Forte Fashions INC

Jenna Hughes, Founder of Forte Fashion Inc. , April 2012:While working as a consultant for an accessories and handbags company, Jenna was inspired to start her own business. Jenna saw a need for high-quality, design-oriented, affordable handbags for everyday working professional women like herself. She had a business degree, a boyfriend in marketing, a best friend in photography, and the enthusiasm to do it, so she took a dive and started her business plan. Jenna put out a request for designers at the Rhode Island School of Design and found Teresa, a young talented designer with extensive international experience and a love for handbags. They came up with a prototype, completed an extensive business plan with a market study and projections, identified a manufacturer and mapped out shipping and handling, found a web host and builder based on their needs, and are ready to go.

Jenna ambitiously sees herself becoming one of the #1 handbag retailers in the country, marking her competitors as Marc Jacobs, Coach and the like. She believes strongly that there is room in the market for high quality product that isn't overpriced and covered in logos. Jenna was adopted from Guatemala and raised in Rhode Island before moving to North Andover, MA to pursue a degree in International Business. Forte Fashion Inc. has a strong will to give back, She has committed to donating 10% of her profits to charity - specifically to a soup kitchen in Guatemala she has worked with for years and locally to organizations supporting single moms and foster children. The first collection is named "Rhode Collection."