Brooks Orradre is a senior at Southern Methodist University, studying both psychology and business.
In a way, the Newport Beach native has melded both into a business enterprise he recently began — even if it involves an industry he wasn’t previously very familiar with.
The 21-year-old founded Velantra, a handbag company, last year. The idea is to provide affordable luxury handbags at a price point of less than $200, a fraction of the cost that many famous brands charge.
Orradre said he initially sold a version of a Walmart bag, the “Wirkin,” a popular duplicate of a much more expensive Birkin bag. The psychology behind the low-cost sensation was that people wanted bags that were less expensive but still felt premium.
Newport Beach resident Brooks Orradre holds a pair of his Velantra brand Weekender handbags in different colors.
(Don Leach | Staff…
