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Fine Fabric Handbags, Travel Bags and Accessories!
Destination for Great Prices on Top Quality Tapestry and
Fine Fabric Handbags, Travel Bags and Accessories!
Cami's Collection Handbags has a huge
choice of very high quality, very unique tapestry
and fine fabric purses, handbags, back packs,
cosmetic bags and eyeglass cases.
choice of very high quality, very unique tapestry
and fine fabric purses, handbags, back packs,
cosmetic bags and eyeglass cases.
Awesome Coach Inspired Handbags
are part of the huge selection at Cami's
Collection. Pick your favorite handbag
category to the Left and
Have Fun Shopping!!
are part of the huge selection at Cami's
Collection. Pick your favorite handbag
category to the Left and
Have Fun Shopping!!
Cami's Collection Handbags Offers Beautiful & Unique
Tapestry Purses, Travel bags and Accessories at Deep
Discount Prices! All Products from Cami's Collection
Handbags are shipped Free in the United States and at a
discount to our Valued International Customers.
Tapestry Purses, Travel bags and Accessories at Deep
Discount Prices! All Products from Cami's Collection
Handbags are shipped Free in the United States and at a
discount to our Valued International Customers.
Handbags by Cami's Collection
Handbag News
Current Style in Handbags
By: John Thompson | Posted: 24-09-2006
Bags are a very central accessory of a woman's attire in any season. Handbag designs keep getting better and more creative every
season. Interesting trends emerge and this year is no different.
BAG IT: Bags this most recent season are expected to have a lot of stitch details. Huge and oversized handbags are the hottest item
this season. But remember to keep it small for the evening. The inclination this season will veer towards accessories on the
handbag, like plaited handles, plaited areas etc.
It may include that extra strap which buckles down or even the edges of the handbag having leather thongs wrapped around them.
Some other trends may include tassels and studs and even probably padlocks and frills on the bag.
Interesting accessories are expected in the handbag this season. These may include key rings and metallic buckles. Pockets in the
bag, leather appliqus and charms that dangle are likely to be part of the new handbag style scene.
Crystal beads, gold tone studs and even leather bows may add that extra special. It is likely that decorative trimmings on the bags will
be exceptionally popular. Another tendency may be to have headscarves threaded through the eyelets of the bag. Even a gold chain
may be slotted to compose a special look. The trend in handles may include chains in the leather or they may be made exclusively of
chain.
STYLES GALORE: Printed bags are very much in vogue and so is the new deeper taller bag shape and deep tote styles. The
ingredients of the bag may be leather or suede, which may give the impression as washed out and faded. It may be tie-dyed or frilled
or even tool impressed.
The handbag with a slouch is also set to make an influence this season. Hardware on bags is very much in, as is ironmongery. It is
the large, oversized slouch bag, which will round off the fashion look whispering.
WATCH THE HARDWARE: Hardware on bags is a guaranteed attraction this season. Bags are likely to have a row of studs or they
may have extra leather, trimmed with metal over the bags body. Chain handles on bags are likely to be very popular. White bags are
set to make a strong impression.
Another likely trend is the bag with the metal finish that has metallic tones making it shimmer and glisten.
THINK SLIM: The trend is towards the shape of bags growing taller, sleeker, and cleaner. There is no lumpy untidiness of excessive
bulky outside pockets on every accessible surface, though the size maybe big.
Here are some unique designs in purse and handbags, which can be, expected this year and which are sure to catch on.
USE THE CLOTH: Cloth purses are very casual fashion items but they are very popular. The strongest trend this year is likely to be
colourful fabrics and quality patterns. Bold colors and striking contrast are more than likely to be in. Also very fashionable is the
practical reversible cloth purse. The purse can be literally turned inside out to reveal the alternative fabric pattern. This allows you to
have two purses for the price of one.
PUT A NAME TO IT: Monogrammed handbags never go out of style. The contemporary styles are likely to be monogrammed
handbags in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and kinds.
An expected arriving trend is leather sling hipster handbags with elegantly embossed initials or a name. The preferred material for
such handbags is soft leather, because it is durable and very stylish. Apart from that, sling handbags are very comfortable to carry.
They form the best accessory whether the outing is a casual one or a business one.
Monogrammed tote bags are also very much in fashion. They are the most perfect, casual fashion add-ons. Monogrammed tote
bags serve a variety of purposes, whether at the beach, or at a picnic, even at school. The best elements for tote bags is soft cotton
canvas and this is likely to be the trend this year too.
