The weight of women's handbags (checkout some of these killer handbags at Sondra Roberts) have been reduced in the last two years, courtesy new technology such as the iPhone and Blackberry. The weight of handbags has been reduced by more than 50 per cent in the last couple of years.
The study observed that the weight of an average handbag has reduced from about 3.5kg in 2006 and 2007 to 1.5kg last year.
Two years ago, women were carrying around 7.3lbs, the equivalent of three and a half bags of sugar, everywhere they went. Thanks to new technologies, women do not have to carry heavy weights with them.
However, the study found that make ups, mirror, purses, tissues, perfumes, sanitary products, brushes, toothpaste, receipts, address books and headache pills still make up the greatest percentage of weight in women's purses.
Making purses lighter so they won't be a pain in the neck
Shelley White is shopping for a handbag that's stylish but – literally – isn't a pain in the neck. The handbag needs to be lightweight and compact but still roomy enough for her iPhone, twin toddlers' toys, snacks, diapers, lipstick, keys, wallet, even a netbook.
“It's the issue of my back and my neck,” says Ms. White, 37, a TV producer in Toronto. “I find there's some strain. I want something that's going to feel good.”
The shift among women like Ms. White, who have suffered neck and back pain from lugging about chic, oversized handbags, are giving manufacturers and retailers hope for a comeback in sales in a sector pinched by the recession.
The purchase of a new purse was something that could easily be put off, particularly in an economic slump. But smaller and lighter gadgets, such as smartphones and netbooks, and a shift among celebrities such as Victoria Beckham to smaller bags, is giving the purse a new feel.
“Designers are definitely working toward lighter bags, with lighter materials as well as hardware,” says Eileen Lewis, fashion strategy director at Zappos.com, a giant online seller of shoes and bags in Henderson, Nev. “Designers are making bags that are compact, but that carry a lot and have lots of organization.”
New British research highlights the shift. Debenhams PLC has found that the weight of handbags has dropped 57 per cent to 1.5 kilograms over the past two years.
That's with phones, keys, wallets, etc. included.That's roughly the equivalent of two loaves of bread, compared to a peak of 3.5 kg, or the weight of more than three bags of sugar, in 2007.
Debenhams, a department store giant, found that the introduction of multipurpose devices, such as the iPhone and BlackBerry, has helped lower the weight of what's inside a handbag.
“Finally, the burden placed upon working women is falling,” says Sue Tebbitts, handbag buyer at Debenhams.
“It's the issue of my back and my neck,” says Ms. White, 37, a TV producer in Toronto. “I find there's some strain. I want something that's going to feel good.”
The shift among women like Ms. White, who have suffered neck and back pain from lugging about chic, oversized handbags, are giving manufacturers and retailers hope for a comeback in sales in a sector pinched by the recession.
The purchase of a new purse was something that could easily be put off, particularly in an economic slump. But smaller and lighter gadgets, such as smart
“Designers are definitely working toward lighter bags, with lighter materials as well as hardware,” says Eileen Lewis, fashion strategy director at Zappos.com, a giant online seller of shoes and bags in Henderson, Nev. “Designers are making bags that are compact, but that carry a lot and have lots of organization.”
New British research highlights the shift. Debenhams PLC has found that the weight of handbags has dropped 57 per cent to 1.5 kilograms over the past two years.
That's with phones, keys, wallets, etc. included.That's roughly the equivalent of two loaves of bread, compared to a peak of 3.5 kg, or the weight of more than three bags of sugar, in 2007.
Debenhams, a department store giant, found that the introduction of multipurpose devices, such as the iPhone and BlackBerry, has helped lower the weight of what's inside a handbag.
“Finally, the burden placed upon working women is falling,” says Sue Tebbitts, handbag buyer at Debenhams.
Residents Sentenced in Designer Handbag Scheme!
Eight people from McCreary County have been sentenced in a designer-handbag scheme, the United States Attorneys Office and United States Postal Inspection Service announced Tuesday.
