Designer handbags came to be popular during the early years of the fourteenth century and the first items so produced were small leather pouches that were used for carrying coins. These tiny items were made by cutting out a round piece of cloth and then by sewing a strap that was usually made of thin leather around the circumference of the cut piece of cloth made a strap that could be used as a drawstring. These early designer handbags were quite small in size and could only hold a few coins in them, and were usually worn when tied to the waist and carried about conveniently.

Times Have Changed

Times have indeed changed and the designer handbags have seen many changes in style, size and shapes, and today one would consider buying famous items from big names such as Coach, Gucci, Prada, Kate Spade and Dior all of whom form an integral part of the designer handbag fashion scene. And, the designer handbags that were once mere utility items have seen so much change to them that in high fashion circles, these handbags have high value and are meant to make a style statement rather than perform any utilitarian function.

With so much demand today for designer handbags, it is hardly surprising that they cost a fair bit and today it is part of the huge fashion industry with celebrities from Hollywood to the rich and famous queuing up to buy these items for the symbolic value that they embody and also because it is seen as a privilege to own one such handbag. So, don’t be surprised that you may have to end up paying more for designer handbags than you would for any average car in the US which is sure to make them out of reach of the common buyer.

Nevertheless, if you are one of the few that can afford designer handbags, it would be a purchase that is more symbolic of your wealth and a luxury item than something that has any utilitarian benefit. It is also not uncommon to have to wait in a queue of other names to get a chance to buy such items because demand far outruns supply, and you may have to pay many thousand dollars and wait till your name comes up before you actually own your handbag.

So, for those who cannot afford the original designer handbags, there is still hope because there are many replicas that are available at vastly reduced prices and there is also no waiting in a queue required. However, such plagiarism is setting back the US government as much as two hundred billion dollars and more since those who sell replicas generally do not pay taxes and much of the money so earned can be diverted into funding terrorist acts and also other illegal activities. So, it may be more prudent to either forego the luxury or to save enough money and buy the original piece rather than help fund indirectly illegal activities.