Let's Talk Vinyl!

Ahead of Fellows Auctioneers' upcoming sale, Monisha Cooper, from the Designer Collection Department, has been discussing vinyl.

Here is a little bit about vinyl and the reasons it is so widely used before I dwell into the modernity of these flashy handbags that we are so excited to auction in our Designer Collection sale, closing on 7^th September 2020.

We are helping the sustainability of the environment by using vinyl in so many of our daily products. There is so much made from this sustainable material, from pipes that distribute water to your home, to life saving hospital equipment, everyday household goods and handbags! Vinyl membranes are rugged and can withstand extreme weather conditions, one of the reasons it is used extensively in green house windows for optimum growing conditions.

The two most popular materials used in handbags today are monogrammed canvas (also known as vinyl) and calf skin leather. The popular monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbags mostly consist of a canvas, vinyl body. One of the many reasons designer handbag companies use canvas bodies, is the durability of its composition. With thousands of pounds spent in research spanning over decades, durability is an important aspect for any handbag company’s reputation. Vinyl has the qualities of being practically stain repellent and water resistant, something that every designer handbag owner definitely appreciates. Vinyl also has the ability to retain its shape quite efficiently, and not to forget that the recognisable monogram prints that we see on quite a few designer handbags can only be used on vinyl.

Amongst the many styles of monogrammed handbags we regularly have in sale, we are particularly keen on the two colourful Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandoulière vinyl luggage bags designed by Off White’s Virgil Abloh. Lot 250 is an Iridescent Prism Monogram Keepall Bandoulière 50 luggage bag and Lot 251 is a Grenadine Red Monogram Keepall Bandoulière 50 luggage bag. We also have an additional fun example in Lot 138, a Gucci Amour Vinyl Tote handbag.

The eye-catching iridescent and the red transparent monogram embossed Louis Vuitton duffle bags are highly coveted limited collection pieces. They are from the acclaimed menswear artistic director Virgil Abloh's men’s Spring Summer 2019 collection and have quickly become cult favourites.

They both feature the maker’s LV monogram embossed pattern against a transparent vinyl exterior, with an adjustable crossbody strap for optimal comfort and support. They also include a lucite chain link strap for a street-meets-luxury vibe attached to the top handles.

Virgil Abloh has been awarded various prizes in recent years, including winning the British Fashion Awards Urban Luxe award and International Designer of the Year at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2017. In a 2017 magazine profile Abloh was declared “King of Social Media Super influencers".

The Gucci Amour Vinyl Tote bag is another striking example. Inspired by the transparent vinyl from the men’s and women’s cruise 2019 collection, this junior sized tote features transparent vinyl with a star motif, this tote bag comes with a fuchsia supreme canvas trim and features flipside prints of “Gucci" printed on one side and "Amour" printed on the other with an interior open pocket and double top handles.