Even the great Hermes fashion house makes a mistake now and again. Despite its reputation for flawless design it’s not immune to sewing machine mishaps and other production pitfalls. Rather than throwing out these less than perfect creations, Hermes is putting them to good use with the Petit H Creative Lab.

The Petit H Creative Lab, located close to Hermes main atelier in Pantin, France, is a place where creative designers and artisans transform Hermes rejects, scraps, and extra embellishments into brand new inventions.

Damaged silk scarves might not look smart around your neck, but they’re the ideal material for reupholstering a chest of drawers. A slightly damaged Kelly would never sell, but when it’s turned into a clock it gets a new lease of life. And who would have imagined a damaged glass vase could be split to create some stylish book ends?

The Petit H project is such a creative way for Hermes to work a little greener. I’d much rather see these Hermes materials being reused than ending up on the scrapheap, wouldn’t you? You can indulge in some of the fruits of its labor when they go on sale at Hermes Madison Avenue flagship store from November 2 to 23.

[Source: Global Grind]

Hermes Handbags on eBay

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Diesel promises to put a smile on your dial with its Happy Days Richie Cross-Body Bag.

The Richie is one of several Diesel bags named after Happy Days characters. They all share a similar retro feel which wouldn’t look out of place on the set of the classic sitcom. Each one has its own charm, just as the original characters did, but the Richie’s unusual tall design has won me over. This unique orientation doesn’t just attract attention; it also ensures we’re not weighed down.

I’m not in love with the Native American head logo though. I suppose a retro inspired bag doesn’t need to keep pace with the current taste for minimalism, but such bold branding feels out of step. At least in black the design is much subtler than on the pale olive version.

While the exterior is too busy for my tastes, the interior doesn’t go far enough. The single zippered pocket has a lot of work to do. I concede the bag’s not large enough to warrant a plethora of organizational aids, but an extra pouch or two would have made all the difference.

The Happy Days Richie isn’t perfect, but for just $70 we wouldn’t expect it to be. For that price I think it’s got enough going for it to tempt us, don’t you?

More Features of This Diesel Synthetic Cross-Body Bag

• Made of synthetic
• An adjustable cross-body strap with an 11.25 to 25.5 inches
• Measures 9 x 7 x 3 inches
• Made in China

Get this Diesel Happy Days Richie Handbag:

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

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• Check the Virtualexchanges eBay store to see if this Diesel bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Diesel bags on BagBunch
• The Diesel Happy Days Chachi cross-body bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
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British handbag designer Anya Hindmarch has earned the title of Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year. She received the award at a glittering ceremony in Mayfair this week attended by prominent British businesspeople including Sir Stuart Rose, Sir David Frost, and Karen Brady.

There’s no doubting her business acumen. Hindmarch launched her fashion career at the tender age of 19 when she opened a small boutique on London’s Walton Street. She sparked an eco-revolution on launching her “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” tote in 2007 and received an MBE for her services to Britain’s fashion industry in 2009. Today she lends her name to some 57 fashion stores around the world.

Hindmarch beat out feminist business champion and founder of the 30% Club Helena Morrisey and the River Café’s creator Ruth Rogers for the title.

In a recent interview on Jeff Randall Live, Hindmarch spoke of the importance of women in the workplace.

“It’s important to encourage women to enjoy working and be businesswomen and not to do it through quotas but to do it through shouting out through awards like these,” she explained. “To be an entrepreneur is brilliant for a woman because you can actually be reasonably flexible and you don’t have to pretend to be a man as you might perhaps in other industries.“

Do you think Anya Hindmarch is a worthy winner?

[Source: Sky News]
[Image Source: Yamada Kazuyuki/Flickr]

Anya Hindmarch Bags on eBay

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Coachella may be winding down, but it’s just the start of what should be a vibrant summer festival season. If you plan on hitting a few of these musical spectaculars you’ll need a reliable bag by your side. Diane von Furstenberg looks to fill the gap with her Elaine Festival Hobo Bag.

The Elaine might seem a little tame compared to all those feather covered, tassel ridden bohemian bags so many other music lovers carry, but I think it’s a better purse for it. While the Elaine is intended to serve us during summer festival season, its timeless design should see it venturing out in the colder months too. After all, black is a wardrobe staple and with hardware and accents kept to a minimum the Elaine shouldn’t date.

