Click to view pictures from the 5th Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards.

InStyle and Handbag Designer 101 Present the 5th Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards celebrating the best in independent handbag design from around the world. This year’s celebration features 40 finalists and handbags from around the world vying for the top awards in eight categories as well as a ninth “Audience Favorite” category, narrowed down from 1200 applicants. We are proud to announce the Winners below.

InStyle Red Carpet Ready Evening Bag

Clara Kasavina & Misha Berger
Clara Kasavina

Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design

Fabiola Pedrazzini
FABIOLA PEDRAZZINI

Artisan House Award by Isabella Fiore

Shivani Suhag
AVOCADOE

Best Use of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

Lorna Nixon
Lorna Nixon

Best Student Made Handbag Inspired by the Colors of vitaminwater

Kaitlyn Doherty
Kaitlyn Doherty

Best Handmade Handbag

Diego Rocha
Diego Rocha

Best Green Handbag

Belinda Pasqua
THE SWAY

Most Socially Responsible Handbag & Audience Fan Favorite

Neide Ambrosio Martins de Souza
Pretinha Artes Lacres

For more information about the Fifth Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards Finalists http://www.hbd101.com/h?a=finalists&y=2011 or check out http://www.hbd101.com/ihda.