Designer | Vegan | Cheap | Fancy | Cute

Top Designer Purse Brands

#1. Prada

The Brand: Prada was established in 1913 in Milan, Italy. Originally a leather goods store, Prada sold bags, trunks, and travel accessories. Six years later, this brand was promoted to the title of Official Supplier of the Italian Royal House. This allowed Prada to display the House Savoy Coat of arms and a knotted rope in its logo that is still used today.

Need To Know: By the 1990s, Prada became one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Today, Prada encompasses several smaller brands, but the heart of the business is still their luxury handbags. 

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#2. Dior

The Brand: Dior opened its doors in 1946 in Paris. Christian Dior, the founder, is famed for revolutionizing the women’s fashion industry. Dior’s first collection of dresses launched in February 1947. With shorter skirts and tighter waists, this collection was cited as a game-changer for women’s fashion. In its first ten years, this brand continued to produce revolutionary fashion trends, and because of this, Dior has been recognized as the driver for Paris’s revival as the fashion capital of the world after WWII.

Need To Know: Dior continues to provide tasteful and timeless pieces. While they are known for their handbags, Dior also provides high-quality women’s, men’s, and kids’ apparel, along with accessories, leather goods, shoes, makeup, and perfume.

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#3. Versace

The Brand: Versace was founded in Milan, Italy in 1978. During its first four years, this brand only designed tailored clothing. In 1982, Versace branched out to other products, including accessories and furniture. Today, Versace has exploded into one of the biggest names in the fashion industry, and has designed clothing for several celebrities, including Princess Diana and Jennifer Lopez.

Need To Know: In 2018, Versace sold its shares to Michael Kors Limited. In 2019, Gianni Versace, Micheal Kors, and Jimmy Choo formed a new luxury fashion group, called Capri Holdings Limited. Today, Versace continues to create high-quality items, including purses, that are known for their innovative, but tasteful, designs.

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#4. Louis Vuitton

The Brand: When he was only 16, Louis Vuitton decided to become a trunk maker. He did this for 17 years before opening his shop in Paris in 1854, which is the origin of the designer brand we know today as Louis Vuitton. Throughout the 1900s, Louis Vuitton expanded and grew their business by introducing bags and accessories alongside their standard trunks.

Need To Know: Louis Vuitton regularly collaborates with artists and designers to create unique items, and they have also been known to develop limited-edition collections frequently. Today, Louis Vuitton is one of the most influential and popular luxury brands in the world.

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#5. Coach

The Brand: Coach’s original name was Manhattan Leather Bags, which was founded in 1941. The founder was inspired to create handbags that had similar attributes to baseball gloves. These bags featured excellent craftsmanship and were made from high-quality leather, just like a baseball glove.

Need To Know: Today, Coach has several popular handbag styles, including the Duffle, Saddle Bag, Dinky, and Slim Satchel. Coach has over 900 stores, boutiques, and an online store that distributes to over 20 countries. With the success that Coach has demonstrated, they continue to maintain their status as a global leader in the luxury handbag industry.

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Top Vegan Purse Brands

#1. Pixie Mood

The Brand: Pixie Mood was founded in 2010 in Toronto, Canada by Chloe Ho, who left her 9-to-5 office job on a mission to find socially responsible ways to look good. This is a cruelty-free brand that creates designer-inspired handbags, without animal by-products.

Need To Know: Even though Pixie Mood was developed only 11 years ago, they have already developed a loyal following. Their handbags are made from vegan leather, while also being versatile, functional, and sustainable.

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#2. Stella McCartney

The Brand: The Stella McCartney brand was founded in 2001 by designer, Stella McCartney, who refused to use animal by-products for her designs. She partnered with the Gucci Group, which is now known as Kering. However, McCartney’s goal of creating bags without using animal fur or skin seemed to drastically contrast that of Gucci’s.

Need To Know: Stella became the sole proprietor of her brand in 2018, and then partnered with LVMH, a luxury brands conglomerate, in 2019, while still maintaining the majority of control over her company. Today, this brand continues to create innovative and sought-after designs while also remaining committed to sustainability.

