Why do women love handbags so much?

Why do we find bags so desirable? Is it because it has the power to show how fashion savvy we are or is it a symbol of a woman’s earning power

From it’s humble beginnings as the little purse tucked into the folds of women’s clothes two centuries ago

to becoming one of women’s most desired and prized possessions; through the multiple socio economic changes bringing about its own set of opportunities, with the modernization in the transport industry also contributing greatly to the luggage industry introducing suitcases, dressing cases, hat and shoe boxes .

The way the right bag can make us feel goes far deeper than just being a way of carrying things around, leaving most women feeling naked without their handbags.

With it’s progressive popularity, the late 19^th century and early 20^th century saw the appearance of the most luxurious handbag design houses, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Hermes and many more.

As women gained financial independence, so did the handbag industry gain great momentum making the ultimate 21st- century object of desire, for women from all walks of life.

Our bags contain a “survival kit” for daily life in the urban jungle – from make-up, money and keys, chewing gum, mobile phone, Ipads, leaving men perplexed about the complexities of what women carry in a handbag mysterious and would never dare to invade its privacy.

For a true bag-lover, an iconic bag is about finest traditions of pedigree, quality and craftsmanship, the appeal that it retains decades later as it did the day it was first worn, all these put together are almost beyond price.

The most obvious attributes for a “it” bag being the striking designs with clean lines , the handcrafted stitching on a the finest leather and the combination of functionality and luxury – be it, Its distinctive quilting, the handcrafted stitching on the finest leather, the addition of gold chains, the distinctive underarm baguette or the unmistakable oversized padlock with added glamour, not forgetting it’s association with an influential personality and clever marketing.

What about personalized handbags?

Gold Soleil International a Canadian startup, produces uniquely designed high-end customized purses and accessories embellished with crystals, gold plated frames, and supreme leather; Clean lines, glamorous yet functional with great attention to detail.

Clients custom design their own handbags and accessories with the addition of a metal imprinted monogram in the language of their choice and a touch of carefully selected embellishments which is synonymous with signature style.

Fatima Sarah the founder and creative Director of Gold Soleil International is a Canadian born educator whose own personal style speaks volumes about her passion for style and sophistication.

Fatima Sarah’s love and dedication to children combined with her passion and commitment to her profession, has contributed to the establishment and development of a CSR program into her business model – a portion of the proceeds assists in funding charities that provide education to underprivileged children in rural areas.

In conversation with Fatima Sarah, she shares her story with me

US: How did you get started?

FS: What started out as designing and making personalized gift items for friends and family, turned into Gold Soleil International. Unlike most people in this industry, fashion is not a hobby or neither my passion. I was never fond of brands but wore whatever I felt just looked good. Being a teacher in an international school, my first vision of Gold Soleil was creating a product that anyone could wear. Something that promoted diversity and was unique.

US: Did you study design at school or did the process come more organically?

FS: This surprises many, however, I am an elementary teacher and had no background experience in designing or branding or marketing. However, business was always a passion, I get that from my dad. I always took the top business awards in my high school because when I enjoy something, I give it 110%

US: What is your main source of inspiration when designing?

FS: Creativity is an enigmatic aspect of human experience; it is often difficult to identify what it is that drives this impulse and the elements that inspire any artist’s work. For me, I would have to say my inspiration was art, specifically Arabic art and calligraphy. Being a teacher in the Middle East and in Qatar where there is a lot of appreciate for art, that was my initial first push. When I started making my personalized items in Chinese, Armenian, Hindi, Bengali and other languages, the beauty of the different names and writing scripts have inspired some of my later designs.

US: Why Handbags and accessories?

FS: Back when I was in university, that is when I started picking up on fashion a bit more. I had a big thing for oversized handbags and clutches, but could never really find one I loved. They were always too small or all black. They were just boring. Clutches were not a big accessory at this time. I would attend weddings and events and never had a clutch that went with my outfits, so I wanted one that was pretty on the inside ad unique at the same time—it’s just something fun.

US: The aesthetic of your collection is quite understated yet elegant, is this part of your personal style?

FS: I find it ironic as well when I see designers who don’t really dress up and tend to be safe, also the same when I see hairdressers with horrible hair haha. However, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld tend to reflect their brand or put some effort in their style. The beauty of Gold Soleil is each item reflects the personal style of the buyer, so it has nothing to do with me. The color, name, plating even shapes all reflect each individual.

US: What is the best part about being a handbag designer?

FS: If I ever like a bag style or color, I just make it! I also use my bags daily, which is important, because I want the items I make to be usable and not something that is not practical. The bigger handbags I use it daily and like most women, we fill our bags with a lot of things, so making sure it’s the right size and style is important. Same goes for the personalized jewelry.