Anna Angel named the bag after her daughter Sophia, who has Down syndrome. Part of every sale goes to the charity 21 Together.
A handbag designer from near Ashford has created a limited-edition bag named after her daughter to raise money for the Down syndrome charity 21 Together during Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Anna Angel, founder of Anya Sushko Handbags, says the original Sophia 21 bag has been donated in full to 21 Together for the live auction at the charity’s gala on Friday 9 October at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel.
A design built around chromosome 21
The front of the bag is made from 21 individual leather strips, representing chromosome 21. Its colours reflect 21 Together’s branding, and the central twist and the hand-finished stitching follow the shape of a DNA double helix.
“Sophia 21 is named after my daughter Sophia, who has Down syndrome, and I wanted to bring together everything I know about leathercraft with a story that is deeply personal to me, while also supporting 21 Together,” Ms Angel said.
“My aim was to create a bag that is not only beautiful and exquisitely handcrafted with attention to every detail, but one where the story and symbolism are built into the design itself.”
Ten bags made to order
Ms Angel says only 10 individually numbered Sophia 21 bags will be handmade to order, with pre-orders opening on 11 October. A £100 donation from each bag sold will go to 21 Together.
She designs and develops the bags at a studio near Ashford, and small production runs are handmade in a workshop in London.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Sources
- Anna Angel, Anya Sushko Handbags, written answers to Kent Local News, 8 October 2026
- Anya Sushko Handbags: Sophia 21