Simply Southern
as seen in
Helping Handbags
M
ilitary wives Cameron Cruse
and Lisa Bradley met in
Dahlonega, Georgia, in 2011
while their husbands were stationed at
Camp Merrill, an army base nestled in
the North Georgia mountains. The two
quickly bonded over shared hobbies like
running—and shared hardships like
finding work in their new home.
Cameron, who holds a master’s in
architecture, and Lisa, an MBA, felt
powerless to put their educations to use
in the midst of the mobile, assignment-
based military life. “We moved to the
middle of nowhere,” Cameron says. “It
was this moment where I thought, ‘There
is no architecture here. I have no idea
what I’m going to do with my life.’”
Cameron explains that because
military families move an average of
every 2.9 years, they face difficulties
putting down roots and, for the spouses
105 Southern Lady | january-february 2016
Celebrating people, places, and things from the South
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of those in service, building careers.
“We knew there were other women in
our shoes who were smart, educated,
and talented,” Cameron says.
The duo decided to start a company
with a manufacturing model that would
allow military spouses to make the
products across the nation. They chose
handbags because of their practicality.
“It’s a piece that represents the company
and the women that work for us in
that it’s utilitarian, hardworking, and
strong,” Cameron says. Relating similar
attributes to World War II icon Rosie
the Riveter, the company’s name—
R. Riveter—seemed a perfect fit.
Many of their sophisticated and
stylish bags are even made from recycled
military gear. Their Heirloom Collection
allows customers to send in their own
materials—like a grandfather’s duffle
or a husband’s jacket—and have them
by Elizabeth Bonner
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABI RAY
repurposed into purses with unparalleled
sentimental value. “The stories and
emotion that come with that line are
incredibly heartwarming,” Cameron says.
In addition to its online store, the
company has a storefront in Southern
Pines, North Carolina. Their long-term
dream is to create a network of brick-
and-mortar locations, spreading across
the nation and uniting more military
spouses as they move around.
For Cameron, the company serves
two important purposes. “It’s not only
the storytelling in the product, but it also
represents our connection as a military
community—this coming together in a
bag, telling the story of a hardworking
and persevering community in one
product,” she says. “It’s why I get up
every morning and do what I do.”
For information, visit rriveter.com.