DOGGIE BAG: Dog purses are gaining popularity. With almost everyone loving dogs the fashion is veering towards handbags, tote
bags and purses decorated with a full panel photo of a gorgeous pouch. Dog purses and handbags are also a great gift idea for
anyone who loves their beloved hound. Custom-made dog purses are also becoming more and more popular. You can have your
own photograph of your dog printed onto a handbag.
If you dont like dogs, you can have your own photo, or the photo of that someone special in your life, printed onto your purse or
handbag, Photo purses or handbags are ultra-cool and make a particular fashion statement.
CLUTCH THAT BAG: Clutch purses and handbags have an elegant, streamlined look, but theyre the finest size to carry all those little
necessities. The trend for clutch purses and clutch handbags is likely to be all glamour. Shiny metal gold, silver, bronze and platinum
shades will be the strong colors of the season, in soft suede leather.
If you recreate the above trends you can be sure that you will be almost never out of sync with your handbag this season. You will be
very much a part of the in crowd.
Learn more about authentic luxury designer handbag products along with purse organizers and discount coach purses
Discount Designer Handbags Without The High Price
By: Tori A Hewitt | Posted: 20-09-2007
Women love designer handbags and women love bargains. Put together these two things, and you get the discount designer
handbag. Many times, women who love the appearance and quality associated with designer handbags don't want to pay retail
prices. The great news is that they may not have to. There are many different places where a savvy shopper can find a discount
designer handbag.
There are several online retailers who offer a fabulous selection of genuine designer handbags at discounted prices. Brands
Boutique is one such retailer. Brands Boutique boasts of a sizable inventory and wide selection of discount designer handbags, as
well as many other types of discounted designer merchandise.
Those who shop with Brands Boutique can enjoy deep discounts on a wide variety of popular, high-end designers merchandise. The
wide selection of designer merchandise available from Brands Boutique includes a wide selection of handbags designed by
Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Diesel, Chloe, Chanel, Burberry, Balenciaga, Armani and many others. In addition to great deals on
discount designer handbags, bargain hunters may also discover discounts on famous designer apparel and other accessories at
Brands Boutique.
At Brands Boutique, bargain hunters have found excellent discount prices on classic handbags including the Gucci vintage aqua blue
Jackie O shoulder bag -- the coveted red Birkin bag. Discount prices are also available on some of the more trendy designer
handbags such as the Christian Dior denim handbag, the G Star recycled paper tote bag and the Dries van Noten distressed leather
shoulder bag.
Another excellent online retailer specializing in discount designer handbags is Handbag Crew. While you aren't likely to find designer
clothing at the Handbag Crew website, you will find an amazing selection of high-end discount designer handbags. This retailer
specializes in the most sought-after designers such as Prada, Marc Jacobs, Fendi and others.
If you don't find the discount designer handbag of your dreams at the first online retailer you investigate, keep looking. There are
many online retailers that offer a wide array of designer handbags at excellent discount prices. Remember that bargain hunting takes
time and sometimes requires strategy. That is why it is called hunting! Make sure to purchase your discount designer handbag from
a retailer that certifies the authenticity of your purchase and offers deeply discount pricing. There is nothing more satisfying than
finding a great deal on the perfect designer handbag to complete your wardrobe
Merrell McGinness Handbags Present New Collection
Merrell McGinness introduces its 2007 Fall/Winter line of designer handbags that feature functional details for today's busy woman.
This season's inspiration comes from the simplicity and glamour of the 1940s as well as early 1960s fashion. Priced from $208 to
$497, the high-end bags offer unique silhouettes with luxe fabrics, contrasting textures and color ways.
(PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Merrell McGinness introduces its 2007 Fall/Winter line of designer handbags that feature functional
details for today's busy woman. This season's inspiration comes from the simplicity and glamour of the 1940s as well as early
1960s fashion. Priced from $208 to $497, the high-end bags offer unique silhouettes with luxe fabrics, contrasting textures and color
ways.
"We selected a more somber color palette for this season, accented with our signature coral shade for a pop of color," says co-owner
Marilyn Hubbard. "We also offer metallic accents, as they are becoming a necessary part of every woman's wardrobe."
