I am Mayan, the creator and designer of the Original UKoala Bag (pronounced YOU-Koala Bag) and the founder of the company.
Here's a brief summary of my life in America:
In the early years of 2007-2011, I was a caretaker for my husband, who suffered from cancer.
After his passing in 2011, I was not able to find a good paying job, even though I held two Civil Engineering bachelor degrees and an Associates degree in Interior Design which I earned in the USA.
In 2012, I started my journey with designing and manufacturing Ukoala Bags, and not a single day passed when I wasn't wearing one of my designs. They were my best friend, my constant companion and went everywhere with me.
The journey was as not so smooth. I entered into partnerships with a company and then an individual that weren't a good fit for me and had a bad impact on the company; the latter cost me my previous company that had seven years of a positive business history.
Sigh...and what a shame! But I'm a determined woman, I do not give up! So I picked myself up and in 2020 I started my new company, UUB,LLC (Urban Utility bags). My original patented Ukoala Bag is my flagship product, and I've expanded my business to include the new Panda Bag and UUB bag lines.
My heart and my soul are dedicated to all of them; the detail in the stitching, the hardware I selected, and the customized materials are more than just beautiful qualities of the final products - they are music to my ears. I believe wholeheartedly in my bags, and I know you do too! The years of hardship I endured to to reach this point in my career makes me a stronger woman and results in a mature Ukoala Bag product! I can’t ask for more, and I feel truly blessed.
Thank you for my wonderful team member! I am truly blessed by all the wonderful people around me.
Thank you for all the friends support! Without your help, I will not be a strong person I am now! I and my team will continue developing new products, other individual’s unauthentic action will have no solid standing ground.
My English is not perfect, but my brain works just fine.
-Mayan (like Mayan culture)
OUR PATENTS AND TRADEMARK
At Urban Utility Bags, our mission is simple. With function and quality as our brand anchors, we promise to remain driven to produce unique, useful, fashionable utility products that make your life easier and more enjoyable.
The vision and creativity of founder Yan Ma (or Mayan, as we call her) got the company to where it is today. She made the very first Ukoala bag as a hobby, combining aesthetics and functionality, and soon discovered an untapped market demand for her unique, hands-free design. Using her civil engineering degree and designer background, she partnered with a small manufacturing company in 2013 and started her own company. As her designer line of bags grew to include vegan products, cosplay bags, and fanny packs, she saw the need for a broader company and formed UUB, LLC(formerly The Ukoala Bag),UUB/The Original Ukoala separates itself from the others in very unique ways. Every aspect of the bags is designed with functionality, fit & comfort in mind and are all hand-produced. From the material of the bags to the solid hardware and hand stitching, the quality of the bag is second to none.
Each bag can transition easily from cross-body, to a backpack or as a hip bag. When worn as a hip bag, which is the most popular way, the engineering aspects of the bag allow the weight to be evenly distributed around the hips/waist area. This provides for a hands-free, weightless feel. Whether traveling, horseback or motorcycle riding, or attending Con shows, the Ukoala /UUB bag is revered by all of its loyal customers.
Ukoala. It’s an experience!
Our sales and marketing efforts are shared by Yan Ma, Kim, and rotating volunteers. These ladies help expand the UUB footprint by building and managing our wholesale distribution pipeline and representing the brand at trade show events.
Kim, our customer service manager, has been assisting Yan Ma since 2013, and is an integral part of the company’s success. Some of the many tasks that Kim shoulders are inventory management, order fulfilment, repair and return facilitation, responding to customer phone calls and inquiries, and maintaining a portfolio of wholesale clients.
Our volunteers manage the financial aspect of the business, including budget development, cash flow analysis, corporate policy development, assisting with the wholesale pipeline management, and ensuring operational efficiencies.
Thank you for your support!
UUB TEAM