AKINNA

AKINNA is a designer-led luxury leather handbag brand founded in 2023 by Creative Director Annika Saraf and CEO Sanchit Goyal. The company operates on a direct-to-consumer model, aiming to make quality craftsmanship and design accessible by bypassing traditional retail middlemen. Its business strategy focuses on combining design-led differentiation with scaling production through partnerships with artisans to meet demand from both direct channels and retail partners. The brand's products are sold through its own website and on luxury platforms like Ajio Luxe, Tata Cliq Luxury, and Nykaa Luxe, as well as in offline multi-brand stores.

The founders, Annika Saraf and Sanchit Goyal, conceived the brand to challenge the perception of Indian manufacturing within the global luxury market. Saraf studied Luxury Accessories Design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, while Goyal studied Luxury Marketing at EDHEC Business School in France and has experience with brands like Hugo Boss Parfums. Their shared vision is to establish India as an origin of luxury, not just a supply chain partner. This mission is central to the brand's identity, which blends Italian design principles with Indian artisanship. In 2025, AKINNA secured its first pre-seed/seed funding round led by Zeropearl VC to scale production, expand its team, and strengthen its global brand presence.

AKINNA offers a range of leather goods, including shoulder bags, crossbody bags, business bags, totes, and wallets, crafted from full-grain Indian leather. The designs are developed in Milan and handcrafted by artisans in India, focusing on durability, functionality, and timeless style. Signature features of their products include a distinctive emerald green lining and structured paneling, intended as quiet identifiers of the brand's focus on understated luxury. The brand uses high-quality materials, including premium leather and zinc metal hardware, to ensure the longevity of its products.

Keywords: luxury leather handbags, designer handbags, Indian craftsmanship, Italian design, direct-to-consumer, accessible luxury, Annika Saraf, Sanchit Goyal, artisan-made, full-grain leather, online luxury retail, fashion accessories, quiet luxury, ethical sourcing, emerging luxury brand, modern European design, e-commerce fashion, luxury goods, handbag manufacturing, premium leather goods