Merrell McGinness' innovative label launched last season and has quickly carved a niche in the market. The company takes a
pragmatic approach to design, striving to offer hidden functionality in each of the bags without sacrificing style. The careful attention to
detail and refreshingly clean lines have captured the attention of specialty stores, stylists, and costume designers across the country.
Additionally, Merrell McGinness has been featured in Women's Wear Daily, Lucky, Atlanta Peach and New Jersey Life Magazines as
well as numerous fashion websites and style blogs including Daily Candy, Style Hive, Splendora, Gretchen's Closet and more.
A preview of Merrell McGinness' Fall/Winter 2007 collection is on display at www.merrellbags.com and will be available in select
upscale boutiques across the U.S. in September. For more information, a press kit, samples, interviews, photos or wholesale
ordering information, please call 404-551-4713.
Bag lady: Designer aims for philanthropy
Designer has both chic totes and philanthropy in the bag.
By Evelyn Theiss, Newhouse News Service
BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Janet Gray had a head for creativity and the fabric to match.
Specifically, it was fabric left over from the days when she sewed window treatments, sofa pillows and other such furnishings for
interior design customers in Richmond, Va.
Inspired by something one of her friends had made, she began playing around with fabric samples and soon had sewn a sweet
daisy-trimmed handbag for a little girl. She soon began selling the bags at a local farmers market.
Customers bought the $14 bags in droves and asked whether she made women's handbags, too. So she added those to her
collection. "You can only sell so many handbags for little girls," she said.
Gray's adult handbags were made from bolts of upholstery fabric with interesting textures, which made the bags quite durable. Zippy
patterns were joined by enough structure to give them a shape -- fashionable, without flimsiness.
"Pretty soon I was up till 2:30 every night, sewing handbags," Gray recalled. "It was exhausting." Her husband suggested she find
some way to make it bigger, so that others could make the bags while she focused on the design.
So she began looking for a domestic manufacturer. "But people would laugh. They told me that was pretty much impossible." Her
friend Cathy Watterson, who owns a lingerie company, put her in touch with a woman who helped her find a family-owned company
in Shanghai, China, that could make the bags.
She designs handbags and textiles, too
Today, Gray designs not only the handbags, but the textiles they're made from. A factory not far from the Shanghai neighborhood
where the purses are made weaves the fabrics that she designs.
These days, Gray sells her handbags, totes and laptop bags online at www.janet graydesigns.com, as well as several stores. Her
work is not sold in Minnesota stores but is available online. Prices range from $60 for a small bag to $240 for a tote.
"Customers love how they look, and how practical and well-made they are, with a nice lining," said Lori Primm, owner of the Shoe
Gallery in Ohio, where the bags are sold.
Inside the leather-trimmed purses is a pocket system for cell phones and notepads. Women can choose among totes and smaller
bags, or they can buy a set that goes together like Russian nesting dolls. The travel totes work as athletic bags, overnight bags or
diaper bags; they are roomy enough to add a smaller purse inside. A still smaller midsize bag has a zipper top; inside, it will fit a
matching makeup bag or wristlet.
The larger bags all feature a jewel-like key chain in the shape of a water lily. "The water lily struggles through murky waters to bloom
above the surface," Gray said. "Not only does it bloom, but it's strong and beautiful. When women support each other, we're the same
way."
That's not just a lovely philosophy. Gray, who grew up in a working-class family in Fenton, Mich., has been pursuing ways to help
other women. She has been particularly inspired by her friend Dianne Amon, a missionary with Real Stories, a Christian-based
outreach group.
A source of income for poor women
Amon has worked with poverty-stricken women, often refugees, in such countries as Slovakia, Ireland and England. She met Gray
after she admired a Janet Gray purse that a friend was carrying. She told Gray how she was trying to help poor women become self-
sufficient.
In short order, Gray made a video that showed the method, tips and tricks for making her fabric purses. Anyone who learned how to
do it -- specifically, disadvantaged women -- could make and sell them as a source of income. Most recently, the video has been
used with success in the Philippines, said Amon. (To learn more about Amon's work, go to www.realstories.us.)
For Gray, reaching out like this is just a beginning. Through her eventual profits, she plans to establish a foundation to help poor
women in the Third World and elsewhere.
"I truly believe that if you practice doing what you are really passionate about, what you need will fall into place," Gray said.
