Cuban American designer Nicole Sainz began her career in the fashion industry while attending college in downtown Los Angeles. As a student at the University of Southern California, Sainz fell in love with the popular and well-known L.A. Fabric District. Tired of the familiar fashions, Sainz decided to create her own accessories from the wonderful and colorful array of fabrics she discovered. It was Alexander Henry’s irresistible “Island Girls,” which led to the launch of NICOLITA. With Henry’s fabric, Sainz designed her first handbag. Before she knew it, orders were pouring in from her friends and classmates at USC, as well as boutiques in Los Angeles. Word-of-mouth advertising has established Sainz as an up-and-coming fashion designer in the Los Angeles area. She has also received orders from all over the country, including Miami, New York and Seattle. With sales already in Colombia and Spain, Sainz is sure to be an international success. In the summer of 2003, Sainz launched her web site www.mynicolita.com, which includes her catalog and “Customizer Link” for handbags and her newest creation – custom-made bikinis. Sainz graduated from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, with an emphasis in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. She is a resident of Irvine, California.