No matter what time of year you’ll appreciate the Elaine’s clever design. It’s small so as not to weigh you down in a crowd, but Diane von Furstenberg’s made the most of its petite dimensions. There’s a flap pocket on the front and a clever two-way zippered compartment on the back with a quintet of pouches inside it. And that’s all before we even open it up! There we find more zip and slip pockets ready to serve. This smart design is complemented by a substantial cross-body strap, which is perfect for grabbing as you’re racing out your tent to the next performance.

At $475 the Elaine Festival Hobo isn’t exactly a bargain, but it’s so well designed that it still represents great value.

More Features of This Diane Von Furstenberg Black Leather Hobo

• Golden hardware
• Zip top closure
• Canvas lining
• An adjustable cross-body strap with an 18 inch drop
• Measures 10 x 3 inches

Get this Diane von Furstenberg Elaine Festival Hobo Handbag:

• Available to buy at Neiman Marcus
• Check the Lucky Fish Clothing Co eBay store to see if this Diane von Furstenberg bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• The Diane von Furstenberg Elaine New Belt bag, a great alternative to this practical bag.
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Dan W makes a strong style statement with this Chevron Minaudiere. But do you like what it’s saying?

We’ve seen several of these art deco inspired purses from Dan W. Their bold lines and dramatic contrasting colors help them turn heads, but I feel the formula’s been less successful here than in previous models. The arcadia wood trim seems clumsy, and the horn and mother of pearl accents appear tacked on.

It’s a shame the design doesn’t strike a chord, because the Chevron Minaudiere is made from such enviable materials. The exotic wood, buffalo horn, and mother of pearl we noted before is married with authentic snakeskin and a soft velvety lining. Yet despite all those covetable materials, the Chevron Minaudiere only costs $180.

But you can’t buy a bag like this simply because it’s cheap. It needs to look good, because it doesn’t have functional features to endear it. It’s small, and its structured design further limits storage space. We struggle with these restrictions when a purse worms its way into our heart, but when it doesn’t there seems little point.

This Chevron Minaudiere certainly has redeeming elements, but they haven’t come together with the designer’s usual panache.

More Features of This Dan W Art Deco Minaudiere

• Hand crafted
• Measures 4 x 8 x 3 inches

Get this Dan W Chevron Handbag:

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

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• The Dan W Waterfall minaudiere bag, a great alternative to this snakeskin bag.
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Now fashion lovers can hire a new accessory on the go thanks to the launch of Bag Borrow or Steal’s mobile site.

“Our customer feedback indicated we needed to take a closer look at streamlining the on-the-go shopping experience and we quickly responded to make improvements,” Bag Borrow or Steal’s chief executive officer Russell Blain explained. “We knew we needed to keep things simple, and designed the mobile site to make researching and purchasing easy.“

As part of the launch, Bag Borrow or Steal has announced several key changes in its business model which should delight customers. With the exception of taxes applied in selected states, one price now covers all aspects of Bag Borrow or Steal’s service. The fashion hire firm has also abolished its membership fees and shipping charges. It’s also throwing in complementary insurance to cover every day wear and tear, so you needn’t stress about those little accidents.

Bag Borrow or Steal has come a long way since its 2004. From humble beginnings its grown to become the leading hire site for designer handbags, jewelry, sunglasses, and watches. Accessories from coveted names like Burberry, Coach, Chanel, Fendi, Prada, and Louis Vuitton are amongst its stylish arsenal. The release of its mobile site sees Bag Borrow or Steal ushering in a new chapter. In fact, it’s the first online fashion retailer to launch a mobile site! Are you excited to see the company paving the way?

[Source: PR Newswire]

Cynthia Vincent gets us ready for summer with this Cove tote from her Twelfth St. line.

Its classic style is updated with a colourful Ikat pattern. Ikat designs were traditionally dyed, but the digital print makes more sense in a contemporary climate. Digital prints use less water and dyes than regular coloring methods, so they’re kinder on the planet. The canvas material is another sustainable choice.

It’s a little surprising then to see Cynthia Vincent add leather handles and trim. The details dress up the design, but they also undermine its green credentials. Choosing a vegan leather or even leather offcuts would have been more sustainable options.

