Italian-US company manufacturing and retailing leather luggage and accessories from the 1960s, and designing clothes for men and women from 1969. The Gucci family firm was founded in Italy in the 15th century. In 1905 Guccio Gucci moved from millinery to saddlery, and the business was expanded by his three sons, principally Aldo Gucci (1905–1990), who was responsible for the company's growth in the USA. The Gucci label became an international status symbol in the 1970s. In the early 1990s interest in Gucci grew again, following the introduction of a range of relaxed sportswear-oriented outfits, and the reworking of Gucci loafers in brightly coloured suede.

Louis Vuitton was a real person. He founded the brand in 1854 after having been successful as the professional trunk packer for Empress Eugenie of France. Back then, the dresses for royalty and wealty people were so elaborate, they required custom trunks and packers to fit and protect all the hoop skirts, corsets, and delicate embroidery for heavy travel. Louis Vuitton gradually grew into a brand that offerd simpler travel pieces and Vuitton himself passed the company on to his son, and then the granson and so on. In fact, the famous 'Monogram' design was invented by the son, as a way to deter counterfeiters. There is a wonderful history section on the home page, www.vuitton.com, plus videos of how they make all the products by hand and interesting trivia.

Coco Chanel was one of the most influential fashion designers of her time as well as today. She revolutionized women’s wear and set new standards for contemporary style. She knew what she wanted and what women appreciated. Her classic styles have continued to thrive long after her death and she will always be considered a legendary figure in the fashion world. Chanel set a stable base for many other fashion designers to follow in her footsteps and create names for themselves like she did. She is an important part of fashion history that is notorious worldwide. Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born in Saumur, France in 1883. After her parents passed away at a very young age, Gabrielle was raised by her aunts in the province of Auvergne. She was educated at a convent orphanage in Aubazine from 1895-1900. This was when the nickname “Coco” was derived, meaning “little pet.”1 In 1910, Coco moved to rue Cambon in Paris. She opened a shop at number 21, and crowds soon began to flock to it. Only a few years later, she took over numbers 27, 29 and 31 of the same street.2 She then opened a shop in Deauville, where she designed a few accessories inspired by workmen’s and sailor’s clothes. Her easy-fitting and flowing designs could be worn for exercise or sport. “Chanel preferred getting a sun tan exercising in the fresh air and bathing in the sea, to perspiring in ostentatious dresses at balls and casinos in spa towns.”3 During this time she saw herself “rubbing shoulders with the men,” and ready to surpass them. During the First World War, there was quite a shortage of fabric, so Chanel in turn designed “sophisticated, yet minimalist garments for women that were in the direct opposition to the frilly Belle Epoque style so popular before the war.”4 During the Second World War, Chanel’s business was interrupted by the German occupation of Paris. She closed her shops in 1938 and didn’t reopen until 1954.

The coach brand name got its start at a Manhattan address in New York in the year 1941. It was initially a wholesale bag business where bags were mass produced. It is said that inspiration came from a used leather glove. The leather in the glove shone with age and was supple and smooth. After several tries, the owner of the company finally created the first of many Coach Handbags. Around the early 60?s the owners of the company became interested in making a retail bag collection. The owners, Miles and Lillian Cahn, wanted to get Bonnie Cashin to design the bags they wanted to produce. Bonnie Cashin virtually revolutionized the handbag industry with her bright, flashy colors and innovative designs. She used reds, oranges and yellows for the bags and this was almost non-existent during that time because the staple colors were the dull blacks and shades of brown. Cashin also designed matching holders for ladies accessories and these were integrated into the Coach Handbags themselves. She also initiated using hardware in the bags that she designed. Over all, Coach Handbags pioneered a lot of things and it is still doing a very capable job of supplying leather goods and other products to their loyalists and other