Designer aiming for bags of success; WOMAN HOPES QUIRKY CREATIONS WILL BEAT SLUMP.

Byline: By JOANNE BUTCHER

ENTREPRENEUR Angela Martin has bags of style.

And as the credit crunch bites, handbag designer Angela, 28, is hoping her business will take off.

Angela, of Heaton, Newcastle, says the bleak days of recession may leave more people craving quirky design.

"In the 1970s and 80s, the downturn pushed people towards creative, innovative new designers, and independent rebel brands did well compared to big businesses," she said.

"I see that happening again.

"There might be a recession but we all still want to have beautiful products. It's quite an exciting time."

Angela studied fashion and textiles at Northumbria University.

After graduating, she worked in Italy for a year for a leather and suede designer.

But she could not keep away from the North East and returned to Newcastle to start her company.

"I have to travel around a lot to market my bags," said Angela.

"But after a few days away from Newcastle I really miss it. There are a lot of creative people in the city."

Her business, Legal Treasure, has been running for 18 months and now Angela is looking for investment to help her expand.

She already supplies designs to 30 stores throughout the UK, including Me Me Me in Jesmond, Newcastle, and Psyche in Middlesbrough, as well as boutiques in London and WAG homeland Cheshire.

Her bags sell at between pounds 60 and pounds 290, and are manufactured by Italian craftsmen in the same factory as Jean Paul Gautier's creations.

Angela, originally from Preston, Lancashire, is inspired by the fashion choices of her Italian grandmother.

"I was so impressed by her sense of style," she said. "She always looked very chic and stylish, in twinsets and suits."

Working in Italy confirmed Angela's interest in the country's fashion, but she wants to add a British edge to the classical style.

"In Italy people are very well dressed, but not very daring. I like designs that are a bit unusual, and not the same as everything else.

"My slogan is: 'As individual as you are' and that's what I try to achieve.

"There are so many people with bags by Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga now so the market is saturated. I think it's a lot more stylish to wear something different.

"I try to design bags which are a little bit off the wall but still very commercial and wearable."

Angela, who cites exclusive French couture Lanvin as her favourite brand, comes from a very creative family. Her dad was in a band, the Martin Brothers, and her mum makes soft furnishings and upholstery.

She believes it is vital people support new British design.

"Without people supporting new ideas and brands, things will stay the same," said Angela. "We'll end up with only high street stores and no individual boutiques.

"Obviously it's a difficult time in terms of the economy, but people will still buy things. It's just about spending money differently.

"It's OK to buy something unusual, by a name nobody's heard of, instead of just whatever everybody else is wearing."

The new range of Legal Treasure bags will be in stores in time for Valentine's Day.

For more information, contact Angela at [e-mail] or visit www.legaltreasure.co.uk

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IN HER HANDS: Angela some of the bags she has designed