Tumi introduces ladies bags

Luxury luggage specialist Tumi is adding handbags to its offering. The brand, which was established 32 years ago, will introduce four new handbag collections next month. The collections will consist of leather hobos, totes and shoppers, weekend bags made of khaki, coated cotton and metallic linen, a range made from a variety of materials including nylon and cashmere, and a ladies travel line in black and brown nylon. Prices range from $75 (£38) for small nylon goods to $695 for leather bags.

"There is room for Tumi in the prestige category and as a real player in the world of accessories," creative director David Chu told WWD. Chu, the founder of Nautica - which he sold to VF Corp - joined Tumi in January of this year and is taking the company in a new creative direction, which means conquering the fashion accessories market. The new collections will be sold exclusively at Tumi stores until spring 2008, after which they will be available at select retailers, including high-end US department stores Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's.