About Us

Maruca Design was founded in 1994 by Rex Maruca who was selling fabric for the upholstery industry. A few years later, he decided to take the company to the next level by making women’s handbags with the beautiful jacquard fabrics he had been selling and the company took off! Hiring a textile designer, a fabric cutter, and utilizing the cottage industry of local sewers, Maruca expanded to making a variety of bag shapes and sizes in multiple fabric patterns and colors. Over time the company developed a very large and loyal customer following and Maruca Design became known for its high-quality, artsy, and unique bags. In 2020, Rex sold the company and retired. Maruca is now women owned, woman run, and remains a small design studio located in the outskirts of Denver, Colorado where every bag is still hand cut and sewn and never mass produced. 

The fiber of our philosophy…
Maruca Design embraces the principles of the Arts & Crafts Movement in America (1860-1910). This was movement that invigorated and emphasized the value placed on traditional and decorative craftsmanship using simple forms. The movement stood in opposition to industrial manufacturing and sought to promote the moral, social, and economic health of the nation.

At Maruca, we believe that creating small production runs of our bags using a cottage industry creates a consciousness that humanizes our work and makes for a more “harmonious society”. The result is that we can tout a product that is unique, well made and moves from heart to hand.

As an American-based company, we seek to balance resourcefulness and creativity and remain rooted in the principles of this philosophy. However, ultimately it is the consumer who will determine the value placed on American made handcraft.

Our shapes…
Maruca bags must be functional and perform well! After 25 years of working with women and their relationship issues with their handbags, and carrying bags ourselves, we have learned to listen! Not driven by trend, heeding the advice of our loyal customers and endless reconnaissance, our functional shapes are designed to work for you in your everyday travels. 

Our fabrics…
Our bags are made from a fabric called “Jacquard”. Jacquard means an intricately woven pattern using a special loom in the weaving process. The conception of our fabric patterns begins with drawings, cut paper, collage and reworked imagery, all inspired by the world around us. We then collaborate with brilliant textile designers from select, smaller independent U.S. fabric mills, who bring our vision into fruition. The content of our fabrics can vary. The threads are cottons, rayons and synthetics, many of which are from recycled plastic bottles.

Thank you for your interest and support of Maruca Design.