Mulberry is celebrating 40 years in the fashion business with the release of Mulberry The Book, a tome which commemorates the label’s place in the industry.

Mulberry enlisted famed photographer Venetia Dearden for the project. She trailed Mulberry staff for the last three years, capturing them working at the factory and on photo shoots, and putting their best foot forward at the world’s leading fashion shows.

It’s interesting that Mulberry has chosen to mark its anniversary with a book that celebrates its place in the contemporary fashion industry, rather than offering a retrospective of the last four decades. The photographs of fashion shows and advertising shoots have an element of glamour to them, but the book is really rooted in the everyday aspects of running one of the world’s leading fashion labels.

It’s an interesting approach, and one I’m sure Mulberry hopes will separate its book from all the other fashion label exposes on the market. It’s available for $90 from the Mulberry website and leading book stores around the world. That’s a lot to spend on a book, but it’s also not exorbitant when compared to other similar publications released by high-end fashion labels. Designer clothes and handbags aren’t the only things that tend to get pricy!

[Source: StyleList]
[Image Source: Mulberry website]

Mulberry Handbags on eBay

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Hayden-Harnett shows us how head-turning classic colors can be with this Garde chain bag.

Gray and brown don’t ordinarily impress me much, but when they’re paired together the result is quite striking. I’m still not sure the combination works, yet I can’t take my eyes off it so I guess Hayden-Harnett is doing something right! The Garde is quite a busy bag, with its tassels and unique dual-functioning turnlock clasp, but I think it’s executed with just enough conviction. Minimalists won’t be impressed, but at least it’s not boring!

The Garde is quite small and slender, so I’m amazed by the number of pockets Hayden-Harnett has managed to pack in. There’s one on the front, and another on the back, and a zip and slip pocket inside. Perhaps we don’t need all that to stay organized, but it’s great to have a place for everything.

The cross-body strap is the final finishing touch. It gives us the best of both worlds, with an elegant chain and comfy leather center. Sling it across your body and you’re ready to face the day.

The Garde is a very detailed bag, but its conservative colors help it easily fit into your casual wardrobe.

More Features of This Hayden-Harnett Cross-Body Bag

• A brushed 9k gold chain strap with a 22 inch drop
• Measures 8 x 8 x 0.75 inches

Get this Hayden-Harnett Garde Handbag:

• Available to buy at Hayden-Harnett
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

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• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Hayden-Harnett bags on BagBunch
• The Vanessa Bruno tasseled suede bag, a great alternative to this gray bag.
• Searching for more Hayden-Harnett bags on eBay

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) isn’t a disease that grabs a lot of headlines, but Passchal and Illinois arts student and TSC sufferer Mary Ann Scroggins are looking to change all that. Mary Ann teamed up with the eco-friendly accessories line to create a handbag collection to commemorate Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness month.

TSC is a genetic disease that causes tumors to form in vital organs, including the brain, eyes, skin, heart, and kidneys. It affects its victims differently, but can lead to autism, epilepsy, and cancer.

Just like all Passchal accessories, Mary Ann’s purses are made from recycled tractor tire tubes. The first to be released will appropriately carry Mary Ann’s name. It’s lined with blue microfiber suede; this shade was specifically chosen for its link to TSC awareness. Ten percent of all monies raised by sales of the Mary Ann will benefit the TS Alliance, and its work in funding research and raising awareness of TSC.

The Mary Ann bag will be available later this month through the Passchal website and Waukegan Tire. In fact, the automotive store is so committed to the cause they’re planning to donate 10% of the sales of all Passchal bags to the TS Alliance. It’s great to see a label giving back, particularly to a cause that rarely receives attention, don’t you think?

[Source: PR Web]
[Image Source: Waukegan Tire website]

Tire Tube Handbags on eBay

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Once upon a time every Harveys bag looked kind of the same. The sizes changed, but essentially they were the same old woven seatbelt bags. So I’m thrilled to see Harveys branching out a little with more recent designs like the Stella.

Harveys still uses its durable seatbelts to create this hobo, but it uses them in a much more unusual way. The traditional weave around the base is married with gently overlapping vertical belts above. In basic black these belts almost look like pleated fabric from a distance.