Pop tops transform into handbags — and profits
By Marton DunaiSAN FRANCISCO, MEDIANEWS STAFF
Andy Krumholz, in San Francisco, shows off his Escama bags made from soda can pull tabs by an artist cooperative in Brazil.
(Marton Dunai - MediaNews)ANDY KRUMHOLZ just wanted to go to Brazil for the bossa nova. Instead of a stack of CDs, though, he
brought home an idea for the perfect fair trade business.
Throughout his trip, he saw dirt-poor street scavengers hunting for soda cans. Before they crushed and bagged the cans, he
observed, they twisted off and pocketed the used pull tabs.
"I had no idea why they did that," Krumholz said in his tiny SoMa loft studio. "I had to ask a friend."
The answer got him thinking. Pop tops are reused in fashion design, the friend told him. Thepoorest Brazilians collect them and sell
them in bulk to artists' circles, who crochet them into sheets of material. They make handbags and other accessories from it.
Krumholz was hooked.
"Even before we found the people that made (the bags), I knew we could do something, adapted for a more contemporary look,
maybe," he said. "I became obsessed with it. I do that sometimes."
He could have the artists manufacture handbags and purses, he thought. He would pay decent prices for them, and sell them to
customers in the West who cared about design and fair trade.
They might sell to places like museum gift shops, he thought.
At that time, he worked as facilities rental manager at the Oakland Museum of California. After all, he thought, these bags were works
of art.
"I didn't know anything about fashion or handbags," he said. "Nothing about artists' cooperatives. It was the item itself that got me."
The year was 2002. He asked for the help of a friend, who was just then moving back to her native Brasilia, the inland capital of Brazil.
She found two artists' cooperatives there that were willing to partner with Krumholz and sell him their bags.
He named the company Escama — Portuguese for fish scales.
It took a while to perfect the product and set up the operation. Krumholz paid the women up front, so they could buy material. He dealt
with issues around transferring payments in the non-convertible Brazilian Real. He set up the shipping along the rarely traveled
Brasilia-Oakland route.
It wasn't easy. Friends who knew Brazil, including Brazilians, had warned him not to do it. Even Socorro Leal, the friend he asked to
help him launch the Brazilian side of the business, said it was the "worst idea ever."
Krumholz persevered. He sought out museums around the world, and one by one, got them to feature the bags in their gift shops.
The bags began to sell, then sell more.
By the time the Oakland Museum laid him off in a cutback last year, Krumholz was doing enough business to sustain himself. He
sold the bags worldwide, to small stores and big-name accounts like the Museum of Modern Art in New York or the Royal Academy of
Arts in London.
Interest was picking up rapidly. Last year, the strong holiday season helped him gross $200,000 and even make a small profit.
Although he expected less in the first half of this year, the orders kept coming in. Last month alone, his revenues topped $50,000.
"I told my ladies in Brasilia, brace yourselves for Christmas," he said. "We'll be hard-pressed to produce more."
Escama's single product line comes with special challenges. Making everything out of the pop tops, by hand, is becoming harder for
the co-ops as demand rises this fast.
Automation is out of the question, as is buying pop tops by bulk. Post-consumer recycled material and hand manufacturing is at the
core of the bags' appeal.
That model is hard to grow.
"We started with 12 ladies," Krumholz said. "Now we have 70, in two separate co-ops. You can't grow these co-ops too large. The
women sit around and work together; they can't do it if it feels like a factory."
Forming new co-ops might help, but it's not easy. Streamlining production, introducing work phases instead of everyone making
complete bags, is also an option. With orders for 2,000 bags at a time, deep changes are inevitable.
Krumholz, who has not been to Brazil since his original trip, will go this summer to help with the transition. The artists, who call him
Charlie (from the movie "Charlie's Angels," where Charlie is never seen, only heard, by the girls), can't wait to meet him in person.
He has earned their respect with steady payments. Although they insist they are not employees, the co-op members do more than 80
percent of their business with Krumholz. That business earns them the equivalent of about $550 to $750 per month — far above the
local minimum wage, which is about $175 per month.
"No one's going to get rich from this," Leal said. "But most of these women are the only breadwinners of their families. That's about
70 families that can put food on the table now."
Every day, Leal sees fair trade at work: women who were once penniless and uneducated, often with multiple kids and living in some
of the world's most dangerous neighborhoods, now have bank accounts to keep their money safe, they are learning to use
computers and the Internet and they can fix their homes up a little.
