A handbag, commonly known as a purse in North American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag used to carry personal items. It has also been called a pocketbook in parts of the U.S.
A waist bag, fanny pack, belt bag, moon bag, belly bag, or bumbag geebag is a small fabric pouch worn like a belt around the waist by use of a strap above the hips that is secured usually with some sort of buckle. The straps sometimes have tri-glide slides, making them adjustable in order to fit properly. It can be considered as a purse worn around the waist.
A messenger bag is a type of sack, usually made of cloth. It is worn over one shoulder with a strap that goes across the chest resting the bag on the lower back. While messenger bags are sometimes used by couriers, they are now also an urban fashion icon. Some types of messenger bags are called carryalls. A smaller version is often called a sling bag.
A satchel is a bag with a strap, traditionally used for carrying books. The strap is often worn so that it diagonally crosses the body, with the bag hanging on the opposite hip, rather than hanging directly down from the shoulder. The back of a satchel extends to form a flap that folds over to cover the top and fastens in the front. Unlike a briefcase, a satchel is soft-sided.
An It bag is a high-priced designer handbag that has become a popular best-seller. The phenomenon arose in the fashion industry and was named in the 1990s and 2000s. Examples of handbag brands that have been considered "It bags" are Chanel, Hermès and Fendi.
Mulberry Group PLC is a British fashion company founded in 1971, best known for its luxury leather goods, particularly women's handbags.
Dame Anya Susannah Hindmarch, is an English fashion accessories designer who founded an eponymous company, of which she is CEO. Hindmarch published her first book, If In Doubt Wash Your Hair in May 2021, a Sunday Times bestseller.
Longchamp is a French leather goods company, founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain. The company pioneered luxury leather-covered pipes before expanding into small leather goods. Longchamp debuted women's handbags in 1971, becoming one of France's leading leather goods makers. Today, the company designs and manufactures leather and canvas handbags, luggage, shoes, travel items, fashion accessories, and women's ready-to-wear. The house is privately owned and managed by the Cassegrain founding family and does business in 80 countries through around 1,500 retail outlets.
The Museum of Bags and Purses, was a museum devoted to the history of bags, purses, and their related accessories. Located in Amsterdam's historic central canal belt, the museum's collection included over 5,000 items dating back to the sixteenth-century.
The Chanel 2.55 is a luxury leather handbag or purse manufactured by the fashion house of Chanel.
English Retreads was an eco-fashion company that made handbags and accessories from recycled materials. The company was known for its products that are all low environmental impact, vegan, and handcrafted in Boulder, Colorado. English Retreads offered handbags, wallets, belts, laptop bags and keychains all made from recycled materials, primarily reclaimed rubber and recycled PETE material.
Miche is the name of a fashion handbag with interchangeable designs and handles. The company specializes in hand and shoulder bags based on a system of magnetic interchangeable bag covers and accompanying accessories.
Belen Echandia was a handbag and fashion accessory design and manufacturing company. It was incorporated in 2005 and is based in London, England. Belen Echandia produces leather handbags, travel bags, wallets, clutch purses, and accessories for women.
Kate Spade New York is an American fashion house founded in January 1993 by Kate and Andy Spade. In 2017, the company was purchased by Tapestry, Inc., formerly known as Coach, Inc.
A bag is a common tool in the form of a non-rigid container, typically made of cloth, leather, bamboo, paper, or plastic. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being lengths of animal skin, cotton, or woven plant fibers, folded up at the edges and secured in that shape with strings of the same material. Bags can be used to carry items such as personal belongings, groceries, and other objects. They comes in various shapes and sizes, often equipped with handles or straps for easier carrying.
Valextra is a brand of luxury leather goods and accessories based in Milan, Italy. The name is a portmanteau of "Valigia", the Italian word for suitcase, and "extra".
Bottega Giotti is a Florence-based fashion company that specializes in intrecciato (woven) leather jackets, bags and small leather goods. Started by a local artisan in the beginning of the 20th century, it grew into an international company headquartered in Lenzi Palace in the center of Florence. The company was founded and is still owned and managed by the Biagotti family.
Miles Cahn was an American businessman and designer who co-founded the Coach Leatherware Company, now known as Coach, Inc., with his wife, Lillian Cahn, in 1961. The Cahns founded the luxury fashion company, now known for its handbags, when they purchased a ting mall wallet manufacturer, then located in West 34th Street in Manhattan, and renamed it Coach. Under the guidance of Lillian and Miles Cahn, Coach was among the first to introduce lines of purses and handbags that were both fashionable and practical.
Lancel is a French Maison of luxury leather goods, founded in Paris in 1876 by Angèle and Alphonse Lancel and developed by their son Albert.
Bobby Breslau was an American designer of fashion accessories. He began working with Stephen Burrows in the garment industry in the 1960s, but a commission for a fringed pillow from Halston changed his trajectory to the path of accessory and furniture design in the 1970s. His unconstructed leather handbags were declared "the handbag of the 1970's" by TheNew York Times. In the 1980s, Breslau was a close collaborator of Keith Haring until his death from AIDS-related complications in 1987.
