Love Handbags for life...

As you probably know, Orla Kiely handbags are instantly recognisable!

Personally I prefer her monochrome or more subtle print handbags to those with very heavy patterns. Her current collection is all about the pattern - so I guess that is a sign that people want to wear recognizable brands – especially in a handbag designer like Orla Kiely that is not quite mainstream yet that does not scream “fashion victim” but instead “I am in the know”.

Plus pattern mixes are really fashionable at the moment – another aspect Orla probably paid attention to when she designed her new collection!

I like her travel handbags, such as her corduroy vanity bag which is reduced on her website at the moment – and her hold-all handbags – but especially the red bags from her new collection such as this red vinyl small wheelie travel case! A mere £165 now!! ;)

But what is her background? Orla graduated from The National College of Art and Design Dublin and continued her education with a Master Degree in the Royal College of Art in London. Her trademark leaf pattern used in her handbag design has become a highly recognisable international brand. Her collection now includes women’s-wear, accessories and even wallpaper!!

On her website it says that the most important part about handbag design for Orla is the functionality. Handbags should not be overly designed and you can see that for her the focus is really on the pattern. It was that philosophy that led to the creation of her first range of signature stem print handbags.

Orla Kiely launched her first collection in the 1990's, when fashion was black and conceptual. The fresh use of colour and pattern in that collection gained her some popularity. Over the following decade her collection has grown to include a women's wear line, accessories, travel and home (the wallpaper!!) – for me again in one colour/simple pattern please – because it is too easy to make your house/flat look too busy – even without crazy wallpaper!

Here some more info about Orla Kiley handbags