Press Release
Three Worlds Handbags by Gaja Hanzel Receives the A' Design Award in Fashion and Travel Accessories Design
Gaja Hanzel recognized for fashion and travel accessories design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 23, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ Three Worlds Handbags by Gaja Hanzel has been granted the A' Design Award in the Fashion and Travel Accessories Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Three Worlds Handbags
The Three Worlds One Heart handbag collection explores the intersection of heritage storytelling and modern design. The handbags are developed as narrative objects, translating cultural influences from three regions into patterns, forms and color palettes. Crafted from plant based leather alternatives and printed natural textiles, each handbag balances functionality with emotional depth. The collection emphasizes timeless design, local production and the role of the handbag as a personal carrier of memory and movement.
About Gaja Hanzel
Gaja Hanzel is a multidisciplinary designer working across fashion, visual communication, and brand storytelling. From a young age, she felt a strong creative curiosity that naturally guided her towards the world of design and visual expression. She studied fashion and graphic design at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana, where she graduated in 2011 with a degree in Fashion and Textile Design and in 2016 with a Master’s degree in Graphic and Interactive Communications. She received the Faculty Prešeren Award for her master’s thesis Typographic Textile Curtain, which explored the relationship between typography, textiles, and spatial communication.
Award Record
Gaja Hanzel is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards span the editions from 2018 - 2019 to 2025 - 2026 of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Fashion and Travel Accessories Design Award
The A' Accessory Design Award is an international fashion design competition recognizing good accessory designs by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to accessory designers, fashion designers, travel accessory designers and luxury goods manufacturers from all countries. Entries typically include handbags, scarves, belts, luggage, hats and travel bags. Awarded accessory designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/accessory
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/178374
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/178374
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!178374
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/225871
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://bit.ly/three-worlds
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Three Worlds Handbags
- Function
- Handbags
- Category
- Fashion and Travel Accessories Design
- Discipline
- Fashion Design
- Industry
- Fashion and Luxury
- Colors
- Lavender, Light Gray, White, Silver and Dark Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Gaja Hanzel
- Country
- Slovenia
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #178374
Credits
- Image Credits
- Image #No 1, 4, 5 : Photographer Dominique Pozzo, Three Worlds, 2025 Image #No 2, 3 : Photographer Gaja Hanzel, Three Worlds, 2025
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The Three Worlds One Heart handbag collection is based on a biographical design concept translating personal histories from three countries into functional objects. Each model reflects the distinct lifestyles of three sisters: a travel companion, a compact everyday bag, a market drawstring tote, and a vintage inspired silhouette for day and evening use. Three original prints, rooted in memory and cultural heritage, appear on exterior or lining. The series comprises four handbags in three color variations, combining narrative depth, functionality, and lasting emotional value.
- Inspiration
- The handbags originate from an intimate family narrative, inspired by the life stories of three sisters, including my grandmother, whose lives unfolded across three countries: Slovenia, Croatia and North Macedonia. Their stories initiated an indepth research process into personal memories, cultural heritage and architectural forms, which shaped the overall designs and original prints, translating memories and cultural identity into a cohesive visual language.
- Research
- This project is based on qualitative, practice led design research. The objective was to explore how family history, regional cultural heritage, and everyday lifestyles can inform contemporary handbag forms and textile patterns. The research translated personal and regional narratives using visual research, cultural analysis, original print development, material testing and prototyping. Data came from archives, family narratives, field visits, and photography. Results produced cohesive patterns and functional forms, translating memory, culture, and daily life into versatile handbags.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was translating intimate family narratives and diverse cultural contexts into a cohesive and contemporary handbag designs while maintaining functional clarity. Developing original prints that respectfully reflect three cultural environments required extensive research into heritage, symbols and color language. Additional challenges included technical limitations of materials, local production, and pattern scalability, which demanded iterative experimentation to ensure functional, durable, and ethically produced designs.
- Realization and Technology
- The project applies a narrative driven design methodology, transforming biographical research into functional products. Textile patterns were developed combining hand-drawn motifs and digital refinement, forming a cohesive visual system inspired by cultural heritage, landscapes, and personal memories. Bags are crafted from cotton and apple waste leather alternative featuring original digital prints. Each form was refined through prototyping and structural testing, resulting in balanced proportions and functional clarity, with shapes inspired by each bag’s intended use and the region where the sisters lived.
- Operation and Interaction
- The collection offers versatile carrying options for everyday use. Two models feature adjustable and removable straps, allowing shoulder, crossbody, or hand carry. The two larger bags provide ample space for personal items. Textile patterns appear on the exterior for some bags and as lining for others, creating a visual surprise. Each design balances functionality, comfort, and aesthetic appeal, adapting effortlessly to different occasions and styling needs.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in June 2025 in Gorizia, Italy and ended in November 2025 in Sezana, Slovenia. It was exhibited at the local cultural center in Slovenia.
- Specifications
- There are 4 tipes of bags in the collection. The bag sizes are: 41 x 20 x 16 cm, 26 x 20 x 5 cm, 24 x 26 x 15 cm, 35 x 17 x 12 cm.
- Keywords
- bag design, pattern design, cultural heritage, women's handbag, timeless design, original prints
