Yes, Virginia, there really was a Vera Bradley.  She was the mother of one of the founders, Patricia Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard. 

These two began the American company in 1982 when they noticed a lack of feminine-looking luggage while waiting for a flight.  This is a private company headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Vera Bradley Foundation supports Breast Cancer Research.  Sales from the Pink Elephants and Pinwheel Pink prints benefit the organization.

Like all good things, many of the designs have been retired. Luckily, some of the retired bags are still in circulation, and you can still find these beautiful products being sold online.