Ragazze Ornamentali – New Luxury Bags Available in June

Text and Photos by Lisa Molle Troyer

On Friday night, January 31, the creative minds behind ragazze ornamentali officially launched their new concept with artful displays and plenty of Champagne. The two designers – one French, one Italian – introduced themselves warmly to my husband and I as we admired a small calfskin clutch, correcting us politely when we congratulated them on their new "brand": they see themselves as a creative workshop, not a company.

The workshop draws its inspiration from the words of Pier Paolo Pasolini, who referred somewhat sarcastically to 'ragazze ornamentali,' beautiful girls who were the must-have accessory for young Italian men in the 70s (along with Porsches and Ferraris). They were essentially arm candy, and yet insisted they were modern women who believed in divorce and liberation and progress in general.

The sarcasm is gone this time around. This team has reclaimed the concept, and they're hoping to strike a chord with the sophisticated woman who doesn't need a

man's arm to hang on, who enjoys looking her best and appreciates refined luxury rather than flashy glitz.

And indeed, as the designers explained enthusiastically, the purses are just the beginning – eventually, they plan to expand into a lifestyle boutique offering perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry and home décor.

I'm no expert in luxury bags, but I thought these ones looked like a good start. One of the designers' main concerns was balancing form and function, and they seem to have succeeded.

The designs are clean and simple with luxury in the details, from sensual materials (silk, crocodile and leather) to the mirror made of rose-tinted copper and engraved with the owner's name. For the launch, they created three clutches of various sizes with removable chains, designed to fit inside the larger satchel to create a "nomadic boudoir," as they so evocatively call it.

In keeping with the lifestyle concept, the bags will not be sold through large department stores. Instead, the workshop will have a website (currently just a placeholder) and a showroom, and the products themselves will be available for purchase from selected niche boutiques starting in June 2009. Retail prices will range from about €1,000 for the smallest clutch to €1,500 for the large satchel.

Comments

[Estelle]

I went, I saw and I succombed! I took the borsa in nude and absolutely love it. All my friends in London are mad jalous. If you are looking for the lattest piece of French design, with a touch of Italian style, go for it! Yes it is a bit expensive but believe me it is worth it!