Handbags news and archive

Rethinking desirability: Luxury brands face the decline of the it-bag

Within two years, purchases of luxury handbags are projected to decrease by 13.69 percent. This figure, revealed by a recent study from The Independents, highlights a radical shift: while this chic accessory was previously attributed with the power to confer a certain status, this status is no longer solely represented by an object or a price,...

People

Radley London confirms new design director

British handbag and accessories brand Radley London has confirmed the appointment of Fernando Soriano Iglesias as its new design director. Soriano Iglesias, who started at Radley in August 2024, has been tasked with presenting a “refined vision for the brand,” and will present his first collection for autumn/winter 2025 in August this year. The...

BusinessFeaturedMember

Kurt Geiger holiday trading boosted by North America

British footwear and accessories retailer Kurt Geiger has reported record trading over the festive period and “booming growth” in North America, where strong H1 figures show high double-digit US growth boosted by the opening of stores in the US and Mexico. With the help of celebrity fans, including Kylie Jenner, Olivia Rodrigo, Rihanna and Paris...

RetailFeatured

Luxury handbag market pivots to accessible pricing

The global luxury handbag market is experiencing a realignment towards more affordable price points, according to comprehensive data from Joor, the digital wholesale platform. The latest analysis of global handbag transactions reveals a nuanced picture of consumer spending and retailer strategies. While the overall bag category has maintained...

PeopleFeatured

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...

BusinessMember

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...

BusinessFeaturedMember

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...

BusinessFeaturedMember

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...

BusinessMember

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...