Ralph Lauren, known as a classic and timeless brand, is trying to position itself as a leader in the emerging field of wearable tech. Unlike other companies making devices that are worn on the wrist, Ralph Lauren is incorporating technology in its handbags.
The company recently unveiled the “Ricky bag with light.” It is based on the design of the signature leather top-handle bag named after Ralph Lauren’s wife. The bag contains a built-in USB charger that can be used to power a smartphone, laptop, or desktop and a light to help find items easily.
The light in the Ricky turns on when an inside panel is opened. The charger is sewn into the body of the bag and has a separate cord that plugs into a USB port. The battery is good for about 1,000 charges or four to five months of continual light use.
The Ricky bag with light has been in development for about eight months. The bags are handmade in Italy from 50 pieces of leather and rose gold hardware. They are lined in purple nappa and take 12 hours to create.
The first version of the handbag is only available in 33-centimeter size and black. It will be available at first in only 10 Ralph Lauren stores by special order and will be sold more widely in February.
This is not Ralph Lauren’s first attempt at combining fashion and technology. It also introduced a Polo tech shirt that records the wearer’s heart rate, breathing, and stress levels. The company put on a “4-D” catwalk show during New York Fashion Week in which virtual models that stood four stories tall walked through a virtual New York landscape.
Other handbags have included lights and chargers. Furla’s Boarding Bag, introduced in 2006, was a leather and plastic top-handle bag with a light but has since been discontinued. British handbag maker Aspinal introduced the Marylebone Tech bag this year, a black leather tote with an internal charger. The Ricky is the first bag to include both features.
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