About Givenchy Handbags
Committed to reinventing the rules of elegance, Givenchy revolutionized fashion from its very first collection in 1952. Comprised of so-called “separates” designed by the house’s founder Hubert de Givenchy, the brand’s debut line represented a sharp departure from the constrictive dresses ordinarily worn at the time. The styles proved popular among celebrities and tastemakers. Audrey Hepburn and First Lady Jackie Kennedy were famously longtime muses and clients of Givenchy. In 2020, Givenchy welcomed creative director Matthew M. Williams.
Givenchy Handbag Materials and Craftsmanship
An emphasis on clean, architectural lines, simple materials and industrial-inspired hardware defines the Givenchy style. The house crafts its contemporary handbags primarily out of leather and applies different finishes to the material to create desirable texture and dimension. Givenchy leathers and leather effects include aged leather, box leather, crocodile effect, diamond quilted leather, 4G debossed leather, grained leather, metalized crocodile effect, smooth leather and suede.
Aside from leather, Givenchy utilizes denim, chain jacquard, metalized water snakeskin and python for its handbag designs. Chunky metal swag chains composed of interlocking “G” links decorate certain Givenchy handbag models. Comprised of four letter “Gs” arranged in a square, Givenchy’s signature padlock hardware imparts glamorous and industrial tones onto the accessories it adorns. Another symbol of the house, the Double G box chain, graces the straps of some purses, lending day-to-night versatility.
The Many Shapes of Givenchy Handbags
When it comes to handbags, Givenchy continually pushes the boundaries of traditional silhouettes into seemingly impossible, yet ultimately wearable constructions. The house notably considers many of its bags to be unisex carryalls, designed to complement both men’s and women’s wardrobes. Collectors count the winged Antigona, slouchy Balle, angular Cut Out and boxy Pandora handbags among their favorites.
Givenchy Antigona and Soft Antigona Collection
Givenchy fans recognize the Antigona collection by its characteristic rigid winged shape and understated envelope-flap branding, which appears on all styles except the Mini Antigona bags and Antigona Lock bags. Instead of the debossed Givenchy lettering on an envelope flap, these styles feature a debossed logo or 4G logo padlock, respectively. The Mini Antigona Vertical bag boasts an especially unique silhouette. Crafted in luxurious leather, this upright coffin-shaped pouch dangles from a removable short top handle and Double G-chain-and-leather shoulder strap.
A decade after the Antigona’s launch, Givenchy unveiled the Soft Antigona collection for Pre-Fall 2020. Soft Antigona bags possess a supple and relaxed silhouette afforded by their (typically) smooth leather construction. A few exceptions are available in crocodile effect leather, Givenchy jacquard chain, metalized leather or pleated leather. Similar to the original Antigona, some iterations of the Soft Antigona bag exhibit a 4G padlock charm in place of the typical debossed logo envelope flap trim. These versions are known as Soft Antigona Lock bags.
Givenchy Balle Bag
No Givenchy bag stretches the idea of silhouette further than the unconventional Balle bag. When laid flat, the shapeless leather construction forms a pancaked square with nipped corners. When lifted by the twisted leather handles, gravity pulls the center point down and the bag forms a three-dimensional diamond shape similar to a bucket bag. These special accessories come in debossed, grained, ring-embellished or smooth leather and two sizes: mini and large. While the large Balle bag is spacious and ideal for daily carry, the mini Balle bag looks exceptional slipped over the wrist for a night on the town.
Givenchy Cut Out Bag
New for 2021, this Matthew M. Williams design cuts a large, triangular shape out of the top line of a slim rectangular bag, forming an exaggerated version of the house’s signature “V” in the resulting negative space. A slender strap and petite metal buckle secure the purse by folding over the low point of the “V” and extending past the bottom line of the bag. Collectors can choose from either box leather or crocodile effect leather in small or large sizes. The small Cut Out bag hangs from a thick-to-thin leather strap with the option of a cubic “G” chain strap. A shorter shoulder strap and cubic “G” chain strap lend versatility and style to the large Cut Out bag. Givenchy initially offered the Cut Out bag in baby pink, beige, black, brown, camel, red and silver.
Givenchy Pandora Bag
Givenchy fans identify the Pandora bag by its cubic shape, a reference to the Greek myth involving Pandora’s box, and its distinctive side-facing zip openings. One of the most prolific Givenchy lines, Pandora silhouettes encompass backpacks, clutches, crossbody bags, handle bags, shoulder bags and wristlets. The Pandora collection normally appears in leather and is marked with a diminutive metal logo.
Givenchy Handbags Value and Collectibility
Launched in 2009 and 2010, respectively, the Givenchy Pandora and Antigona handbag lines offer collectors more than a decade of inimitable style. The collections experience excellent availability and good values on the secondary marketplace. In 2021 eBay sales, medium-sized Givenchy Pandora and Antigona bags in excellent condition fetched $1,000 and more. Due to their relative newness, secondhand Givenchy Balle and Cut Out bags remained rare finds on resale markets, though their presence should increase as collectors and fans begin to part with their purchases.