Though they enjoy the stability, the women have little idea just how popular their bags have become. The highest-end customers in
the biggest markets in the world are buying them, often paying as much as $200 (half of which goes to the co-ops). Escama has
already sold some
20,000 of them.
One place that carries Escama products locally is The Gardener, an upscale home and garden accessories store in Berkeley. In the
past two years, the store has sold hundreds of small handbags.
"Many (customers) don't know much about the fair trade aspect," said Mary Gale Gaintner, the store's buyer for clothing. "They want
the bags because they are beautiful, and original."
Other stores that sell Escama's products include Cantor Arts Center's bookshop in Palo Alto and Maison d'Etre in Oakland. They also
are available online at http://www.escama.com.
Escama's bags range from the Chica Rosa — a 4-inch by 8-inch handbag for $32 — to the Masha — a 9.5-inch by 12-inch bag with
shoulder strap for $160.
Krumholz has pledged to create a link between his customers and the artists through the bags. Last year, he asked Leal to take
photos of the artists and record their short bios. He published those on his Web site, then labeled each bag with a signature tag from
the artist who worked on them.
When customers e-mail compliments to the company, Krumholz has Leal translate them back to Portuguese and post it on a board
in the co-ops.
"I didn't think it was going to work," Leal said. "But the process goes from here all the way to customers in the MoMa, and back.
Between, it's magic."
Learn more about authentic luxury designer handbag products along with purse organizers and discount coach purses
by Sarah Mahoney, Monday, Jul 2, 2007 5:00 AM ET
COLE HAAN IS THE LATEST retailer to jump into the luxury sunglasses market, announcing that it would unveil a line of shades priced
between $125 and $500. And Tiffany has announced that its first-ever line of sunglasses (in partnership with Luxxotica) will be available
early 2008. Coach, of course, already has a well-established line.
"Eyewear is an essential luxury accessory for our consumer," says James Seuss, Cole Haan's CEO. "This category is a natural extension
for the brand, with our heritage in footwear and accessories. It allows us to further our image as a lifestyle brand."
But just how many pairs of $500 sunglasses does America need? Plenty. In fact, it turns out that the style mavens who have been
christening sunglasses as the new affordable luxury for months now may know more about U.S. shoppers than economists do.
With the ever-increasing price points on fancy handbags, $500 for new shades can seem like a steal. "Sunglasses are just a wonderful
way for any luxury or upscale brand to expand into a category that is both low cost and high market," says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the
Luxury Institute.
For luxury retailers like Cole Haan, a subsidiary of Nike, it broadens the customer base to the less affluent. "But it's like fragrances. The
fact that these items are sold at a lower price point than your other goods doesn't seem to negatively impact sales - it's just an ideal
extension category," he says.
"Retailers like them because they don't take up a lot of square footage, and the replacement cycle has increased," says Jim Hurley, a
luxury analyst with Telsey Advisory Group in New York. Consumers typically buy new sunglasses every two years now, instead of every four.
Besides, Pedraza adds, there's just something about sunglasses that makes them a perfect splurge item. "It's a very emotional impulse
buy - there's an instant cool effect, and you can transform yourself."
Of course, luxury handbags aren't going away any time soon. In fact, Mintel reports that U.S. handbag sales have gained 22% since 2004
and are likely to hit $6.4 billion market this year. "And this high level of market growth shows no signs of abating, with a further 25% rise in
sales forecast by 2011," the market research company says.
In fact, purses have practically caught up with shoes: "Only one in three (32%) women spends more on shoes than on purses and bags,
down from 37% in 2005," the Mintel report says.
In the total accessories market, NPD reports that in the first quarter of 2007, 32% of the dollar expenditures went to bags and luggage and
about 29 % to sunglasses.
But all three items - luxury sunglasses, handbags, and shoes - offer an added incentive to those women who have, like most Americans,
packed on a few pounds, says Hurley: "These are all fun and easy status purchases, and you don't have any of the self-esteem issues you
might have with trying on clothing."
Status symbols are costing us
The cost of living is going up for many people — by choice.
There's not much the average person can do about the rising costs of everyday purchases, such as gas, milk and rent, but Americans are
“overspending” on unnecessary items. According to last week's report by the Associated Press, many people no longer want to spend
hundreds of dollars on designer handbags, shoes and jewelry because they're more interested in paying thousands.
It's all about status symbols.
