Proenza Schouler recently sold a minority stake to private equity firm Castanea Partners and hired new interim chief executive officer Ronald L. Frasch. Castanea and other Proenza Schouler executives are searching for a permanent CEO. Frasch said the company needs to manage its expenses better. While Proenza Schouler plans to expand in several areas, the […]

A growing number of high-end shoppers are choosing unique, hard-to-find handbags and accessories, rather than easily recognizable products with logos from major luxury brands. The trend is due to a desire for individuality, rather than conformity, as well as the political debate about income inequality. Many people do not want to be so conspicuous about […]

Luxury handbag maker Mulberry is reporting solid growth, despite a sharp decline in profits recently. It changed its plan to raise prices and instead decided to focus on selling more moderately priced items. Mulberry’s previous strategy of raising prices was a disaster. It caused profits to fall 74 percent for the year to April and […]

An Hermes Shiny Fuchsia Porosus Crocodile Diamond Birkin 35 handbag was sold by Christie’s auction house in Hong Kong for a record-setting $222,912. The sale price was about 15 percent more than Christie’s estimate. The handbag was sold by an undisclosed seller to an undisclosed Asian bidder over the phone. The bidding was fast-paced from […]

After years of growing sales, the U.S. market has been flooded with handbags in the $200 to $400 price range. The demand for these bags has finally cooled off. Sales of handbags and totes in the United States rose only 1 percent for the 12 months ending in April 2015. Sales totaled $7.9 billion. Michael […]

Many people have found that their cell phone batteries were dying when they were away from home and they either didn’t have a charger or had nowhere to plug it in. Brands are now trying to make life more convenient by making it easier to charge cell phones and stay connected when a charger is […]

Jayshree Patel, a 20-year-old British designer, has launched her own line of premium handbags. Patel says her goal was to create affordable, fashionable, and timeless accessories made from quality materials. All of the bags are crafted from high-quality Saffiano or ostrich print leather with floral, silk blend linings. The bags have pockets that are secure, […]

Kate Spade New York has experienced strong growth recently with its lines of stylish clothing and handbags. It hopes to continue that trend by maintaining the aspirational status of its products. Kate Spade had $1.2 billion in sales in 2014, up 42 percent over 2013. The company’s sales rose 14 percent to $255 million in […]

Products made with conventional leather raise concerns for several reasons. Animal rights groups are concerned about the treatment of animals. A lot of material is wasted in the leather-making process. Leather is also treated in tanneries, which often use harmful chemicals. Stella McCartney was a pioneer in the vegan leather movement, and other luxury designers […]

A stain on a leather handbag can be unattractive and can shorten the life of your prized purse. If you have spilled something on your leather handbag, here are some tips on how to get the stain out and keep your bag looking like new. Leather needs to breathe. Using the wrong cleaner or letting […]