Hello,
I am currently studying Art and Design at Down High School, Northern Ireland. I am writing my art dissertation on handbags, a dominant and essential accessory in fashion. I would very much appreciate your time to answer a few in depth questions on the future of handbags.
1) I believe the government has put an undeniable pressure on society to become more environmentally and economically aware by use of re-cycling and re-using. Do you think this will adversely influence designers to re-use old or unwanted materials such as skirts and jumpers in order to create a new unique range of handbags and open up a new market sector for handbags?
2) Handbag styles have re-emerged over time fitting into current fashion trends for example the clutch bag, the ‘big’ bag the evening and practical bags. Major fashion houses then accessorize these styles with their own personal touch to make the bag distinct to their brand. Do you feel this will continue to happen in the future?
3) I believe the fashion market is very challenging to interpret and forecast and feel various designers will become more inclined to accept personal commissions and to individually design new creations, materials, styles and colours of bags to evade the demands of producing bags to suit the current handbag trends. What are your feelings on this?
4) I believe society has become increasingly infatuated with technology; I would like to know your opinion on technology becoming incorporated with fashion, in particular handbags. Will bags of the future have compartments for laptops, ipods and mobile phones to suit the needs of certain people such as business women, students?
5) I have expressed a number of my own personal opinions but I am interested to know what you feel the future has in store for handbags?
6) What influences your designs for your distinctive collection of handbags?
Hi Joanna;
Question #1:
Even though people as a whole are becoming more aware of recycling and there are companies out there that do make handbags from recycled products (tires, candy wrappers, etc.), I do not feel that this will force the designers to change the way they design their bags. The reason is that if you look at the history of bags by just going back to the 18th century, bags were even then a status symbol. The wealthier a person was, the fancier and more expensive their bag. I don't think anything has changed in that respect - the wealthy use the bag as an accessory to show status. If you look at fashion magazines today, you notice the celebrity walking around with a $1,000 bag on her arm. This shows that she has "arrived" and makes enough money to carry this kind of handbag.
I think a trend in the future will be very expensive bags that rich women design themselves and companies will form that will cater to the rich who can afford to have a bag made for herself to her own specifications.
Question #2:
I feel that major fashion houses will continue to design bags that have their own personal "touch" - for example, the signature initials "LV". It is a proven marketing technique to have articles that can be accessorized - you sell more and make more money this way:) These accessories and personal touches to a brand line show the world that this particular lady is carrying this particular brand. If there are no status "signals" on the bag to alert others that this is an expensive handbag, what is the use of carrying it?
Questions #3: As I stated earlier, I have to agree with you that designers will become more specialized as far as meeting the needs of their high end customers. I believe that in the future, companies will market individualized handbags to consumers who can afford their products.
Question #4:
I believe technology will play an even bigger role and handbags will incorporate these features. Not too many years ago, handbags did not have cell phone pockets. I remember seeing these new bags at the time and thinking how wonderful it was that you would not have to fumble around looking for your cellphone buried in the recesses of your bag! I think the day will come that nanotechnology will evolve to the point where computers will be small enough for people to carry around in their bags all the time! This will lead to handbags with special pockets for these devices.
Question #5:
As stated earlier, I believe that women (at least the well off!) will have more control over the handbag that they carry. There will be special companies (or even the designer houses themselves!) that will cater to individual design needs and specifications of the consumer.
Question #6:
My design ideas are mostly born out of my observation of others and of nature itself. I go on long walks and manipulate designs and fabrics in my head during these hour long sessions. I walk mostly in the woods and observe an interesting leaf or the pattern that the sun is making on the ground and think "That would make an interesting pattern".
I also observe what other women are carrying and think to myself about the features I do and do not like about their purse. I am very interested in the practical and am greatly attracted to the concept of form following function. I unfortunately have not been able to follow through on all my pattern ideas due to a lack of time but I keep a notebook and write all my ideas down so at least I have a record!
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