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#3. Matt & Nat

The Brand: Matt & Nat, a Toronto-based brand, was founded in 1995 by Inder Bedi. Manny Kohli joined the business in 2001 and then became the president and owner in 2013 after Bedi left the company. As a long-time vegan, Kohli is committed to developing ethical and vegan bags.

Need To Know: Mat & Nat stands for “material and nature.” Built on the principles of veganism, this brand’s goal is to be practical and stylish, while also remaining ethical.

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#4. GUNAS

The Brand: Sugandh Agrawal founded GUNAS in 2009 in her Manhattan studio apartment. As a designer and animal lover, Agrawal’s goal was to create a cruelty-free, ethically sourced, fashion brand. 

Need To Know: While GUNAS was originally a “Made in NYC” brand, they are now a global company that sources its processes to small-scale, ethical manufacturers from countries like India, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Mexico. GUNAS makes bags in many different styles, ranging in everything from wallets to backpacks.

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#5. Lulu Dharma

The Brand: In 2002, Lulu Dharma was founded in Los Angelos by Keri Lassalle. Lassalle’s goal was to create an eco-conscious, sustainable, and animal-friendly brand. 16 years after the company began, one of Lassalle’s designs was featured in Oprah’s Favorite Things, which launched Lulu Dharma into its popularity that it continues to maintain today.

Need To Know: Lulu Dharma’s designs encapsulate Bohemian minimalism with a modern twist. Their products range from clutches, evening bags, and totes. They remain committed to integrity and sustainability.

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Top Cheap Purse Brands

#1. Zara

The Brand: Zara was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega in Galicia, Spain. Its first store sold lower-priced products that were very similar to higher-end fashion items. Because Zara found this gap in the market (that many clothing brands hadn’t addressed), they continue their success by remaining up-to-date with the latest trends, while also offering affordability.

Need To Know: Zara’s core values include beauty, clarity, functionality, and sustainability. In 2019, this brand was ranked 29th on Interbrand’s list of best global products. Zara is customer-driven, which is why they keep continuing to prove their success.

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#2. A New Day

The Brand: This Target-owned brand, A New Day, launched in September 2017 as a women’s clothing and accessory line. Only one year after its debut, A New Day reached $1 billion in sales.

Need To Know: With purses, and other apparel and accessories, that you can buy for under $50, this brand is extremely affordable and has proven its success in a short amount of time. A New Day combines a modern aesthetic with versatility.

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#3. Vera Bradley

The Brand: Vera Bradley was founded in 1982 by longtime friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller. After struggling to find their luggage at the airport, because everyone’s bags looked the same, they are now known for colorful bags and unique prints.

Need To Know: Vera Bradley’s designs are meant to stand out, which lines up with their company purpose to, “make the world a brighter place.” With most of their purses being under $100, you don’t have to spend lots of money to get a unique purse.

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#4. Street Level

The Brand: Street Level was founded in downtown Los Angeles, on a mission to be functional and as inclusive as possible. Their bags are ethically hand-made by indigenous Indonesian women in the villages of Bali.

Need To Know: This affordable and cruelty-free brand is PETA-approved. Street Level keeps their bags in the $40-100 range, while also intentionally using sustainable and recycled materials whenever possible.

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#5. JW PEI

The Brand: A husband and wife duo founded this accessory brand, JW PEI, in Los Angeles. JW PEI aims for minimalist design with sustainable and vegan materials.

Need To Know: All of JW PEI’s bags are made from vegan leather and recycled plastic. With most of their purses under $50, this brand is making fashion handbags more accessible. You can even order some of their designs on Amazon.

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Top Fancy Purse Brands

#1. Chanel

The Brand: The first Chanel boutique was opened in 1913 in Deauville, France by founder, Gabrielle Chanel. Chanel expanded exponentially throughout the early 1900s, and in 1955 created the “2.55” handbag, which was a functional, quilted bag that came with a soft sliding chain which was the first shoulder strap.

Need To Know: The classic Chanel bag has only been minimally modified since it came out in 1955. While these bags are notoriously expensive (in 2021 the average price is $7,850), these timeless bags only continue to go up in value.

