Handbags news and archive

Elie Saab names Marina Raphael artistic and design director of handbags

Haute couture fashion house Elie Saab has appointed Greek Austrian designer Marina Raphael to lead its handbag division as it looks to introduce a “fresh approach” to the category and strengthen its handbag line’s identity. Raphael, known for her eponymous luxury handbag brand, becomes Elie Saab’s artistic and design director of handbags with...

Fashion

Dear Frances unveils debut handbag collection

Dear Frances, the luxury British footwear label behind the cult mesh Balla flats, has added handbags to its offering for the first time. The debut handbag collection, described as a “testament to timeless design and directional Italian craftsmanship,” is the result of an 18-month collaboration with “one of Italy’s finest factories” and aims to...

Business

Luxury brands bolster IP defences as handbag market booms

The allure of designer handbags has long attracted counterfeiters, prompting luxury brands to employ a multi-faceted approach to intellectual property protection, according to insights from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) magazine. The global handbag market, projected to reach 68.31 billion dollars this year according to...

Fashion

Tips from an expert: How to spot a fake designer handbag

Recent data reveals a concerning trend that a significant portion of young consumers, approximately 37 percent, purchased counterfeit designer goods in 2022. Moreover, the global counterfeit goods market exceeded the GDP of Austria and Ireland combined in 2019. This surge in counterfeit products has persisted, with estimates suggesting that up...

BusinessFeatured

Kurt Geiger sales surge driven by handbags

British footwear and accessories brand Kurt Geiger has reported total group sales increased 15 percent to 45 million pounds in December 2023 to make it its "most profitable month in history”. In a statement, Kurt Geiger said that UK store sales were up 12 percent, while digital sales increased by 45 percent in December, driven by demand for...

Retail|In Pictures

Lalage Beaumont opens its first store outside the UK

British handbag and ready-to-wear designer Lalage Beaumont London has opened a standalone boutique in Mode Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The opening marks the first Lalage Beaumont store outside the UK, building on the success within the region with stockists Saks Fifth Avenue in Bahrain, Tryano in Abu Dhabi, and Shoes and Handbags Fifty One...

BusinessFeatured

Kurt Geiger sales and profits increase driven by record handbag sales

British footwear and accessories retailer Kurt Geiger, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, has reported a 31 percent increase in annual turnover to 329.5 million pounds, while EBITDA increased by 49 percent to 30 million pounds. The strong growth was fuelled by global demand for affordable luxury, explains Kurt Geiger, as well as...

Business

Report: Handbag market to grow by 14.1 billion dollars from 2021 to 2027

Technology research and advisory company Technavio released a report on the growth of the global handbag market, pointing out its estimated increase in value by 14.11 billion US dollars from 2022 to 2027 and a CAGR of 4.3% and highlighting key findings on this development. The handbag market 2023 to 2027 is split up into three segments by...

Fashion |In Pictures Featured

Aquazzura targets luxury bag market with debut bag collection

Luxury Italian footwear brand Aquazzura showcased its debut collection of bags during Paris Fashion Week as it targets a slice of the luxury bag market, which according to Euromonitor International is expected to grow to 100 billion US dollars by 2027. Aquazzura said in a statement that the category expansion was in-line with creative director...

Fashion

Bottega Veneta to offer lifetime guarantee service on its handbags

Luxury handbags are investment pieces, yet despite their desirability and high price points, they are also privy to normal wear and tear, despite being high-end products. Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta is hoping its new lifetime warranty assurance is proof its bags are produced to last. From November a new service called “Certificate of...

Fashion

Radley becomes an official Smart Works wardrobe partner

Accessories brand Radley London is partnering with UK women’s charity Smart Works to become their official wardrobe partner. As part of this commitment, Radley will make regular product donations to Smart Works as their key handbag supplier for their interview dressing service. Smart Works focuses on helping unemployed women reach their full...

Fashion |In Pictures Featured

Victoria Beckham adds leather goods to line

Victoria Beckham is expanding her ready-to-wear, beauty, eyewear and footwear line to include a “carefully curated” selection of handbags, which will become a permanent addition to the brand moving forward. The inaugural handbag collection aims to “complement the modern woman’s wardrobe,” explains the brand, and will feature eight styles in four...