Buyers find stylistic and practical delight in Orangevale woman's 'Ada' handbags

Ada Komorniczak-Deferrari has a firm grip on her career.

Not to mention, a growing list of customers with firm grips on her "Ada" handbags.

Komorniczak- Deferrari, 27, calls Orangevale her headquarters and her home, but her roots as a designer stretch all the way to Argentina.

That's where her husband, Gaston Deferrari, 29, has family and where the "Ada" handbags are manufactured.

Still, it is in Sacramento where the bags – each a labor of love and leather, with precise attention to detail and quality – have found a home, too.

The bags, which range in price from $180 to about $400 – not uncommon for speciality purses – are carried in several local boutiques, including Morgan Lain and the Pink House, and sought after by a loyal clientele, some of whom have as many as eight "Adas."

"In Sacramento, women tend to opt for simple yet sophisticated fashions," says Komorniczak-Deferrari, whose own classic look appears effortless. Crisp, white shirt, hair pulled back.

"A great handbag achieves that."

Komorniczak-Deferrari (pronounced Komor-knee-zhalk-Deh-ferrari) was born in Poland and moved to California with her parents and two younger brothers when she was 7. She graduated from Casa Roble High School and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"We still speak Polish and are part of the local Polish community," she says. "But I've also learned to speak Spanish because I travel to Buenos Aires three to four times a year to work with my design team and the manufacturer."

Passion for purses

In Sacramento, where homegrown designers traditionally are more focused on clothing, Komorniczak- Deferrari really has no rival.

"But I do want to make a product that reaches a lot of different clients," she says.

Her career – unlike that of other designers, who struggle for years to find their niche – has taken off at a relatively fast pace.

Four years ago, she was caught up with other responsibilities: working at the state Air Resources Board and studying for a master's degree in business administration at California State University, Sacramento.

Oh, and planning a wedding, too.

But she had another passion: purses. ("It's simple. While your handbag is the last thing you grab before you leave, it's the first thing people notice when you enter.")

And she had a game plan. A smart one, at that.

She had already found an Argentinian vendor she liked, so the next step was to test the accessories climate in the Sacramento area. A longtime family friend, Judy Brown, 69, offered to host a handbag trunk show at her home in Carmichael.

"We fell in love with Ada's bags," Brown says. "They complement each other. She appreciates good fashion, and the bags also meet her high quality standards.

"I myself modeled years ago, lived in Spain and shopped in Paris," Brown says, "and I know a great bag when I see it.

"Ada is going places. Honestly, she's already there."

Brown is not exaggerating.

To touch – and (yes) breathe – Komorniczak-Deferrari's collection is, well, an accessory aphrodisiac. The leather is the finest that Argentina produces, with the slight imperfections in grain that remind you of a great armchair, seasoned from years of use.

Hardware is minimal for a reason

The colors are rich, ranging from jewel tones (emerald green and aubergine) to traditional browns and blacks – even metallics.

And the hardware is minimal. "So they don't weigh so much on the shoulder," she says.

(Komorniczak-Deferrari also designs a line of belts and wallets to go with the bags.)

The bags come in various sizes, from totes (big enough to hold a laptop) to hobos (small enough to fit in a tote).

"I've noticed a trend where women are going a little bit smaller with their handbags," Komorniczak-Deferrari says. "So I've come up with different sizes, including a big bag with a smaller version. They look the same; one just fits into the other."

Strong local support

Walk into the Morgan Lain boutique, on Munroe Street near Loehmann's Plaza, and owner Lainie Lakata will direct you to her cache of "Ada" bags and belts.

"I really like to support her because she's local," Lakata says. "Also, the bags are great quality at a great price point. They're easy to sell."

Lakata adds that several of her own friends carry the Rodeo-style hobo bags. "It's a great basic bag with flair," she says.

Also in the "Ada" handbag fan club is Sherri Azeituno, 57, of Fair Oaks.

"I've known Ada since she was 15," Azeituno says. "She's always been such a focused, big-dream kind of girl. Very fashionable, she could wear her hair in a ponytail and no makeup and look beautiful."

Azeituno says both she and her sisters carry Komorniczak-Deferrari's bags. She even gave one to her 93-year-old mother for Christmas.

"For a woman, a handbag is a necessity," she says. "But it also can make a fashion statement."

Komorniczak-Deferrari is now pursuing her dream full time. In addition to getting the word out via area shops, she recently started a Web site, www.adahandbags.com.

And, of course, she is her own best ambassador.

So, what's it going to be today? The purple suede bag with fringe or the elegant, metallic hobo?

"I'm constantly switching," Komorniczak-Deferrari says. "But a girl's gotta promote her own line."

About the writer:

• Call Bee fashion writer Leigh Grogan, (916) 321-1129. Read her blog postings at 21Q (www.sacbee.com/21q).