History of the Top 5 Italian Luxury Handbag Brands.

www.awomenbags.com

"This will be my last handbag purchase," said no woman ever. A designer handbag is a woman's quintessential accessory , her trusty sidekick. With the rise of various luxury brands in the market, many women are spoiled silly for choice. These handbags are available in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colors. A recent fad is the clutch (a bag which is about the same size as a ladies purse), which women would usually bring to dinners and formal events because the handbag is too bulky! With celebrity endorsements relatively boosting sales and spreading brand awareness among the millions of consumers, it is no surprise that more and more women are opting to spend their money on high-end luxury handbags. There is also the association of branded luxury goods with one's social status. Of course, if one were able to purchase an item of such luxury, need we ask any more?

The rapid boom of e-commerce has helped retailers cater to customers who are unable to travel to their outlets and also providing convenience to those who would prefer to shop from home. To my surprise, some retailers are even offering installment plans to their customers who are interested in certain designer handbags which in turn, made me curious about these mega-brands. Why are they worth so much? How did these companies form? What drove them to be what they are today? And so I did a little research on these brands' history. Here are five of Italy's biggest names in Handbag History.

Prada

www.fashiongonerogue.com

Mario Prada opened his first store in 1913, an exclusive store which sells leather bags, trunks, beauty cases, and luxury accessories. Prada was even appointed to become the 'Official Supplier to the Italian Household". In 1977, Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada took over the family business and - with her future husband, Patrizio Bertelli - set out to to work on recreating a new Prada, which was slowly becoming idle. Today Prada has a net worth of $20.78 B and ranks #69 on Forbe's World's Most Valuable Brands. One of the more famous brands by Prada is Miu Miu (est. 1993), whose creative and sensual collection contrasted starkly against the minimalist Prada during its prime. In case you have not noticed, Miu Miu is derived from Miuccia Prada's name!

Did you know? Before taking over the family business, Miuccia earned a PhD in Political Science and trained as a mime for five years!

Fendi

www.luxuo.com

Fendi is probably most well known for their "baguette" or B handbags. In 1925, newlywed couple Edoardo and Adele Fendi established a small bag shop with a fur workshop in Rome. Fendi's business bloomed as a result of the couple's emphasis on product quality and workmanship. After the war, circa 1946, the couple's five daughters joined the business. Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla, and Alda brought a new spunk to Fendi which refashioned the fur coat concept. With the help of German fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, they revolutionized fur from a symbol of status to a fashion item. In 2001, Fendi became part of the LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) group and its products distributed in over 35 countries all over the world.

Did you know? Fendi was the first brand in the world to have a fashion show on The Great Wall of China!

Bottega Veneta

www.fashionmention.com

Bottega Veneta, meaning Venetian Studio, was founded in 1966 by Michele Taddei. The company's craftsmen created a leather-weaving technique called intrecciato that would remain to this day, the brand's signature. Back when Bottega Veneta began business, the sewing machines in the shops were made to work with cloth, not leather. The craftsmen then had to use extremely fine leather to get under the needle. The leather was then entwined into the  intecciato design to make the fabric more solid and long-lasting. In 2001, Gucci Group bought over the company and made Tomas Maier creative director. Since then, Maier has set up the company as one of the many top luxury goods houses in the world.

Did you know? Bottega Veneta is logo-less and advertises with their famous slogan, "When Your Own Initials Are Enough."

Gucci

www.blog.caranddriver.com

In 1921, Guccio Gucci established a leather goods store in his birthplace of Florence, Italy. While working at the Savoy Hotel in London, he had the opportunity to meet some big names in the film industry. Among them were Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. He was inspired by the luxurious luggage bags carried by the hotel guests and hence decided to open a leather goods store. Later on, Guccio's three sons joined the company and Gucci prospered well into the 1980s, when family disputes tore the empire apart. Eventually Gucci had to be sold to Investcorp, who in turn brought in Dawn Mello as editor to reform Gucci's damaged image. Dawn in turn brought in Tom Ford who was promoted to creative director. Ford, together with former CEO of Gucci Group, Domenico De Sole, made the company to what it is today. Today Gucci has a net worth of $12.5 B and ranks #39 on Forbe's World's Most Valuable Brands.

Did you know? Gucci opened the very first Italian luxury goods store in the United States of America. It was in 1953 on the isle of Manhattan.

Bvlgari

www.fanpop.com

Bulgari is more renowned for being a jewellery store but has, over the years, expanded to manufacturing other luxury goods such as bags and perfumes to name a few. The founder, Sotirios Voulgaris, was Greek and opened his first jewellery store in Greece before moving to Rome, Italy in 1881. In Italian, his name is spelled Sotirio Bulgari, hence the name of the store. In 1966, Sotirios' son, Gianni, was appointed as CEO. He rebuilt the company in the 1970s, initiating a new watch business and emphasizing on product design. He eventually resigned as CEO in 1985 and Sotirios' two grandsons Paolo and Nicola were named Chairman and Vice-Chairman with Francesco Tapani as CEO. It was during this time that Bulgari established itself as a luxury goods brand known all over the world. As of March 2011, Bulgari is owned by French luxury group LVMH (Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton), who owns Fendi as well.

Did you know? The “V” in Bvlgari is actually the classical Latin alphabet for “U” so it’s really read as Bulgari.

Take a look at Reebonz to purchase your desired authentic luxury bags, watches, and more at discounted prices. All the brands mentioned in this post can be found at their site and  they offer installment plans too! If you're up for more discounts and savings, don't forget to check out our  Reebonz Discount Codes and Vouchers for exclusive codes to help you save on spending!

By Andrew Tai
April 15, 2015 | Seasonal