Certain items that were once considered to be “luxury” brands are now seen everywhere, so they're no longer desired by people trying to
make a statement.
Coach handbags, for example, can be found on the arm of most teenage girls, working women and stay-at-home mothers, despite
costing hundreds of dollars each. They are an example of what's become the norm instead of something special. According to the AP,
Coach is upping the ante by creating a new line of ultra-exclusive handbags that range in the thousands.
And handbag makers, including Coach, are hardly alone in taking advantage of the consumer-driven luxury market. The rise in expensive
tastes is evident everywhere.
New housing developments often tout “luxury” status. It seems like buyers can no longer find freshly built condominiums, townhouses or
single family homes that are simply comfortable for average-wage people. Now, everything being built seems to come with a country club
lifestyle, whether you want it or not. The new normal is a McMansion-type home with a media room, master suite and multiple bathrooms.
It's no wonder so many people's homes are facing foreclosure.
New shopping centers being built around this area are also targeting those who want to live like they're Midas — or at least make others
think they do. Sure, the big box, discount retailers are still doing well, but there are more and more “luxury” stores opening.
It seems like shoppers are being forced to choose either very inexpensive stores or spend excessive amounts of money. There doesn't
seem to be much in between. That's not surprising, considering the widening income gap between wealthy people and average
Americans.
Given the frequent reports about rising consumer debt and Americans' dependence on credit, the rise in luxury lifestyles creates an
interesting paradox. While some people make enough money to support these habits, others are constantly stretching their budgets too
thin.
A friend and I were recently talking about people who “must have” designer tags on everything they own, and who are often buying new
high-end things. A lot of the time, it seems like they're trying hard to impress people with their lifestyles, rather than just living comfortably.
My friend told me that she “just can't keep up” with some of our mutual acquaintances, and we agreed that we aren't interested in trying.
Like most people, I've splurged on luxury items, including a handbag that cost more than my wedding dress. However, I'm also a regular
customer of inexpensive stores too. What I buy really depends on what I need and how much I can afford at the time.
The problem with buying things that cost very little is that the quality usually coincides with how much you're paying. Trendy clothes are an
example of something not worth spending a lot of money on. While cheap items may not last long, neither do the fads.
But, if you're looking for something that will last and that you'll get a lot of use out of, it's probably worth it to pay a higher cost.
If people have expendable cash and a $5,000 handbag makes them happy, then there's no problem with purchasing luxury items.
However, those who can't afford to pay top dollar, but do it anyway, need to be more concerned about finances.
Thankfully, shopping for luxury items is still a choice.
Kristen Coppock is a BCT staff writer. She can be reached at kcoppock@phillyburbs.com. To read her past columns, go to www.
phillyburbs.com/bct.
Disposing of income in luxurious ways
6/29/2007 4:46:02 PM
By Kirk Klocke
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
This summer, consumers will get behind the wheel of the most expensive production hybrid sedan ever.
The new, 430-horsepower Lexus 600h L will feature voice-activated navigation, massaging seats and a 19-speaker audio system. With an
optional hands-free parking feature, it will be able to park itself. Base price: $104,000.
Rising fuel costs, higher interest rates and a cooling housing market are having little effect on the market for luxury goods, such as the
new Lexus, speedboats and even personal aircraft. In 2006, Cirrus Design Corp., a Duluth-based manufacturer of small aircraft, broke its
own sales record for the fifth consecutive year.
Toby Madden, a regional economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said luxury, in economic terms, is defined when
consumers spend proportionately more on items: "As income goes up, the proportion you spend on a good increases more than 10
percent on that particular good."
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the United States Department of Commerce, consumers have been spending
more and saving less of their disposable income during the past year than in years past.
Consumers also are earning more than before. Income has been rising for a long time in Minnesota, Madden said, but much of the
increased income is distributed among the top earners. Top earners' income is increasing at a faster rate than that of average earners, he
said.
For Greg Bruggenthies, co-owner of Al's Specialty Marine, business is better than ever. His family business specializes in the sales and
service of watercraft. He has local and national clients. Clients from the surrounding states, some from as far as Colorado, frequent his
store because it is on their way to the Mississippi River and many Minnesota lakes. He said many of his regional clients buy watercraft
from him and return every year for service.
In the wake of more expensive gasoline, his customers aren't buying less. They are buying different equipment.
