes in general. And honestly, it is just easier for a business model. There is no “oh, well this area only sold size fives, and this area only sold size tens.” With handbags it was easier for me to express myself, to carry a certain number, to play with materials and colors and hardware. It is truly a more efficient process of design and production.
When I realized that, especially during my experience with undergrad, working with companies like Stuart Weitzman and Kate Spade, I found myself moving more toward handbags than footwear. I graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Accessory Design. Since then, I have been awarded $17,000 and 24 months of grant funding from various pitch competitions.
The essence of my brand is rooted in giving you luxury from a different perspective, expanding the bounds of what it truly means, and bringing awareness to the fact that it is not defined by price. Luxury, to me, is understanding that when you support or buy a product from my brand, you are buying into the best version of yourself. You are buying into something that fights for equality in all states of fashion. It is not necessarily about a price point. The luxury market has convinced the masses that it is about a price point, but my whole belief is to understand that it is within design, within craftsmanship, within materials, and within the connection you are supporting to a real person. There are far more people who cannot afford a $1,500 bag than those who can.
The most important thing to me is durability all the way around. I pride myself on not rushing to get a product out just for the sake of monetization, so I do not talk about the time a product is coming out. The sampling process and durability testing that I just put my products through took over a year for me to get to a point of confidence. I knew that this was my brand, and I could confidently sell it to you knowing that the zipper is not going to break on the second day of wear. After durability and overall quality, the next priority is functionality.
Can it fit a standard, up-to-date iPhone or Android? Can it fit in a car? Is it safe for mobility? Is it going to be extremely heavy? You have to think about things like that. The last consideration is color. Right now, I am introducing different colors but keeping them in the neutral family. I do not want to be left with loud, seasonal, crazy colors that leave my inventory overflowing. Durability, quality, style, and functionality are my core values. I want timeless designs and a product that can last someone a lifetime.
My favorite products right now are the black and tan Millié bags that will be released on September 19. This is our first patent pending design, and that shows how passionate I was about the ensemble and the overall makeup of this bag. I worked really hard on it. It represents two and a half years of me sitting on the design before it came out of production. I am excited, really excited. I am confident in this bag. It redefines the essence of my brand. It is who I am growing into as a designer.
I started my company when I was 21 years old, and now at 24, I am growing more into myself as a woman. This bag reflects that growth. It has our gold antique hardware, our nameplate, the contrast stitching, and the pebble grain. I am really excited about it. You can subscribe to my email list on my website, www.jamaiyaryan.com, to know as soon as it goes live. We will have another release later this year, but I am not revealing what it is. You will need to subscribe to find out.
I started my company at 21 years old, and at 24, I am building a stronger foundation every day. That foundation began by winning four different pitch competitions that were all community and CMURC based. The first one was when I was still a senior in college. I thought it was a great idea to do on top of my curriculum, while I was trying to graduate and get to the finish line. It was great, and I feel like that was the best one. Even though it had the lowest winning pot, it was truly community support. My parents surprised me with a billboard, I was about to graduate, my brand had just launched, and it was incredible. CMURC supported me with their LIFT ME program by preparing me for the details of running a business and how to present to judges. My collegiate experience also prepared me for the presentation aspect of pitch competitions.
That was in 2023. In 2024, I won first place in Pitch at the Cup. That experience taught me that closed mouths do not get fed. I was not sure if I was eligible to compete after winning the first one, so I sent an email to ask, and they told me yes. I competed and won. The third one was in April 2025. CMURC members told me about Michigan Woman Forward, which was an entirely virtual competition. I signed up and won second place. The most recent one was Bet on Black in June 2025. I was hesitant to compete because I had just won the last one, but I decided to go for it, and I did.
My big hopes and dreams are to one day have a 100,000 square foot warehouse. I want to be completely online and use that to my best advantage. If I ever expand into in-person experiences, it would only be through pop-up shops. I want to leverage the opportunity of being an online, Michigan-based brand and expand to reach a large group of people while staying in one space.
My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is the dedication and passion it requires. A lot of people are not willing to possess that when they enter an industry like this one. Many go into entrepreneurship just to be their own boss or to make money. But you truly have to be willing to do this regardless of whether you got paid or not. What excites me is building a community, and I am learning that it is most important to reach out to those around you. I have learned that the true essence of building a sustainable brand is reaching out in your community, because those people working nine to five are the same people saving their checks to support you or defending you in conversations on why you are the best versus someone more established or a multi-million dollar company.
You need to build a down-to-earth community of people that connect with you and your story, because your business is an extension of that. I am excited to see how that grows through social media, through my hometown, and as I create a stronger foundation for my company.
-Ja’Maiya Ryan, Jamaiya Ryan & Co.