The look is elegant and refined, qualities that I rarely associate with seatbelts! Most Harveys purses are very casual, but I think the Stella’s design is much more versatile. With the right outfit it wouldn’t look out of place after five, although I’d steer clear of the red carpet.

It’s called a small bag, but I think the Stella is just the right size for everyday use; it’s big enough to carry everything you really need but not so big that you’ll struggle to manage it. If you are utilizing all that room though, I’d add the longer strap. Those short handles look very retro-cool, but they don’t make carrying this hobo any easier.

Its less than luxurious materials probably make the Stella too expensive at $258, but at least that money buys it a little individuality.

More Features of This Harveys Seatbelt Hobo

• Dual handles with a 5.75 inch drop
• An attachable strap with a 12.5 to 24.5 inch drop
• Measures 11 x 9 x 5 inches

Get this Harveys Stella Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

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• Check the Stylebug.com eBay store to see if this Harveys bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Harveys bags on BagBunch
• The large Harveys Stella hobo bag, a great alternative to this small bag.
• Searching for more Harveys bags on eBay

A pretty purse for practical people, this DKNY clutch offers a lot of p’s for the price.

OK, so this purse isn’t anything remarkable. It is just a bright and cheery accessory with a hint of designer charm. The shape is predictable and rectangular, whilst the short strap pretty much does what it says on the tin. Even the color scheme would be a little dull, were it not for the flashes of bright pink that break up the great expanse of white and black.

That pink, in fact, is the best quality of this DKNY purse. The DKNY logo is all over the main body, and the scheme makes it work appropriate. The pink, however, adds a dash of contrast that brightens the whole thing up. It is still suitable for the office, but in a slightly more fashion-focused way.

As for the design? Well, what else would you expect from a practically driven purse? It has a zip. It has a handle. It has synthetic fabric that is coated to deal with active lifestyles. In short, its a purse. Duh!

More Features of this DKNY Logo Clutch:

• Also available in “natural”
• Synthetic fabric exterior
• Single thin pink handle
• Zip top closure

Get this Active Coated Purse:

• Available to buy on Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More DKNY bags on BagBunch
• The Diane Von Furstenberg Philomena clutch, a great alternative to this formal bag.
• Searching for more monogrammed bags on eBay
• Other DKNY bags on eBay:

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American West handbags have become the most popular purses ever sold through ShopNBC after they launched on the retail TV channel and website on April 28. This launch resulted in a record-breaking 12 sell-out items, including the Sante Fe Spirit Cow Hide and Leather Hobo, the Roses are Red Stud Detail Leather Tote, and the Peek-a-Boo Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag.

The Santa De Spirit Cow Hide Wallet and Boot Scoot Boogie Stud Detail Leather Tote also struck a chord with NBC fans, and become some of the channel’s best sellers.

It’s impressive to see a company which is celebrating its 25th anniversary continuing to inspire such enthusiasm. Louise de Kok, the designer and owner of American West handbags, says she is “thrilled” with the response of ShopNBC fans, and can’t wait until the next airing.

The president of ShopNBC, Bob Ayd, added that he was “delighted” with American West’s launch, commenting that it’s only “the beginning of a great partnership” with the patriotic handbag house.

We’ve seen ShopNBC showcase some formidable handbag names, including the recent collection by The Real Housewives of OC‘s Gretchen Rossi, so it’s interesting to see American West outselling them all. Are you surprised by the hand-tooled American label’s success on the shopping network?

[Source: Marketwire]

American West Handbags on eBay

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If there was ever a bag that looked like a rainbow vomited upon it, it would be this Sweetie purse from Harajuku Lovers.

Let’s just get it out of the way first: this bag is loud! Its Raver Girls print is so bright and busy that I need sunglasses and a hit of Valium to really take it all in. Without that pattern this is a very simply designed cross-body bag, but you barely notice that with such a dominant print. Honestly, there could be anything going on underneath it!

As it happens though, what’s underneath that print is actually pretty smart. The signature lined interior is kitted out with a full-length zippered pocket and a slip for gadgets. This works with the front pouch to keep all your essentials organized. An adjustable canvas strap lets you wear the Sweetie as a shoulder bag or a cross-body.

It’s certainly too bold to appeal to everyone, but if you love the Sweetie you’ll be happy to know it costs just $48.