Bruggenthies said the cost of fuel has prompted many of his customers to choose fishing over wakeboarding, water skiing and cruising
on the Mississippi River -- activities that use a lot of gas.
"We're selling more fishing boats than runabouts," he said. Runabouts at his store cost between $20,000 and $50,000. Despite the high
price of high-speed boating, some of Bruggenthies' customers haven't shied away from the activity. "They're definitely selling," he said of
the luxury speedboats.
Rochester is no exception to the national trend toward an increasing demand for luxury goods and services. Coach, a company known for
its high-end handbags and other apparel, will open a store in Apache Mall near the end of July.
Most Coach handbags cost between $200 and $800. A leather and suede tortoise key ring on Coach's Web site is listed at $38.
As Rochester continues to expand, the market for homes over $200,000 is growing. According to Mike Vitse of Edina Realty, many homes
in the area cost between $200,000 and $300,000; his company has homes listed for up to $1.4 million.
As Mayo Clinic and other businesses continue to draw more middle- to upper-income families to the area, Vitse said more homes over
$250,000 will be sold.
"I expect homes in the $250,000 to $300,000 price range to gain strength," he said.
Kirk Klocke of Rochester is a freelance writer.
Doodle Bags Handbags
Handbag Demand
Kenneth Elliott
June 4, 2007
Without a doubt the one accessory that most women cannot go without is a ladies handbag. And why not, the ladies handbag is a
sanctuary, a place to store makeup, their cell phones, and many other wares that are essential to the on the go women. To this end ladies
handbag demand has increased in the market place. As a result, so has the selection. And no doubt the top handbag distributors have
taken notice.
Take for instance Coach; known for their coach handbags, wallets and other accessories, coach handbags are manufactured to be soft
glove tanned leather, which has evolved with new shapes, styles, and material. Coach handbags have always been one of the top
handbags to have. But many people cannot afford a authentic coach handbags. This is where replicas step in. No, I can't say that a replica
is a good choice, but if you want the coach look but you don't have the coach pocket book, well a coach handbag replica is a good choice.
One of the most popular types of ladies handbags is a handbag crafted from leather. Leather handbags are available in several different
color, sizes and shades. Many women prefer a neutral shade such as brown or black when purchasing a handbag.
If you don't like leather, handbags also come in other materials like vinyl-coated canvas. Or even nylon. If you can imagine it, is probably for
sale.
Handbags come in various sizes and shapes and there is sure to be one to please you. From totes, compacts to shoulder designs, small
clutches to sakes there is a handbag out their made just for your style.
About the Author:
Kenneth Elliott is the owner of several great fashion websites includeing: Coach Outlet Store, Designer Fashion Outlet and Designer Sun
Glasses Outlet. Please come by and visit soon.
Coach Looks Across The Pacific
Joshua Lipton, 06.13.07, 5:10 PM ET
According to Standard & Poor's Coach is the number one luxury accessories brand in the U.S., controlling a 20% share of this $7 billion
market. Now the company hopes to have just as much success across the Pacific.
To make this happen Coach (nyse: COH - news - people ) has named Thibault Villet, formerly of L'Oreal, as President of Greater China.
Villet was Vice President, Luxury Products Division in Japan at L'Oreal for 13 years. He was also Vice President, General Manager of the
Luxury Products Division for China from 2002 through 2006.
Margaret Mager, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, says Villet's hiring highlights Coach's growing commitment to developing its presence and
brand awareness in China, its next great market.
Mager said Coach plans to open at least 20 additional locations in Greater China during the next three years. Currently, there are 43
Coach locations in Greater China, with 19 in Taiwan, 12 in Hong Kong, and 12 on the mainland.
Though Villet's hire is unlikely to impact near-term fundamentals Coach continues to lay the foundation for long-term growth in the global
accessories market, Mager said.
Marie Driscoll, analyst at Standard & Poor's, wrote in a client note dated May 1 that she continues to see ample opportunities for Coach as
it further penetrates the U.S. market for luxury handbags and small leather goods and as it benefits from the category's strong momentum,
up an estimated 20% in 2006.
Japan provides significant growth potential as well, Driscoll argued, where she expects Coach to double its market share to 15% by 2010.
She rates the company a "hold."
On Wednesday, shares of Coach finished up 3%, or $1.41, to $48.89.
