The quintessential
French woman is surrounded by a certain mystique and a fine grasp of je ne sais quoi (“I don’t know what,”
the French attitude of not caring too much). Fashionable yet effortless,
nonchalant and seemingly unaffected, her manner of dress is guided by pure
instinct, and it is this instinct that Lancel represents. As a brand that has,
for 135 years now, been the premier name in handbags and luggage, it embodies
the Parisian spirit while taking on a global outlook, keeping true to its
fundamental values of daring, imagination, and innovation.
The shifting of
seasons is a momentous occasion in France, where it also means a change in
wardrobe, and for Fall/Winter 2012-2013, Lancel has come up with a new range of
collections to mark the shift. The collection features two new vintage series: La Charmeuse, which is inspired by the
soft, curvy female figures of the 18th century; La Galante, which brings back the vintage looks of 1974. 
These two vintage
collections as well as additions to the classic collections were launched in
the Philippines this September 13, a special event attended by Xavier Le Borgne, the Head of Branded
Retail at Lancel, who has been with the company since September 2011. His
expertise in luxury goods and jewelry was honed by his education in Marketing
and Finance in Cleveland State University in Ohio, U.S.A. and furthered by his
many years of experience in the fashion and apparel industry in New York City.
One of the additions
to Lancel’s classic collections is the Premiere
Flirt Tote, a spin-off from the classic bucket bag style. Light, handy, and
resolutely modern, it is the ultimate incarnation of pure French nonchalance.
Le Brigitte Bardot, (“BB”
for short) on the other hand, pays tribute to the 1960s French screen siren and
sex symbol by launching a new denim-themed version suited for the leisurely pace of city living.
The BB collection is one of the most popular among the younger generation, who
often harbor a fascination for Bardot’s era and its bohemian spirit. Meanwhile,
L’Adjani, another line inspired by a
French actress, the beautiful Isabelle Adjani, retains its unique silhouette
but using exceptional lambskin and mock python leather.
In celebration of
its 135th year, Lancel has also come up with an entirely new
collection — L’Angèle by Lancel.
This bag is named after Angèle Lancel, who founded Lancel in 1876. Strong-willed and
forward-looking, she created handbags and leather accessories for
discriminating women, unique creations that are as elegant as they are
impertinent, as stylish as they are functional. The L’Angele’s silhouette is inspired by one of Lancel’s vintage
handbags from the 1960s, as can be seen in the generous lines and the curve of
the champagne-colored clasps. Inside, a whole chapter of Lancel’s history opens
up: with an ingenious mechanism to fix upright the mirror flap, creating a
vanity with which to check your makeup.
The current pride of
Lancel is the Daligramme collection.
The Daligramme
is Lancel’s interpretation of Salvador Dali’s “daligramas” (a secret
language characterized by an alphabet dedicated to his muse, Gala). It comes in
a range of styles like the small crossbody bag Dalidol Limited Edition, the
Dalichic handbag, the Dalfini shopping tote, the Daligala bucket bag, the
Dalidream day pouch, the Dalistory and Dalisecret handbags, the Dalinight
overnight bag, and the Dalirious tote.
The classic Elsa Sellier collection is celebrating its 25th year, and the traditional series is being reintroduced in new
fun colours.. in
coated canvas and smooth leather, styles
in the collection include the Elsa bowling bag, the Elsa shopper, the Elsa
document case, and of course the iconic Elsa bucket bag that comes in trendy
colors like ruby pink, pepper, royal blue and celadon green.
French Flair takes inspiration from French women noted for their grace,
their natural beauty, and their unique but measured sense of style that is so
often imitated. French Flair comes in a delicious assortment of midnight blue,
ruby, black, azure, red, saffron, and pepper. The line also features new exotic
leathers, including mock python skin in black or natural, among others.
About the Brand
Maison Lancel was
founded in 1876 by Angèle—a smart and vivacious woman who opened a shop nears
the Opéra Garnier. There, she sold articles for smokers, but eventually
ventured into ornaments and accessories for ladies. The turn of the century
marked a change in fashion and lifestyles and so the Maison’s activities
focused on ladies’ accessories and decorative objects. As part of the change,
the classic purse was replaced with the handbag.
Lancel’s creativity
was further reinforced in the Roaring Twenties, where the windows of its stores
(that grew from a modest 10 in the 1900 to 17 in 1917) became showcases for
decorative tableware, clocks, jewelry, phonographs, cameras, and later on
luggage—items that manifested the love for travel and exploration in this era.
In 1927, Lancel
developed its legendary bucket bag—an icon of the French Légèreté, and this style was reintroduced as Premiere
Flirt in 2006. Two years after, Maison Lancel moved inside in Place de L’Opéra,
the building where its flagship store remains until this day. During the time
between the two World Wars marked intense growth for the brand, which brought
about new products like the “Lancel Aviona trunk” and the “Umbrella Bag.”
In the 1950s, Lancel launched its first
“supple” luggage Kangourou, signaling the beginning of the era of modern
luggage. In the 1980s, the Bucket bag was re-edited under the name of Elsa,
which quickly became one of the brand’s bestsellers. Another innovation was the
interpretation of Salvador Dali’s “daligramas” (a secret language characterized
by an alphabet dedicated to his muse, Gala) by creating the Dali, a unique
collector’s bag dedicated to Gala.
The turn of the millennium signaled the start of the
intense focus of Lancel on its leather goods. This time they took their
inspiration from Alice Taglioni, the blonde muse of French Cinema and Olympic
champion Laure Manaudou. Other ambassadors include Isabelle Adjani, which
prompted the creation of the Adjani handbag. In 2010, the brand turned to
Brigitte Bardot, the legendary actress who inspired the Brigitte Bardot bag—a
piece that evokes her sensuality and femininity.
