About The Designer
Who is Carla Gabriela?
Hi, I’m Carla Gabriela. Founder and designer of CarlaGabrielaBags. Proudly born and raised in Brownsville, TX. Where Culture meets food and food meets the ocean. I am a mom of 3 wild, healthy, smart boys. I started designing the mom bag in 2017 when I became a mom for the first time with Bjorn, our now seven year old. Our little family moved from Austin, TX to Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL. During the time that we lived in Lincoln Park, my husband worked from home and I became a stay at home mom full time. That meant, always being out and about with the boys at indoor and outdoor play areas, museums, libraries and of course the the amazing Chicago free entry zoo.
What I noticed about the city was that there were quite a few places like restaurants and coffee shops that did not have changing tables in the restrooms. Since then, I started jotting down ideas of what requirements I needed in a diaper bag as a first time mom. My first diaper bag was a bulky, heavy gray one from Babies R Us. I love all the compartments in it - I just didn't love how it did not fit underneath my stroller and how heavy it got carrying it. Weighed more than my toddler!
When Bjorn was 2 years old, Lars was still an infant and had to either be carried around in the baby carrier or put in the stroller while Bjorn got his toddler wiggles out everywhere we went. This made changing a diaper for the baby more challenging as the toddler did not want to stop what he was doing for his baby brother's diaper change. So, I would usually be on my knees changing a diaper on the ground at a park outside or on the floor of a museum.
I designed this bag because I legitimately have gone through it all; the traveling with a baby and a toddler, the hotel room with a changing pad on the bed and a bassinet inside the room, the airport floor changing experience, the indoor and outdoor playgrounds changing diapers on a bench and of course, those coffee shops and restaurants that have no changing tables in their restrooms. I really needed something to make life easier as a mom of 3 boys. I needed something that would allow me to change a diaper right then and there without having to pack up everyone and everything. Something that would actually fit underneath my stroller. I needed something I could carry less for drop off and pick up and quick errands to the store. I needed The Modern Mom/Diaper Bag.
I'd like to give thanks to my husband, Tyler Hylen who has supported every inch of my artistic journey in making this project possible. My best friend, Leah Murray for pushing me and asking If I have stopped what I am doing to be creative. She is the one that always brings me back to my roots. Thank You.
Most importantly, I would like to thank the leather professionals in Mexico that made this project physically possible. The woman owned leather making factory in Mexico understood my vision and was excited to get to work on it. Her and her team have worked hard day and night putting your bag together. Making sure all features and hardware are perfected.
Thank you so much for supporting our small business. You are going to love your Modern Mom Bag. I am BEYOND happy to share my very own design that came from my heart to the world, but most importantly with you, mama!
-CarlaGabriela