When I discovered Carry Courage I knew I needed to share it with all of you. I sat down with Marisa Hilarides, founder of Carry Courage, a sustainable handbag and accessory brand based in Portland. Every bag, pouch, and tote is handmade in small batches using sustainable, thoughtful materials like plastic- free vegan cork, linen and organic cotton. In an industry rampant with fast fashion and plastics, Marisa is creating bags that are intentionally made, beautifully designed, highly functional and built to last. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this week’s Founders Unfiltered!

Tell us about your path and the early days of Carry Courage.

Carry Courage started about eight years ago, and it definitely wasn’t something I had a five-year plan for. I’ve always loved making things, and I had been sewing for years, so I started experimenting with bags and different materials. Around the same time, I was becoming more aware of the waste created by fast fashion and how often we’re encouraged to buy something, use it for a short time, and then replace it.

That was part of what drew me to cork fabric. I loved the look and feel of it, but I also loved that it was something different from the typical materials being used for handbags. I started making a few pieces, and people responded to them. One thing led to another, and Carry Courage grew from there.

“Courage doesn’t always look like some huge, brave decision. Sometimes it’s just doing the thing you’re afraid to do.”

Marisa Hilarides, Founder of Carry Courage

The name came from something I was thinking about in my own life. Courage doesn’t always look like some huge, brave decision. Sometimes it’s just doing the thing you’re afraid to do, taking the next step, or putting yourself out there when you’re not sure how it’s going to turn out. I liked the idea of carrying that reminder with you. And honestly, I’ve needed that reminder plenty of times while building the business myself.

Why cork specifically over other vegan leather alternatives? Would you ever experiment with other materials?

I just really love cork. It has a look and texture that feels completely different from plastic-based vegan leathers, and it’s surprisingly durable. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, soft, and the cork itself comes from the bark of the tree, so the tree isn’t cut down to harvest it.

I also like that it doesn’t try to look like leather. It has its own personality. You can see the natural variations in it, and every piece has a little bit of character.

I’m not completely opposed to experimenting with other materials. I’ve used organic cotton and linen alongside cork, and I’m always curious about materials I haven’t worked with before. But I’m pretty particular about what I bring into the line. It has to make sense for the product, be something I enjoy working with, and fit with the quality and longevity I want Carry Courage pieces to have.

Everything is handmade and small-batch out of your studio — what’s the hardest part of being an independent maker, especially in an industry that rewards speed?

Probably the fact that I can’t magically make more hours in a day. Everything really does go through my hands, from choosing materials and cutting to sewing, finishing, photographing, packing orders, answering emails and all the other parts of running a business.

There’s definitely pressure to constantly be producing more, launching something new, and getting things out the door faster. But one of the reasons I started Carry Courage was because I didn’t want to contribute to that mindset of buying things just because something new came along.

“I’d rather make something really well than make a hundred of something just to say I made a hundred.”

Marisa Hilarides, Founder of Carry Courage

So I’ve had to get comfortable with the fact that small-batch and handmade means slower. I think there’s value in that. I’d rather make something really well than make a hundred of something just to say I made a hundred.

Tell us about your process when it comes to designing/creating a new product?

A lot of my ideas start with noticing a problem or wishing something existed in a particular way. I’ll think, “I wish I had a bag that did this,” or I’ll see someone carrying something and start thinking about how I would change it.

Then comes the fun part of playing around with shapes, proportions and materials. I usually make a prototype, use it myself, and see what works and what doesn’t. There is almost always something that needs to be changed. Sometimes it’s the size, sometimes the strap, sometimes the way it closes.

I’m a big believer in actually using the things I make. Something can look great on a table, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work well in real life. I want my bags to be beautiful, but I also want someone to grab one every day and think, “Yep, this works.”

What has been your greatest challenge and joy of running Carry Courage?

The greatest challenge is probably being responsible for everything. When you’re a small business, there isn’t really a department you can hand something off to. You’re the designer, maker, customer service department, photographer, marketer, accountant…and sometimes the person sweeping the floor.

But that’s also part of the joy. I get to decide what I make, how I make it, what materials I use and what kind of business I want to build. There’s something really satisfying about seeing an idea in my head become an actual product that someone else chooses to bring into their life.

And I love meeting the people who connect with what I’m doing. That part never gets old.

What do you want someone to feel the first time they use a Carry Courage piece?

I want them to feel like they found something special, not just another bag.

I want them to notice the quality and the little details, and hopefully feel good knowing that it was made by an actual person rather than coming off a giant production line. And, of course, I want them to feel a little bit of that courage behind the name. Maybe it’s just a small reminder to go do the thing they’ve been putting off or take that next step.

Do you have a favorite piece from your line?

This is a hard one because my answer tends to change! Right now, I’d probably say the VISIONARY crossbody. I love the way it looks, but I also love how practical it is. It’s one of those pieces that works with so many different outfits and occasions without feeling boring.

I also have a soft spot for the MOVER & SHAKER because I love a product that solves a problem and can be used in more than one way. And, of course, there’s always a little extra love for the pieces that were particularly challenging to figure out during the design process.

Who do you want to thank the most in this chapter of your life and business?

I definitely have to thank my extended family. They’ve supported Carry Courage from the beginning through their purchases, referrals, sharing my work, and always cheering me on. Having that kind of support from the people who know you best means more than they probably realize.

“Every order, every referral, every person who tells a friend about Carry Courage really does matter when you’re a small business.”

Marisa Hilarides, Founder of Carry Courage

I’m also incredibly grateful for the customers and retailers who have taken a chance on a small, independent brand. Every order, every referral, every person who tells a friend about Carry Courage really does matter when you’re a small business.

And I’m grateful for the like-minded women entrepreneurs who have encouraged me along the way, especially during the times when I wasn’t sure what the next step was. Running a business can feel pretty lonely sometimes, so having people in your corner makes a huge difference.

What are you excited for? What do you envision for Carry Courage in 14 years in 2040?

Fourteen years feels like a really long time when you’re standing here in 2026! I’ve learned not to get too attached to a specific picture of what the business is supposed to look like because it has changed so much already.

I do hope Carry Courage is still around in 2040, though. I’d love for it to be known as a brand where you can find beautifully made, thoughtfully designed pieces that you’ll keep for years instead of something you buy and replace next season.

I’d also love to see the business continue to grow without losing the personal side of it. I don’t necessarily have a vision of becoming a huge company. I’m more interested in building something sustainable in the bigger sense of the word: sustainable for the environment, sustainable for the business, and sustainable for me as the person behind it.

“We don’t have to wait until we feel fearless to take the next step.”

Marisa Hilarides, Founder of Carry Courage

And I hope the message behind Carry Courage is still there. Because I think we’ll always need a little reminder that we don’t have to wait until we feel fearless to take the next step.

I’m curious (and some of our readers might be as well!) to know what your favorite beauty products are or favorite spots in Portland!

My beauty routine is pretty minimal these days, but I do love my red-light therapy mask. I use it almost every night, and it’s become one of those little routines I actually stick with.

For Portland favorites, Made Here is one of my go-to spots. I love wandering around and seeing all the locally made things, and as a maker myself, I always enjoy seeing what other people are creating.

And I have to say PDX airport. I know an airport is a funny choice for a favorite spot, but I actually find it really peaceful. I love all the natural wood, the live greenery, and the way it feels more like a beautiful, calming space than an airport. It’s one of those things I really appreciate about Portland.