More Features of This Harajuku Lovers Raver Girls Cross-Body Bag

• Zip top closure
• Logo print interior
• A cross-body strap with a maximum length of 27 inches
• Measures 10 x 10 x 2 inches

Get this Harajuku Lovers Sweetie Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

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• Check the TnT Designer Goods eBay store to see if this Harajuku Lovers bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Harajuku Lovers bags on BagBunch
• The Big Bow Girls Harajuku Lovers Sweetie bag, a great alternative to this Raver Girls bag.
• Searching for more Harajuku Lovers bags on eBay

Nadia Plesner has finally received justice, and a hefty payout from Louis Vuitton. The Danish artist has been relentlessly pursued by the French fashion house for years for using an image of a gaunt African child holding a Louis Vuitton Audra handbag in her artworks.

Plesner stopped using the image on Guernica T-shirts and posters aimed at raising awareness of the genocide in Darfur three years ago. But it cropped up again in a more recent work, Darfunica. And this time, it seems she wasn’t prepared to back down.

Louis Vuitton sought a penalty of €5000 for every day the image stayed on Plesner’s website. Calculated from late January, that penalty amounted to €485, 000. The label also wanted to prevent Plesner from ever using her favorite image again.

However a European court has declared that Plesner’s freedom of expression is more vital than Louis Vuitton’s protection of property. Louis Vuitton has been ordered to pay Plesner’s legal fees, but Plesner seems most pleased that the case has given further attention to the situation in Darfur.

It’s unusual to see a fashion house’s brand protection placed below other interests, but in this case I think the best side definitely won. There’s little chance that Louis Vuitton will lose out here, but Plesner might just make a few people think about what’s happening in Africa. Whose side are you on?

[Source: The L Magazine]

Louis Vuitton Audra Handbags on eBay

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Halston Heritage makes snakeskin shine with this glamorous Monique purse.

The Monique is a simple creature with clean lines and a basic shape, but its materials really spice it up. The body is made from a light rose gold colored watersnake, an exotic which is made even more exciting with a wide band of silver mesh. The contrast of these metallics is striking and utterly luxurious. It’s also available in a more subdued all-black version but I think this more dramatic color combo really helps this simple clutch sizzle.

This is a large clutch, but you shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping it organized. I’m impressed to see a zippered pocket and pair of open gadget slips inside, far more pouches than we typically find in a clutch purse. The only thing we’re missing is a shoulder strap, which is an unfortunate oversight on Halston Heritage’s part. A clutch of this size can easily become unwieldy, particularly if it’s filled to the brim.

Some may hesitate to spend $295 on such a simply designed purse, but that’s less than I’d expect to spend on a clutch made from such opulent materials. Exotic lovers will certainly see value here.

More Features of This Halston Heritage Watersnake Clutch

• Magnetic closure
• Cotton lined interior
• Measures 7.5 x 13 x 2.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Halston Heritage Monique Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Halston bags on BagBunch
• The Halston Heritage Monique leather bag, a great alternative to this watersnake bag.
• Searching for more Halston bags on eBay
• Other Halston Heritage clutch bags on eBay:

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Italian fashion house Gleni is making a big splash this year, releasing not one but four new lines as part of its 2011 collection.

The Essential line is for classic beauties, with its traditional handbags designed to outlast fickle fashion trends. The Femininity range isn’t as girly as it sounds. Instead these large, practical totes and shoulder bags were made with moms and corporate women in mind. The Easy Chic range is more casual and youthful, with an eye for trends. And for the real divas there’s the Royal line, which is every bit as opulent as its name suggests. Authentic crocodile and ostrich skins make these exotic bags Gleni’s premium purses.

Gleni is a fashion house with a back to basics approach. The company strives to offer “restrained and timeless elegance for the chic woman with class.” It does this by employing Italian artisans who work with the very best leathers and exotic skins to create classic, elegant accessories.

These aren’t the same old bags though. I love the rainbow of colors Gleni infuses into its exotic skins, which make them look dramatic, yet stylish. The label is also more sustainable than many, using the whole ostrich rather than just the follicle-rich neck as most fashion houses do. Happily this practice also lowers the price for consumers, as Gleni has more ostrich to work with.

The new Gleni bags are available online from the Gleni e-boutique. New designs will be added throughout April and May, so make sure you check back often!

[Source: PR Web]

Python Handbags on eBay

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