Handbag News: 2nd Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards

Independent Handbag Designer Awards
Launch Bags presents THE INDEPENDENT HANDBAG DESIGNER AWARDS™
(Click here to register or purchase tickets)

Handbag Designer 101 invites you to compete in the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™, the only handbag competition of its kind in the world. Win a chance to present your handbag at a high profile New York event and compete for one of six Awards for Handbag Design Excellence, international recognition, a variety of coveted prizes and a chance to have your handbag go on a marketing press tour.

To participate in the open call, you are required to upload one digital jpeg image (please read attached tip sheet carefully) in any one or more of the following categories:
-Best Student Made Handbag
-Best Handmade Handbag
-Most Socially Responsible Handbag
-Best Green Handbag
-Audience-Selected Handbag*
-Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design

Submissions will be accepted from February 29, 2008 until April 18, 2008.

The staff of Handbag Designer 101 will review all submissions at a Prescreening Event in late April. At this Prescreening, HB101 will choose five finalists in each category who will be judged on the merits of their submitted designs. All finalists will be invited to participate in the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™ that will take place on June 18, 2008, at the New York Historical Society in New York City. (Note: Finalists or their representatives are responsible for their own transportation to the event.)

Finalists must provide the handbag shown in the photo submitted to compete at the IHDA. The finalist's handbags will be on display on the evening of the event. Over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers, will attend the Independent Handbag Designer Awards™.

A Fashion Panel of esteemed and influential handbag design experts, editors, stylists, buyers and professors will judge the designs presented and select a winner from each category who will receive the Best Handbag in each respective category and determine who truly stands out as an Independent Handbag Designer.

These finalists will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their bags featured in a window display at Henri Bendel, and to participate in a trunk show to promote and sell their lines at the store. In addition, the winner of the Best Student-Made Handbag will receive an apprenticeship with the Henri Bendel accessory design team.

Finalists will also be able to offer their bags through Bag, Borrow Or Steal, the leading online retailer that allows women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry. Bag, Borrow Or Steal will give more women the opportunity to experience these wonderful bags and learn about the talented designers who created them.

The Winner of the Best Overall Handbag in Style and Design will have the chance to showcase their award-winning handbag collection with a free 10x10 booth (a $6,000 value) to 120,000 fashion industry influentials at the WWDMAGIC Accessories Show in Las Vegas, August 25-27, 2008.

Legendary handbag brand LEIBER will receive the IHDA ICONOCLAST Award. LEIBER has revolutionized the landscape of accessory design. Celebrating their 45th anniversary and now under the creative direction of Frank Zambrelli, LEIBER has stood the test of time and continues to earn international acclaim with their innovative handbags and accessories, and most recently "Most Prestigious Handbag" by the Luxury Institute.

Qualifications per Category:

Best Student-Made Handbag: Students who have successfully started their lines while still in school
-Currently attending high school or university
-Bags must be under student designer's own label
-Major in Design is optional

Best Handmade Handbag: Sewn, crocheted, knitted or any other material where the designer themselves is making their bag by hand or machine
-Bags must be made by you, by machine or hand
-Bags must be under designer's own label
-Mass manufacturing on any level is not acceptable

Most Socially Responsible Handbag: Bags that meet certain ethical and moral standards in regards to production, employment and philanthropy and have impacted the local culture of the country of manufacturing
-Bags must be under designer's own label
-Bags that are made where a portion of the proceeds are given back to that country of manufacturing
-Bags must be made by local communities to create jobs
-Bags that have helped improve the quality of life in the local culture in the country of manufacturing

Best Green Handbag: Bags that are made out of sustainable, recycled or organic materials
-Bags should be made from 100% organic cotton, hemp, bamboo or other raw materials, OR 100% recycled materials (could be recycled cloth, recycled soda bottles, recycled vinyl, etc.), OR one of the new corn-based fibers, or in some combination
-All components - metal zippers, buttons, clasps, snaps should be made from recycled metal or reused pieces
-The bags should be recyclable at the end of its life
-Any dyed fabric should be done with a nontoxic dye that doesn't use toxic fixing agents

Audience-Selected Handbag: *Handbag designer selected by Handbag Designer 101 and Bag, Borrow or Steal voters, based on finalists of the preliminary judging panel

Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design: Best executed handbag overall in style and design
-Bags must be under designer's own label
-Bags must be unique in their overall style and design

Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59pm on April 18, 2008.
Entries submitted without full information filled out will be disqualified.

To register proceed to the application form >>

To purchase tickets for the event click here

WE CANNOT CONFIRM RECEIPT OF ENTRIES UNTIL ALL ENTRIES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED.

Click here to view the 2007 IHDA Finalists and images from the 2007 Independent Handbag Designer Awards™

Spotlight On.....Gucci ♥ NY Collection

To celebrate the grand opening of Gucci's largest store in the world, Creative Director Frida Giannini has designed a collection of exclusive products that will be offered solely at Gucci 5th Avenue in NYC.

