Grandir’s founders turned a tote problem into a durable, elegant everyday bag — from sketch to final sample in three prototypes with Gembah’s sourcing support.
When longtime friends Sarah Wustefeld and Kate Klimek became busy moms balancing work, travel, and family life, one challenge kept resurfacing — finding a bag that could do it all.
Every tote they tried was either too delicate, too bulky, or simply impossible to keep organized. One hectic afternoon before soccer practice changed everything.
“I grabbed one of those six-slot wine bags from the pantry to hold water bottles and snacks,” said Kate. “It worked — kind of — but things still slid around, and it wasn’t exactly stylish. That’s when I thought: why doesn’t a better version of this exist?”That simple realization became the spark for Grandir, a brand named for the French word for “to grow.” Together, Sarah and Kate set out to design a beautiful, structured, and functional everyday bag for women on the move.
The Idea Behind Grandir
With a background in enterprise sales, Sarah brought operational discipline and go-to-market experience. Kate, a creative problem-solver, Butler University Doctor of Pharmacy, and mother of four, handled product design — sketching ideas, building paper mock-ups, and rethinking how compartments could actually stay in place.
“I built the first prototype out of construction paper from a graph paper sketch,” said Kate. “It helped us visualize the size and structure we wanted before investing in materials.”
From day one, their mission was clear: create a premium, versatile bag that merges beauty and utility — something that fits under an airplane seat, stands upright on the floor, and looks at home everywhere from the office to the playground
Bringing the Vision to Life
Once the design was finalized, the founders turned to Gembah to help transform their concept into a manufacturable product.
The Grandir team arrived with a clear vision and a detailed tech pack, ready for sourcing and sampling. Gembah’s experts guided the founders through material selection, prototyping, and factory coordination in Vietnam — helping them align quality, durability, and cost to prepare for production.
“Gembah helped us find the right partners, understand the sourcing process, and move faster than we could have on our own,” said Sarah.
Together, they developed a washable, high-durability nylon bag with fixed compartments stitched to the bottom and sides — solving one of the most common frustrations women have with traditional totes. Each round of samples improved quality, structure, and usability until the perfect version emerged.
“We wanted to build something that lasts — a bag that could take anything life throws at it,” said Kate. “The Gembah team understood that from day one.”
The Result
By May 2025, Grandir had its production-ready samples in hand. Three prototypes later, they had achieved exactly what they set out to build: a durable, structured, and elegant everyday bag that truly performs.
What makes Grandir stand out:
- Thoughtful organization: Fixed compartments keep items upright and visible.
- Premium materials: Machine washable nylon for effortless care.
- Travel-ready design: Fits perfectly under airplane seats without tipping.
- Refined style: A minimalist silhouette that transitions from work to weekend.
“Gembah saved us a year,” said Sarah. “Their team understood our vision, fought for the details that mattered, and got us to a final sample faster than we thought possible.”
What’s Next
With final prototypes complete, Grandir is gearing up to launch on Kickstarter in Fall 2025. Early samples are being shared with micro-influencers to build awareness ahead of the campaign, and production planning is already underway with their factory partners in Vietnam.
“It’s not as expensive as you think,” said Kate. “If you can’t do it alone, find a partner who can share the weight — but protect your ownership and keep moving forward.”
About Grandir
Founded by two friends and mothers on a mission, Grandir creates elevated, functional bags designed to grow with you — through work, travel, and everything in between.
Follow their journey on Instagram at @grandirbags.
About Gembah
Gembah helps founders and brands go from idea to manufacture with global design, sourcing, and production experts — so you can move faster, de-risk decisions, and build products people truly love.
Have an idea worth building?
Gembah can help you bring it to life.
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