Daily Fashion Juice
Friday, October 07, 2011

Mary-Kate & Ashley set to make billions off a backpack

Jenna Clarke

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's $39,000 backpack.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are selling their $39,000 backpacks quicker than they can make them.
The alligator skin backpack, is the latest and most expensive accessory from the former Full House stars' high-end fashion label The Row.

"It was the first thing that sold off the shelf," the 25-year-olds told Women's Wear Daily during Paris Fashion Week.

New York based Ashley is frequently seen and photographed with the expensive bag, which features solid gold toggles and clips.

It also sat front row with her as Kanye West unveiled his first fashion collection during fashion week in the city of lights.

Ashley was optimistic about the future of luxury labels, including her own.

"During our last economic crisis in the US, the only thing that went up was Hermes," she said.
Hermes is the fashion house behind the famous Birkin, a special order hand bag made from crocodile skin that costs upwards of $40,000.

In most countries there is a wait list of more than two years.

The Row backpack is stocked in New York department store Barneys, where two have already been pre-ordered.

"I think the bags are triple super chic," Barneys fashion director Amanda Brooks told fashionista.com.

"We don't carry Hermes bags in the store so we were trying to find something that appeals to that customer who is willing to spend a lot of money on a bag that’s going to last a long time and has a classic design."

Rather than heralding a revival of the backpack, not seen since Clueless in the '90s, the Olsen's luxury carry-all joins the ranks of other celebrity designer collections.

A large piece of hand luggage created by Victoria Beckham now retails overseas for around $29,000.