Eco concerns aside, the Cove is a pretty practical tote. It’s too large to work as an everyday bag, but it’s perfect for a day at the beach or a trip to the farmers’ market. Its interior is also surprisingly well appointed with a zippered pocket and pair of patch pouches. A tote so large could stand to have more substantial shoulder straps, but they should be strong enough to hold.

I always hesitate to spend more than $100 on a fabric tote, and at $225 this one’s much pricier than that. However it’s so large that perhaps it’s worth the splurge!

More Features of This Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Tote

• Magnetic snap closure
• Fully lined interior
• Dual handles with a 10 inch drop
• Measures 13 x 18 x 7 inches

Get this Cynthia Vincent Cove Handbag:

• Available to buy at Shopbop
• Check the Shop Savoy Truffle eBay store to see if this Cynthia Vincent bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• The Cleobella Brixie tote bag, a great alternative to this ikat bag.
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Liz Claiborne Inc. is making good on its promise to focus on its high-end specialty brands with the expansion of Kate Spade New York in the Middle East. This week it opened a new Kate Spade store in the Dubai Mall. The recent outlet announcement follows the launch of another Kate Spade boutique in Kuwait’s 360 Mall last month.

The Middle East stores feature Kate Spade’s colourful handbags, small leathergoods, apparel items, jewelry, and other accessories.

Kate Spade president and chief creative officer Deborah Lloyd said she was thrilled to bring her company’s goods “to a city and region where a quality lifestyle is a high priority.”

“The fundamental principles of the brand are enduring quality, elegance, simplicity and always an element of surprise, and we feel sure that our colorful yet sophisticated product range will appeal to consumers across the region. I am also looking forward to seeing how women in the Middle East will add their own twist to styling our designs.“

The latest stores are just the start of Kate Spade’s presence in the increasingly fashion conscious Middle East region. The fashion house plans to open new Middle Eastern stores in various locations, including Qatar and Bahrain, throughout 2012 and 2013.

[Source: Accessories Magazine]

Kate Spade Purses on eBay

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I rarely warm to metallic leathers, but Comme des Garcons shows the potential in the material with this eye-popping wallet.

This wallet is a real trip. The intriguing metallic leather throws different rainbow colors as you turn it this way and that. It’s almost holographic, and that effect is enhanced by the nubbly texture. I can’t quite work out whether it belongs in the 1960s or the future. Either way, I love the look.

Comme des Garcons seems to have all but forgotten the interior though. It’s very simple, and likely to turn off serious shoppers. However what’s done here is done well, as we’d expect from the brand. The cash slot and coin pouch make a good start, but the trio of card slots leaves me wanting more.

My rational side says that for $269, we should find functionality as well as form. But my hedonistic nature is swooning over that finish, and wanting to throw caution to the wind. Has this head-turning wallet won you?

More Features of This Comme des Garcons Silver Wallet

• Zip closure
• Tonal leather interior
• Measures 4.7 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches

Get this Comme des Garcons Metallic Textured Purse:

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

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• The Biern Tab wallet, a great alternative to this silver bag.
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Coloriffics ups the glam factor with this Pleated Strip Wristlet.

This shiny purse is a real change of pace for the label. Usually it serves up white fabric purses ready for dying, but here it takes away that choice and delivers glitzy silver synthetic. While some of those plain white purses were a little pedestrian for my tastes, I’m not completely sold on this radical departure. The shiny silver color will turn heads, but the stares may not be admiring ones. We don’t expect a bag costing just $35 to appear luxurious, but the metallic hue really cheapens it.

This wristlet’s redeeming qualities don’t stop at its affordable bottom line though. I really like the way the pleats add drama to its simple square shape. The tiny rhinestones running down the center also add an alluring sparkle. They lose a little of their impact against the silver backdrop, but it’s nice to see something subtle about this bag!

There are certainly better evening bags on the market, but most of them will cost you far more than this Coloriffics wristlet. For the money you’ll struggle to find better value.

More Features of This Coloriffics Ruched Wristlet

• Fully lined interior
• Zip top closure
• A single wrist loop
• Measures 1.5 x 5 x 7 inches

Get this Coloriffics Pleated Strip Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Coloriffics bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• More Coloriffics bags on BagBunch
• The Coloriffics Round Pleated bag, a great alternative to this pleated bag.
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