Fragrance house

Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley was founded in 1982 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, who noticed a lack of stylish travel accessories; the name was chosen for Baekgaard’s mother. The brand became associated with quilted cotton bags in colorful floral and paisley patterns, with paisley entering the range in the 1990s. From its original travel-accessory focus, Vera Bradley expanded into handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories, and gifts. Its common stock began trading on October 21, 2010, following an initial public offering. In July 2024, the company introduced the first phase of Project New Day, a renewed brand vision that modernized its colorful feminine heritage while retaining its distinctive colors, patterns, and quilting. During fiscal 2026, Project Sunshine emphasized restoring the brand’s emotional positioning, reintroducing its core design DNA, and reinforcing its cotton heritage and occasion-based bags. The company also reported launching a fragrance collection with industry experts as part of its fiscal 2016 product diversification efforts.