Jacquard Tapestry 101
Tapestry fabrics are heavy, patterned or figured hand-woven textile, usually in the form of a hanging or upholstery fabric. In modern times
tapestry is used in clothing fashions and accessories such as jackets and handbags. Jacquard tapestry fabrics are materials woven on a
specific type of loom known as a Jacquard loom.
The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1801, which used the holes punched in pasteboard
punch cards to control the weaving of patterns in fabric. The loom enabled even moderately skilled weavers to weave complex designs.
Each punch card corresponded to one row of the design and the cards were strung together in order. Each hole in the card corresponds
to a "Bolus" hook, which can either be up or down. The hook raises or lowers the harness which carries and guides the warp thread so
that the weft will either lie above or below it. The sequence of raised and lowered threads is what creates the pattern. Each hook can be
connected via the harness to a number of threads, allowing more than one repeat of a pattern.
The term "Jacquard loom" is not a completely accurate description of the device. It is the "Jacquard head" that adapts to many
commercially available looms that allows the weaving machine to then create the intricate patterns often seen in Jacquard weaving.
Modern Jacquard head equipped looms are computer controlled and can have thousands of hooks. There is now no need for the use of
punched cards, instead the patterns are literally computer controlled.
The threading of a Jacquard loom is so labor intensive that many looms are threaded only once. Subsequent warps are then tied in to the
existing warp with the help of a knotting robot which ties each new thread on individually. Even for a small loom with only a few thousand
warp ends, the process of re-threading can take days.
Today, a large percentage of Jacquard tapestry fabrics are produced in the low-cost labor countries of Asia. Suppliers of Jacquard fabric
in Mainland China and Taiwan are upgrading R&D and production capability to release richer and more elaborate fabrics for garments
and upholstery. This comes in response to greater demand for the product, with producers reporting increases of up to 20 percent in
export sales last year. The figure is expected to rise further in 2006 and beyond.
To accommodate this influx of orders, companies in the mainland have launched short pile Jacquards and embossed valours for toys and
home furnishings. These heavyweight fabrics can have animal prints with fleece-like finishes, or textured 3-D effects in zigzag or dotted
patterns.
Damask, brocatelle and brocade designs continue to be popular, with makers emphasizing details such as small floral motifs, ethnic
themes and geometric patterns in contrasting colors. Suppliers also produce versions with satin finishes.
In Taiwan, companies are increasing the variety of patterns offered by investing in advanced weaving and mounting looms that can
produce intricate effects. The latest Jacquard fabric releases from the island have paisley, floral and royal-inspired prints, mostly in
metallic shades. Some designs have embossed or ridged leaf, herringbone and checkered patterns achieved through weaving.
Lurex is a popular material used in designs. This type of metallic yarn can come in fine, textured, gimp, glazed, structured or unstructured
versions. Aside from producing shiny metallic patterns in Jacquard fabric, blends of Lurex can accommodate antique-finished motifs with
extra-soft, dye-resistant or colorfast features. To add value, companies are also increasing the functionality of products. In Taiwan,
makers have released designs with special finishes, giving fabric water, stain and oil repellent properties. In the Mainland, functional
versions that have moisture wicking, anti-bacterial and fire-retardant finishes, and UV and stain resistance are produced.
About Cami's Collection
Cami's Collection, based in Hickory, North Carolina, is dedicated to providing valued customers with outstanding Tapestry and Light
Fabric handbags, duffel bags, tote bags, backpacks and accessories. Cami’s Collection is a family operation with a network of local
women trained in the Western North Carolina tapestry fashion industry skilled at creating quality handbags. Cami’s Collection can be
found at www.CamisCollection.com or www.SeeHandbags.com.
All of the Cami’s Collection Brand Handbags have outer shells made from the finest Jacquard Woven Tapestry Fabrics with a typical fiber
content of 66% Cotton, 16% Wool, 6% Nylon and 12% Polyester. This blend of fibers provides excellent wear characteristics while
maximizing the boldness of the many colors contained within the stunning patterns. The interiors are made with fine cotton linens.
Handle straps are a combination of natural and synthetic fibers that provide just the right weight and feel. The zippers and other closures
are selected for their appearance and robustness from the offerings of well-known and reliable brands.
The Cami’s Collection Brand Tapestry Handbags are handmade by very experienced craftswomen using fine cotton and nylon threads.
Each handbag is made with pride to our exacting quality standards.
Article References
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006
Global Sources Online
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press.
Wikipeda
Doodle Bags
Coach Handbag News