When we talk about a brand’s handbags, we usually talk about how a creative director influences their creation, but that’s not nearly the full story. Brands that make products in multiple categories have layers upon layers of creative management, and although a creative director guides the people below him, it’s often an accessories or leather goods director and the people he or she oversees that are principally responsible for a design house’s big handbag hits and misses.
Enter Nicholas Knightly. According to Women Wear Daily, he’s in his twelfth year as Louis Vuitton‘s director of leather goods, and before that, he was the creator of Mulberry’s persistently popular Bayswater Bag. Knightly is still in his post at Vuitton, but that hasn’t stopped him from launching a line of his very own: Mallet & Co., which debuted its first handbags late last week exclusively at Net-a-Porter.
If you were a big fan of Bayswater-era Mulberry, you’ll definitely want to watch Mallet & Co. as it grows. The bags are the type of classic-casual staples that the brand became known for during the time, and the circa-$1,500 price tag of Mallet & Co.’s current bags will remind Mulberry lovers of the halcyon days before its bags got very expensive. Mallet & Co.’s offerings are limited for now, but I’m interested to see how the brand expands in Knightly’s capable hands.
Check out the brand’s bags below or browse directly via Net-a-Porter.
Mallet & Co. Archie Bag
$1,595 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Archie Bag
$1,595 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Hanbury Tote
$1,475 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Hanbury Tote
$1,475 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Zeus Tote
$1,625 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Zeus Tote
$1,625 via Net-a-Porter
Mallet & Co. Zeus Tote
$1,625 via Net-a-Porter
ARG! Another bag line that looks like all the rest! Its a Mulberry 2.0. Not needed! I don’t think it helps anyone to add another bag line unless its TOTALLY innovative.
lockits…how innovative.
really liking the blue bags. The Zeus totes are so pretty
These are so much nicer than the Emma Hill line! I’m wondering: Mulberry used to be perfectly priced but IMO there’s been no justification for the huge price jumps in recent years. I’ll always love my Bayswater but wouldn’t be attracted now at a $1500 price tag.
Has the brand been hurt by its steady price increases?
It has! Here’s a piece we did about some of the problems: http://www.purseblog.com/news/whats-gone-wrong-mulberry/
The brand has since hired a leather goods designer from Celine, although his designs for the brand have yet to debut. I’m interested to see what happens to Mulberry in the next year.
For the price that you would pay to go to iluxshop.es suggested by someone before me,
DAH! you could just buy a REAL one. On this site iluxshop.es you can get one without even leaving your house .
Good Luck!
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for the link; I wasn’t surprised to learn that I wasn’t the only one who thought the price strategy was a disaster. You can’t “will” a luxury brand/price tag into being; it’s earned over time. Charging more for the same thing doesn’t fool anyone, especially savvy TPB shoppers!
The only way I could see this working would be if they created a “bespoke” collection where the buyer could select the combination of (higher end) leathers, lining, hardware etc. they preferred. Then you might get some traction with a luxury customer.
Love the Hanbury tote for work! The Zeus is a little too Birkinesque for me. I hope the leather is of high quality, this is definitely a brand to watch.
I have seen it on net-a-porter (yesterday) and it’s nice (even if not very new -all already seen- but I think prices are a little too high…
The Zeus looks big compared to today’s smaller bag standards. I’ll take the Archie.
I have serious doubt about the quality after looking at the details closely on net a porter, especially the white Zeus bag (notice the details around the lock). Not worth 1.6K IMO.
I bought the Archie bag and was sceptical at first. However, I cannot vouch for the quality enough, it is made from gorgeous leather, the hardware is beautifully designed and minimal. A truely great timeless piece.
Anyone see new bags since the initial launch? Like for Fall/Winter 2016 or Spring 2017? A google search didn’t find anything new.