Donate by Color With This Emerging Boston-Based Bag Startup

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The concept of linking a color to a cause is nothing new, but Angela and Roi Lee have been refreshing that idea all year long with their startup Angela + Roi, an e-commerce site revolving around a "Donate by Color" mission. The line combines vegan leather handbags, all under $150 and in classic yet current silhouettes, with donations to more than ten causes (AIDS/HIV and Alzheimer's among them). The young couple brings Boston University and Northeastern University experience to this venture, hoping to expand further into lifestyle goods including ceramics, candles, and cups.

Currently, $5 of each handbag sale is donated to a reputable charity for the cause represented by the bag's color; for example, pink styles go toward The Ellie Fund, a local nonprofit fighting breast cancer. Angela + Roi has found a customer base nationwide, with Roi noting that their customer is young, colorful, and thoughtful enough to be charitable. While the brand's designs have a familiar vintage-inspired look, each style features unique detailing and a traditional ribbon accent to signify the cause on every crossbody, tote, and satchel.
· Angela + Roi [Official Site]