The first collection, "Gucci ♥ NY" is an ode to the city, where Gucci first opened its doors in 1953. Featuring Gucci’s iconic webbing, white GG pattern canvas, bold red and royal blue stripes, and the prominent "Gucci ♥ NY", this collection will more than likely sell like hotcakes. What's more, proceeds from the sale of "Gucci ♥ NY" products will be donated entirely to Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy. This organization is responsible for the care and maintenance of the playgrounds in Central Park. It's Gucci's way of giving back to a city that brought so much success to the Italian fashion house.
Aside from iconic handbags, this Gucci store will offer ready-to-wear, jewelry and other assorted leather goods. Here's a sampling of what designer handbag lovers can expect to find at the 5th Avenue flagship's handbag department. If you're not a NYC native or a trip to the Big Apple is not in your immediate future, then the internet will certainly afford you an opportunity to stock up on your favorite Gucci designs. Unfortunately, the "Gucci ♥ NY" collection is not for sale on the Gucci website. If you have a hankering for a product from this collection, you'll just have to head over to NYC and get it.

Queen Hobo Bag - $1650
Sabrina Large Boston Bag - $1890
Hysteria Shoulder Bag - $1295

Papillon Clutch - $695
Hysteria Clutch - $1495

Available via Gucci.com

What's Your "Handbag Style"?

Photos via The Daily Mail, POPSUGAR and ICYDK

Ever wonder what makes a woman covet and ultimately buy a certain bag? Well, like any other area of fashion, handbags fall into certain "style" categories. You know what I'm referring to, right? When you spot a woman walking down the street or shopping at a store, you make a mental judgment about what category she falls into. "She's a bohemian, she's a classic dresser, she's eclectic, she's a total bombshell" are just some of the categories used to describe a fashionista's style. So go ahead and add handbags to the equation. After reading and picturing the following examples, you'll get an idea of exactly what "handbag style" is really about. Which style best describes your preferences? Have fun figuring it out.
_________________________________
The Classics
Louis Vuitton, Chanel & Hermes
Handbags which fall into "The Classics" style category possess the following qualities:
-Timeless appeal
-exceptional craftsmanship
-established label credibility
-Never go out of style
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The Bombshells
Versace, Gucci & Fendi
Handbags which fall into "The Bombshells" style category possess the following qualities:
-Unique shapes, bright colors or bold patterns
-Attention-grabbing "statement" pieces
-Crafted by fashion-forward design labels
-Trendy styles
_________________________________
The Ladies
Oscar de la Renta, Dior & Roberta di Camerino
Handbags which fall into "The Ladies" style category possess the following qualities:
-Vintage-inspired shapes with classic appeal
-Focus on traditional details
-Compliment refined wardrobes
-Feminine and charming
_________________________________

Handbag News: A New Meaning to the Term "Doggy Bag"

Via New York Times
I always look forward to Bill Cunningham's On The Street features in the New York Times "Fashion & Style" section. They're usually great eye candy, but, this week, it was a hoot! It seems Prada, Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton are the worst (or at least most repetitive) "doggy bag" offenders. Don't fret ladies, he meant the comparisons in jest.

Handbag News: Kate Spade Says Good-bye to Kate Spade

Husband-and-wife team Kate and Andy Spade are saying goodbye to their
brainchild.

Following the expiration of the service agreement the duo
had with Liz Claiborne Inc. after the $4.99 billion vendor acquired the
accessories brand last November, the Spades will step down from their respective
roles as designer and chief executive officer at the end of next week at the
close of spring market.

The Spades cited personal reasons for leaving
their day-to-day roles, including a desire to spend time traveling with their
two-year-old daughter.

They will stay on as members of the brand's
board[...]

Source: WWD

It will be interesting to watch the future progress of this design label. My gut tells me it's heading for a few bumps, but let's hope for the best shall we?

Handbag News: Badgley Mischka Expands Handbag Division

The "Dynamic Duo" of Mark Badgley and James Mischka are set to expand their current handbag division to include a day bag collection. The new collection will be split into three categories - everyday bags, attitude bags and leisure bags. Prices will range from $125 to $295 and will be expected to sell in stores like Saks, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.

Good for Badgley Mischka. Everyone should get a piece of the high-profit handbag market. Send some love my way, guys. XOXOXO

Source: WWD

Spotlight On.....The Simpsons Go To Paris!

Who knew Harper's Bazaar had such a fabulous sense of humor a la MAD Magazine style? While reading through my daily bookmarks I came across this hilarious tongue-n-cheek "fashion spread" featuring my husband's all-time favorite TV show family, The Simpsons. The cartoons are spot on, and my personal favorite is, of course, Jean Paul Gaultier strolling the streets of Paris flanked by the Gaultier-clad Linda Evangelista and Marge while toting a chiwawa-looking Maggie inside an Hermès Birkin bag. Genius.

