the handbag market | France

1.1 Market definition and presentation

A purse is a fashion accessory for storing everyday objects (wallet, keys...). It is a mass market product, mainly intended for women. However, some models are offered to men, generally in the form of bags

Handbags are distinguished by, among other things

• Their range and their brand : luxury, high-end, mid-range, entry-level
• Their shape and size : tote bag, pocket, shoulder bag, bucket bag etc.
• Their subject : leather, synthetic, textile, recycled material etc.

The world marketplace of the handbags was estimated at 47 billion in 2018 and was projected to grow at a CAGR (combined annual growth rate) of 5.4% between 2019 and 2025 to reach $67.9 billion in 2025. While this figure is overestimated because it does not take into account the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic, it is indicative of the strong growth of the sector.

The France is the europe's second largest producer of handbags, after Italy, which alone accounts for almost 70% of European production. The turnover of the French handbag market has almost doubled in 5 years and this growth has accelerated from 2017. The export dynamism and the The positive image of French leather goods are the main factors behind this boom. The market is thus particularly dependent on its foreign customers.

In addition, new growth drivers are emerging, in particular the digitalization of the sector, the development of the second hand and the growing consumer focus on the eco-responsibility of the products they buy.

While the Covid-19 outbreak led to a drop in sales during containment, the structural growth of the market therefore appears to be solid. The main French specialist players in the market include Longchamp, Lancaster, Le Tanneur and La Bagagerie. In addition to these, there are foreign specialist players, notably Italian ones such as Gucci and Tuscany Leather. Ready-to-wear, accessories and shoe retailers also often offer handbags.

All of these players are often manufacturers who directly distribute their products. However, handbags are also distributed in department stores, such as Les Galeries Lafayette, supermarkets and hypermarkets, and on the Internet, by pure-players, such as Asos or Zalando, or mail order companies, such as La Redoute.