Tracy Reese is getting into the bag business. The designer has signed a license with Daniel M. Friedman & Associates to create her first full collection of satchels.
Reese sent a teaser of two handbag styles down the runway on Sunday when she unveiled her spring collection during New York Fashion Week. The complete assortment of bags will be ready to retail for fall 2007. Handbags represent Reese’s second accessories category, following a shoe line she creates in-house that is now going into its third season.
“We’ve been dabbling in accessories, like handbags and belts,” said Reese, “but this is the first time we’ll have a full collection. It’s exciting for me because it helps me round out the look. It’s what you’re always wanting to do [when you start an apparel business].”
Reese said the collection will glean its inspiration from her feminine and sophisticated ready-to-wear, and will place an emphasis on timeless designs.
“I don’t want the bags to be just cute and trendy,” said Reese. “These should be heirloom bags. I want them to have quality, with wonderful leathers, rich colors, beautiful linings and custom hardware. Usefulness is also very important to me.”
Daniel M. Friedman, chairman and president of the subsidiary of Steven Madden Ltd., said he was thinking of opportunities for the firm to broaden its retail reach when he first contacted Reese. The company, in addition to creating private label accessories, also works with Betsey Johnson to create the designer’s licensed handbags, small leather goods and belts, and with Ellen Tracy to produce its belt line under license.
“Our company has grown a lot over the last 10 years,” said Friedman. “But one of the businesses we’ve been hoping to try to enter is the luxury business, being able to offer items that would sell to retailers like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and Barneys New York. We think Tracy is incredible and her product is special, and we like that we will be the first to create it. As long as we follow Tracy’s distribution, I think we can be successful with it.”
Reese’s apparel collection now sells in Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Anthropologie, among other specialty retailers.
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Friedman said he expects the handbag line, which will offer five collections a year, to comprise about 50 styles. Retail prices are expected to average at $350 to $700. The collection also will include small leather goods and belts, at opening prices at around $100. Friedman added the plan is to follow the Tracy Reese handbag introduction with accessories for her diffusion Plenty by Tracy Reese line for late fall 2007 or spring 2008.