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#2. Lana Marks

The Brand: Lana Marks is a family-owned business that was founded in 1987, specializing in luxury exotic skin handbags. Made with high-quality skins, tanned in France, these bags are hand-made in Italy.

Need To Know: Lana Marks offers purses in 150 different styles, 100 different colors, and can be made from alligator, ostrich, and lizard. This brand’s designs are often seen on the red carpet and royalty. These bags have been a favorite of Angelina Jolie, Princess Diana, and Kate Winslet.

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#3. Gucci

The Brand: In 1921, Guccio Gucci established the beginnings of this brand, a leather goods store in Florence. What was first a saddle-making business eventually expanded into leather accessories. Today, you can still notice the equestrian influence in their modern styles, including the classic horse detail.

Need To Know: In the 1900s, celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Kennedy started sporting Gucci’s designs. With recent styles showcasing vibrant colors, crystals, and pop culture references, Gucci is making an effort to stay relevant, while also remaining committed to its high-quality luxury.

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#4. Fendi

The Brand: Founded in Rome in 1926, Fendi began by making leather and fur goods. In 1965, Fendi teamed up with German designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld designed Fendi’s iconic double F logo, which stands for “fun furs.”  

Need To Know: Almost 100 years later, Fendi is still known for its high-quality fur and leather goods. With sales surpassing $1 billion annually, Fendi is still dominating the luxury handbag industry.

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#5. Judith Leiber

The Brand: Judith Leiber Couture was established in 1963, originally only producing bags in green leather, made from calfskin. Throughout their history, they have designed many unique purses, made from snakeskin, metal, and eventually, from Swarovski crystals.

Need To Know: Judith Leiber eventually designed many novelty bags that became a favorite of several celebrities, including the Kardashians and Beyonce. In recent years, they have designed custom bags, but their jeweled purses and vintage clutches have remained timeless.

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Top Cute Purse Brands For Women

#1. Kate Spade

The Brand: Kate Brosnahan Spade founded the Kate Spade brand in 1993, on a mission to create the perfect handbag. In 2006, this brand was sold to Liz Claiborne, Inc. for $124 million. Today, this company has grown into a global lifestyle brand, selling products such as clothing, fragrance, and bedding.

Need To Know: Kate Spade’s mission, to “live colorfully,” is demonstrated in their handbag designs. Purses are created in many different colors, like red, white, baby blue, plum, and pink. Patterns range from floral, stripes, leopard print, and polka dots.

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#2. Brighton

The Brand: Brighton was launched in 1991 by Jerry and Terri Kohl, who originally sold a single collection of belts. Today, there are over 180 Brighton Collectible stores and multiple retailers selling their products online.

Need To Know: Brighton’s designers sketch each purse by hand and continue to follow it until its completion. This brand prides itself on creating bags and accessories that are relevant, but timeless.

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#3. Dooney & Bourke

The Brand: Dooney & Bourke was established by Peter Dooney and Frederic Bourke in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1975. They started by specializing in belts and suspenders, but eventually graduated on to handbags.

Need To Know: Dooney & Bourke prides itself on its high quality and versatility. This brand offers styles that are both classic and contemporary, meaning that you can easily find the style of purse that you are looking for.

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#4. Fossil

The Brand: Fossil was founded in 1984 by Tom Kartsosis, under the name, Overseas Products. Specializing in luxury watches, Fossil grew throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, eventually acquiring Skagen Designs, Ltd for $225 million in 2012.

Need To Know: Today, Fossil’s products include men’s and women’s watches, jewelry, leather goods, accessories, and handbags. Their bags are typically made from genuine leather, and styles vary from totes, crossbody bags, backpacks, and satchels.

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#5. Calvin Klein 

The Brand: Calvin Klein was founded in 1968 under the name Klein Limited. Originally designing a line of coats, it was featured at Bonwit Teller, a store in New York. In 2002, after growing exponentially, this brand was sold for $400 million to Phillips Van Heusen Corp.

Need To Know: Although Calvin Klein is known for its fragrances and underwear, their high-quality handbags have neutral and timeless designs that are sure to please everyone.

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