The Goyard handbag has a history dating back to 1853; the Goyard family started in wood transporting before they went into trunk making. As a brand in designer bags, Goyard is not quite as well known as the other French brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Chanel, though Goyard were malletiers (trunk makers) of many French aristocratic families. As such, the company made bags according to aristocrats’ crest colors.
In 1892, the Goyard handbag featured a chevron pattern on a material made from a mixture of cotton, hemp and linen. The material resulted in thin, lightweight and waterproof designer bags. During the late 1990s, the Signoles family took over the company. Since then, the company has made Goyard handbag designs with different colors and has offered personalized monograms to its customers. They also make customized luggage and accept special orders.
The Goyard handbag emerged from obscurity when Barney’s featured it on their window. Today, only twelve stores sell Goyard bags: Beverly Hills, Boston, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Kyoto, London, Osaka, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo. Since the brand thrives on its exclusivity and since the bags are expensive, there are a lot of imitation bags in the market today.’
Buyers can make sure that they’re purchasing a real Goyard bag by checking a couple of things. The blend of cotton, hemp and linen from which the bags are made is coated with resin; in addition, the bags are hand painted. The dots should feel raised, like they were embossed on the fabric, while the print on imitation bags are machine-made and are therefore flat. Also, Goyard handbags that have black leather trim are stitched with black thread. Any other colors of trim should have white stitching.
There are several Goyard handbag designs that come in different sizes and colors, from the hatbox-inspired Jeanne to the rigid Jersey. There is the reversible shopping bag St. Louis that comes with a matching wallet and the St. Honore clutch, an exclusive release bag that is available from Goyard retailers for private viewings.
Buyers sometimes think twice before purchasing a Goyard bag since it looks flimsy, though people who have bought Goyard bags swear by their durability and amazing quality. Purchasing one may break the bank though, as the bags are expensive – and even more expensive for people who want to personalize their bags by getting one with a monogram or a crown.