Carlos Falchi

Carlos Falchi (born September 26, 1944) is a Brazilian-born handbag and accessories designer known for his patchwork designs. He has won awards for accessory design, and his accessories have appeared in several TV shows and movies. His business generates about $100 million a year in retail sales.

Background and education

Falchi began his career in 1970s Greenwich Village, New York City. He worked as a busboy at Max's Kansas City while developing his designs; at one point his neighbor was Jimi Hendrix. His clientele were originally rockers and jazz artists.

Bendels

Retailer Geraldine Stutz, of Henri Bendel stores, gave Falchi one of his early breaks. His designs became fashionable and he rose to early success. The late-1980s collapse of the Japanese economy seriously affected his sales. He was a part of the It Bag trend of the 1990s-2000s. At one point a bad business decision caused him to lose his own name brand to another company.

Materials

Falchi's bags often use skins such as python, alligator and ostrich and are soft and unstructured.

Market venues

His main collection tends to be sold at upscale department stores for prices ranging from $1,500 to up to $5,000. In 2009, American discount retailer Target contracted with Falchi to produce a line of ten lower priced bags, using synthetic materials, that were sold at Target stores for November and December 2009. He has also launched another lower priced line, Chi, which is sold on Home Shopping Network, where he has appeared.

Personal

Falchi has been married 25 years to his wife, Missy, whom he met while she was working for the special events office in a Neiman Marcus in Dallas. They have two daughters: Kate, who is a designer with her father's company, and Juliet, who works for Estée Lauder.

References

• http://www.carlosfalchionline.com/ourstory
• http://www.cfda.com/index.php?option=com_cfda_content&task=members_display&user_name=CarlosFalchi
• http://www.just-style.com/article.aspx?id=104156
• http://www.bagsnob.com/2009/04/carlos_falchi_celebrates_30_ye.html
• http://www.designtaxi.com/news.jsp?id=27045&monthview=0&month=5&year=2009
• http://investing.businessweek.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600-200905131056BIZWIRE_USPR_____BW5855-46UJEC70FG4TJ9QG3BV94OCO62&params=timestamp%7C%7C05/13/2009%2010:56%20AM%20ET%7C%7Cheadline%7C%7CCarlos%20Falchi(R)%20Brand%20Begins%20New%20Chapter%7C%7CdocSource%7C%7CBusiness%20Wire%7C%7Cprovider%7C%7CACQUIREMEDIA Carlos Falchi(R) Brand Begins New Chapter businessweek 13 May 2009
• http://www.style.com/stylefile/2009/04/carlos-falchi-made-in-the-usa/