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Bochic adds handbags to its lines
Jewelry brand Bochic will introduce a line of evening clutch bags in September, marking the brand’s first extension beyond fine jewelry.
Bochic will introduce the handbag collection at the Westin Hotel Paris during Paris Fashion Week, after which it will be available worldwide through events such as trunk shows and on the Bochic website.
Price points start at $2,500.
The bags in the initial collection are called “Alicia, “Gilda” and Madeleline,” each inspired by film noir of the 1950s. Each style includes detailed gold handles that were made in Rome, meant to complement the leathers used for the body of the bag--crocodile, python, serpentine and sting ray.
To connect the line with the brand’s heritage, each bag also will feature jewelry detailing, created the same way as Bochic jewels, using enamel and natural precious stones such as rock crystal, onyx, and turquoise.
Each bag is handmade in Florence. This collection was created by Serena Bonifazi, an Italian designer.
Two other jewelry brands that have extended into handbags include Kara Ross and Armenta. Armenta launched its Bolsavita handbag collection in 2012 as a small capsule collection that had limited distribution.
“Our leather goods are all about the hardware--handcrafted, mixed metals and materials, with a look that is rugged yet refined,” said Armenta President Emily Armenta. “We wanted to bring something fresh and fashion forward to an exotic market that is traditionally more conservative.”
The company said the handbag line was a natural extension for the lifestyle brand, seeing as many of the bags have some sort of hardware involved in the design.
Armenta also reports that sales have been good for the brand’s bags, and that they have been successful in attracting both existing and new customers, especially as the jewelry and the bags merchandise well together in stores, allowing shoppers to try out both at the same time and play with the looks.
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