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Handbags

2,116 items

Explore NOVICA's Handbags Collection. Discover artisan designs, from handmade leather totes to beautifully embellished evening clutches. You will find unique styles in an array of traditional leathers, handwoven fabrics and contemporary recycled materials to bring a touch of global style to any outfit. There's a style for every season and reason.

Featured Reviews

The Perfect Travel Bag

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This stylish, roomy bag is perfect for those long domestic or international trips. It’s sturdy, but really well designed from both an aesthetically and functional perspective. The straps are comfortable, the interior has lots of pockets for glasses, tablets and other necessities... and yet its not too big, making it the perfect “dualie� - great for both formal events and other activities where a less dressy bag is more appropriate!

I love it!

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I was excited when this arrived. It originally was meant to be my work bag. I'm a float nurse so it could hold my supplies but it's going to my everything everywhere bag instead. The quality is phenomenal, the leather is so soft, tons of space and seems durable enough to handle all the travels I can throw at it. If your unsure about this bag you won't regret it just buy it.

Julie

Sep 9, 2021

My go-to bag for practical beauty

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I get lots of “wow!” compliments when I carry this purse. The colors are beautiful and the pattern is complex. Overall, this purse is very pleasing to the eye, and also to the touch (not scratchy on your shoulder). The dark blues and burgundy hues are so sublime. Highly recommend!

Featured Artist

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Handbags Through History

Prehistoric people used medicine bags, and Egyptian hieroglyphs show pouches carried around the waist. Drawstring coin bags were used by European men from the 12th to the 16th centuries, and the first written mention of handbags dates to the 1300s. In the 1500s, women began carrying bags of sachet. But pockets worn beneath the skirt remained more popular than purses until dresses began to hug the body in the late 18th century. During the Victorian period, a wide variety of purse styles came into vogue and the term "handbag" was coined in the early 1900s. By the first part of the 20th century, almost every woman carried a purse. Authentic handbags came into their own during the 1920s with all kinds of styles, colors and materials. From the 1930s to the 1960s, clutches were a favorite. Practical shoulder bags were introduced during World War II. Today hobos, totes and slings compete with classic leather handbags, mini briefcases and backpack bags. Among Novica's amazing array of styles and materials are sterling silver evening bags by Ploy Intha. Sending an ecological statement, totes of recycled materials make up Neide Ambrosio's soda pop-top collection and Evani Ribeiro's bags of distressed canvas.

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Discover our unique collection of beautiful, handmade objects from around the world, inspired by more than a century of exploration.

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