The scheme involved stealing designer handbags and reselling them to others and online. They shipped the bags through U.S. mail to buyers in various locations, including Hawaii and California.
In 2007, Richard Lynn Williams II, 28, and Brandon Theodore Stephens, 27, broke into the Le Sportssac distribution center warehouse in McCreary County and stole at least 2,100 bags worth more than $300,000. Stephens, who had previously worked at the warehouse, and Williams were sentenced to 17 months in jail.
Stephens and Williams sold nearly 1,000 bags to other defendants, who supplied bags to others who sold them on eBay, an online auction Web site. Other defendants in the case have been sentenced for various roles.
The scheme involved stealing designer handbags and reselling them to others and online. They shipped the bags through U.S. mail to buyers in various locations, including Hawaii and California.
In 2007, Richard Lynn Williams II, 28, and Brandon Theodore Stephens, 27, broke into the Le Sportssac distribution center warehouse in McCreary County and stole at least 2,100 bags worth more than $300,000. Stephens, who had previously worked at the warehouse, and Williams were sentenced to 17 months in jail.
Stephens and Williams sold nearly 1,000 bags to other defendants, who supplied bags to others who sold them on eBay, an online auction Web site. Other defendants in the case have been sentenced for various roles.
DIY Leather Handbags
Do-it-yourself is a pretty popular concept these days, but have you heard of do-it-yourself custom leather handbags? Well, two entrepreneurs are helping ordinary women become accessory designers.
Laura Kofoid, co-founder of Laudi Vidni said, “The reason it took us three and a half years to start the business is the first two years were spent being told no, that it couldn't be done."
But the two founders of Laudi Vidni proved the naysayers wrong. After buying the idea from another entrepreneur for one dollar, they changed the name, expanded the options, and added high end leather. And Laudi Vidni was born.
Co-founder Grace Tsao said, “We did find factories in China, but we decided at the end of the day to come back to Chicago because we had great handbag manufacturers in the United States."
in fact, they make the leather bags in Chicago at a family-run factory, the store is actually online, there you can pick which bag you like, then you choose the leather, lining, and the hardware.
Customer Rose Lizarrago said, "American women like what we like and now we can get it in a handbag." So she decided to host this handbag party as a fundraiser for the Illinois Education Foundation.
Ester Viti -- a customer – said, “I picked out the shape of my bag and then I got to pick out the different materials and it was really cool because with her help I designed a really cool bag."
Customer Stephanie Thompson said, “Actually I went online when they first launched and I fell in love with a bag and I just for some reason I wanted to feel the fabric."
There are eight silhouettes and counting all the fabric and hardware choices there are literally 10,000 different options.
Tsao said, "These bags are the same quality as a $1,500-$2,000 dollar bag, so our customers are really pleasantly surprised at how well-priced they are."
"I had a woman say to me, I asked her, 'What do you think about the price?' and she said, 'It's what you have to pay to get a good quality leather bag," Kofoid said.
Storage: If Purses Are Your Weakness
Storage: If Purses Are Your Weakness
I am a purseaholic. I admit that my addiction to purses has made my closet unmanageable. I believe a purse closet would help. Walk In. -- Laurel Ennis
Those of us without a walk-in purse closet (or a purse room) still have a wide range of storage options. Let's start with the Spencer and Rutherford handbag holder, from Australia, which seems very similar to the Handy Hold All from Simply Sarah Shaw.
Another product - not as lovely - is the Jokari Purse Rack.
For a basic back-of-the-door option, there's the Hang 'N Hold from Evriholder, available from a number of vendors.
I am a purseaholic. I admit that my addiction to purses has made my closet unmanageable. I believe a purse closet would help. Walk In. -- Laurel Ennis
Those of us without a walk-in purse closet (or a purse room) still have a wide range of storage options. Let's start with the Spencer and Rutherford handbag holder, from Australia, which seems very similar to the Handy Hold All from Simply Sarah Shaw.
Another product - not as lovely - is the Jokari Purse Rack.