Thanks to my favorite fashion-forward blog, Painfully Hip, for the pics and the heads up.

Handbag News: MCM Handbags Are Making A Comeback

Source: NYT

THE FINAL DAYS OF ’80s excess may have been symbolized by the MCM pocketbook logo: a pair of rearing medieval lions in aggressive repetition that only the truly resolute shopper could remember. Now, as with all things ’80s, the international luxury brand MCM is roaring back, this time minus the pride of lions. The company’s patent tote is quietly becoming a bag of note, seen on the arm of style-makers like Sofia Coppola, generating lengthy waiting lists at the company’s flagship in Berlin and selling swiftly at Colette in Paris and Harrods in London. This week, the bag will arrive in the United States at Bloomingdale’s and Intermix stores, in black, silver, gold and purple, left ($995 to $1,150).

This patent leather satchel-style tote with contrast topstiching, dual front pockets and removable shoulder strap is fierce. I MUST HAVE IT! Thank goodness they decided to leave the lions back at the zoo.

Handbag News: IHDA Winners

Last night, the Independent Handbag Designer Awards winners were announced during a ceremony held at The Museum of the City of New York. Among the winners in five distinct categories was IGNES Handbags. This wonderful handbag label, a Señora Cartera favorite, was the recipient of the "Most Socially Responsible Handbag" award.

Congratulations to Maria Estrada and everyone at IGNES for this well-deserved honor.

Click here for a list of finalists and winners.

Handbag News: Chanel Fall 2007 Pre-Collection Preview

Just a few upcoming pieces to wet your appetites, ladies.

Top Row: Large Alligator Shopping Bag, Crumpled Lambskin Bowler Bag

Bottom Row: Large Lambskin Tote, Quilted Calfskin Doctor Bag

Contact Chanel or visit your local boutique for pricing and availability.

Handbag News: Cartier Launches New Marcello Bag

The launch of a new handbag always makes me giddy with excitement, but who would have thought the source of my euphoria would be Cartier? Yes, indeed, the luxury jewelry giant is re-emphasizing their past endeavors into leather goods with the introduction of a new classic handbag tailored to the modern woman.

The Marcello Bag (shown) is made from leather and features Cartier's double "C" logo prominently stitched onto the front in addition to the bag's wonderful shape. The 'Marcello' comes in three sizes (S, M, L) and will be produced in various colors and materials. Cartier, known for their customization services, will offer customers the opportunity to pick and choose the details of their bag from bespoke kits that will be available at all their stores. Prices will range from $1005 for a small, basic bag to $1600 and up for a large bag depending on materials and detailing. Custom bags will start at @ $2000 and up and pricing will depend on the value of materials and hardware (gold or platinum) chosen. The upcoming season (arriving in stores in mid-June) will offer bags in midnight blue, tan, pink and zebra ponyskin.

I like what I see so far, and I'm certain the customization option will go a long way to push this bag and its' creator label to the top of the handbag hierarchy.

Source: WWD

Handbag News: Louis Vuitton Neverfull Collection Update!

As I reported earlier this week, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull Collection was out of stock on-line. I'm happy to report that the exclusive U.S. on-line purveyor of Louis Vuitton products, eLUXURY, is currently stocked. If you've been searching for this collection on-line, here's your chance to shop the collection.

Handbag News: Early Summer Silver Sizzle

Via New York Times

Yes, we know, metallics are "IN". Just in case we need a reminder, here's a round up of NYC street style - silver is sizzling everywhere you look. Uh, what is going on with all the Marc Jacobs? There are other silver options out there, ladies!

Handbag News: Scarlett Johansson For Louis Vuitton Part Deux

After Louis Vuitton's insanely successful Spring/Summer '07 ad campaign featuring Hollywood "IT" girl Scarlett Johansson, Marc Jacobs, LV's creative director, decided to stick with his voluptuous muse for the fashion house's Fall ad spread. Gone is the coquettish ScarJo, swinging playfully from vines and other silly props. Instead we see a stunning (and almost unrecognizable) Scarlett striking sexy poses while draped in luxurious fabrics. This campaign will surely compare with, if not succeed, its' predecessor.

I'm certainly thrilled for Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs. They realize how important it is to have a young, hip celebrity be the center of their ad campaigns so as to distract potential customers from focusing on the questionable merchandise. Make no mistake, ladies, LV's Fall '07 handbag collection has one or two hag bags. If you don't believe me, just look at this pic for a preview of what's in store for handbag collectors. The collection is not a total mess (I loved many of their creations), but let's just say it's a good thing they have these winning ads to back them up.

You've got to tip your hat to Marc Jacobs. He's one smart designer and businessman.

Photos via WWD and Elle.com (respectively)