Russellville grads gift designer handbags

Russellville High School 2004 graduates Laura Beth Oliver-Agee and Brittany Trapp were able to give back to their alma mater in a unique way during football season.

Oliver-Agee and Trapp were both members of the Russellville Homecoming court when they were in school.  Since graduation, they have gone on to become successful designers and business owners.

The two have created a line of clear designer handbags that have been featured in Vogue magazine.

Because of security measures implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C., the clear plastic bags have become staples at college and professional sporting events, concerts and other large venues where security is paramount.

The company and bags are called Purseption Bags, and they retail from $49-195.

This year Oliver Agee’s niece, Ava Oliver, and cousin Lauren Sturdivant were named to the Russellville High School Homecoming Court. The company wanted to do something in honor of their relatives and Russellville, so the Golden Tigers alums decided to donate a bag and a T-shirt to each of the 12 members of the 2020 Russellville Homecoming Court.

“As former homecoming attendants at RHS ourselves, we want to give back to the community who made us who we are,” said the co-owners.

They said the handbags were gifts to the court to remind them of what they can do if they put their minds to it and don’t limit themselves. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t … You don’t need anyone else’s approval or opinion to follow your dreams because they are your dreams. You never know where the future will take you.”

Oliver-Agee is the sole owner of Swag, the T-shirt company.