BAGS & HANDBAGS – Page 2

ALAÏA

When Tunisian-born designer, Azzedine Alaïa arrived in Paris in 1956 at the age of 21, he was already an experienced and accomplished seamster, having apprenticed for an acclaimed dressmaker in Tunis. He was a capable dressmaker who was accustomed to meeting the needs of the women of high society. He was often sought out by wealthy Tunisians and visiting French tourists alike. In Paris he first interned with Christian Dior before moving to Guy Laroche shortly thereafter. In 1964 he began to produce couture to his established client base under his own label, finally opening his own atelier in 1979, by which stage he had become the doyen of Parisian society. A student of female form, his designs would accentuate and flatter, elegant and understated and always with a nod to his Tunisian heritage and the traditional attire of his homeland. Today, Alaïa is a brand within the Richemont luxury brands stable and continues to show annual couture collections alongside an extensive women’s ready-to-wear range. Alaïa also produces beautiful ladies’ shoes, accessories, bags & handbags and occasional jewellery pieces.

HERMÈS

The ultimate in luxury brands, Hermès is synonymous with opulent and sumptuous goods, finished to the highest standards. This house has perfected the art of luxury since its foundation as a saddlery in 1837. From the outset, the Hermès brand was a favourite of the highest of nobility and the Parisian elite who would seek out no other maker for their equestrian and carriage equipment. The maison would use it’s leather-making expertise to craft various other accoutrement essential to the comfortable travel of its distinguished customers, including luggage and travel cases. With the advent of the automotive age, the brand would apply its prestige and know-how to upholstering the very best motor cars and expanding into leather goods, such as handbags, belts, boots and so forth. This also marked the transformation of the brand into a high fashion label, renowned for their selection of the best materials and elaborate prints to create beautiful accessories and apparel. Today the brand stands as the height of luxury, admired and desired throughout the world.

MOYNAT

Moynat is one of the great Parisian malletiers alongside Goyard and Louis Vuitton, famous for it’s high-end luxury trunks and luggage and synonymous with the golden age of travel. Similar to their rivals, Moynat is easily identified by their distinctive patterns and colourways and the high-quality finish. The brand became a darling of European society, with many celebrated and royal patrons. The brand fell out of favour as air travel replaced ocean liners but the brand was revived by LVMH with Luvanis and reinstated as one of the world’s pre-eminent luxury brands, specialising in leather goods, bags & handbags, luggage and fragrances.

DELVAUX

This Belgian luxury goods marque is the oldest high-end leather goods maker in the world, tracing its foundation back to 1829 when Charles Delvaux opened his eponymous store in Brussels. With a reputation for excellence in their craftsmanship and an exquisite attention to detail, Delvaux became a preferred brand to much of Europe’s aristocratic and noble classes, eventually earning a warrant as purveyors to the Royal Court of Belgium in 1883. The brand was particularly known for their luggage and steam trunks in the golden age of travel but has successfully reinvented themselves in the modern age as a fabricator of must-have handbags and other leather accessories. The house continues upon that tradition today as a label in the Richemont luxury goods stable.

MAX MARA

Few items of apparel are as iconic as Max Mara’s camel coat, a cashmere wrap coat that is, arguably, one of the most in-demand pieces of womenswear ever produced. It has been the mainstay of the Max Mara house, founded in 1951 as a Ready-to-Wear high fashion designer. Initially focussed on the Italian marker, the Reggio Emilia outfitters offer a full range of fashions, accessories, fragrances and jewellery to an international customer base. The label has also ventured into couture and has an acclaimed bridalwear range.

RHANDERS: DENMARK’S FINEST GLOVES

Rhanders is a Danish glovemaking company that was founded in 1811 but with a history that dates back much, much further. It is one of the oldest glovemakers in the world, and is known for its high-quality, handcrafted gloves, even being appointed as purveyors to the Crown of Denmark.

CONNOLLY: AN ICONIC MAKER OF LEATHER GOODS

Connolly is a British luxury leather brand founded in 1878. The brand is known for its high-quality leather goods, which are used in a variety of industries, including automotive, aviation, marine, furniture and the House’s very own line of fashion and accessories. Connolly leather is sourced from the finest hides from around the world and is tanned and finished using traditional methods. The brand’s leather is known for its durability, softness, and beauty.

ISSEY MIYAKE: A VISIONARY JAPANESE FASHION HOUSE

Issey Miyake is a high-end Japanese fashion brand, named for the late designer who founded the house in 1970. The designer behind the eponymous label was a known for his innovative and technology-driven clothing designs, a brief which continues to influence the label’s collections today. Miyake was born in Hiroshima in 1938 and lived through the atomic bombing of the city as a child. This experience had a profound impact on him and his work, and he often spoke about the importance of peace and harmony in design and in culture.

CAROLINA HERRERA: THE DARLING OF NEW YORK FASHION

Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan-American fashion designer known for her elegant and sophisticated designs. She is also known for dressing some of the world’s most famous women, including Jacqueline Onassis, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump. Herrera was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1939. She began her career in fashion as a publicist for Vogue magazine. In 1981, she launched her own fashion line, which quickly became known for its classic and timeless designs.

TUSTING: A LEGACY IN LUXURY LEATHER GOODS

Tusting is a British luxury leather goods brand founded in 1875 in Lavendon, Buckinghamshire, England. The company is known for its high-quality craftsmanship and its use of the finest materials. Tusting produces a wide range of leather goods, including handbags, briefcases, luggage, and accessories.