History of Vera Bradley in Timeline

Vera Bradley Sales, LLC, founded in 1982 by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, is an American design company specializing in luggage, handbags, and accessories. Named after Baekgaard's mother, the company is known for its distinctive, colorful patterns, often featuring florals, paisleys, or geometric prints, and elongated diamond quilting. Originally inspired by French Provençal fabrics, Vera Bradley releases limited seasonal pattern collections. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the company has expanded its product lines to include fashion and home accessories, office supplies, and patterned gifts. Jacqueline Ardrey was appointed as the new CEO in September 2022.

1975: Founders Meet

In 1975, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller met in Fort Wayne and started a wallpapering company called Up Your Wall. Later, they sold clothing together and envisioned brighter, feminine carry-on bags, which led to the creation of Vera Bradley.

November 15, 1982: Vera Bradley Designs Incorporated

On November 15, 1982, Vera Bradley Designs was officially incorporated as a company.

1982: Vera Bradley Founded

In 1982, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller founded Vera Bradley Sales, LLC, an American luggage and handbag design company.

1993: Initiation of Breast Cancer Research Funding

In 1993, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller began contributing a portion of Vera Bradley profits to assist in funding research for a cure for breast cancer.

1998: Creation of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer

In 1998, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer was created to sponsor the annual Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Classic.

2004: Online Sales Launch

In 2004, Vera Bradley initiated online sales, causing some discontent among small shop owners who had previously supported the company's market growth.

2005: Lawsuit Against Target

In 2005, Vera Bradley brought a lawsuit against Target for using designs resembling their copyrighted ones on articles of clothing; the suit was later settled out of court.

2005: Spring Outlet Sale Success

In 2005, Vera Bradley's annual Spring Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne was so successful that the company sold out of all products.

2007: Overseas Manufacturing Begins

Around 2007, Vera Bradley started employing overseas manufacturing to lower costs and meet increasing demand, which led to workforce reductions or closures for several US-based sewing companies.

2008: Customer Inquiries About Manufacturing Locations

In 2008, customers aggressively inquired about where Vera Bradley products were being made after noticing labeling that stated "China" instead of the US, leading to complaints about misleading information on the company's website.

2014: China-based Production Reduction

Between 2014 and expectations for 2019, Vera Bradley reduced China-based production from approximately 95% to under 50%.

2015: Largest Women's Charity Tournament

As of 2015, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Classic was the largest amateur women's golf and tennis charity tournament in the country.

2018: Lawsuits Against Counterfeit Sellers on Amazon

In 2018, Vera Bradley and Amazon jointly filed suits against sellers who were importing and selling counterfeit bags on Amazon.

2018: Concerns Regarding Tariffs

In 2018, Vera Bradley expressed concerns regarding potential difficulty in dealing with tariffs considered by the Trump administration on goods imported from China.