The History of Longchamp Handbags

2008 marks the 60th year of Longchamp's existence. This classic French brand has had its fair share of elegant marketing and products. Today it is well known for the beautiful bags it designs, both in canvas and in leather. But that is not how the company began. In 1948, Jean Cassegrain inherited his family tobacco shop and with his great inventive mind, decided to cover the pipes in leather. The leather covered pipes began to take off and become a luxury item that no one could get anywhere but Cassegrain's store. He had to pick a name for his shop and so he settled on Longchamp. He would walk by a horse race track in Paris that was called Longchamp, translating to "long field" and he decided that would be a good name for his new leather company. Longchamp eventually expanded to purses, leather goods, and many other accessories. Now, in 2008, Philippe Cassegrain (Jean Cassegrain's son) is head of the Longchamp Company. The accessories that Longchamp creates continue to expand. Styles from every collection are simply gorgeous with no sign of flashy overdone logos. LongChamp Pliagehas continued the tradition of designing top quality pieces that are both stylish and classy. Le Pliage LongChamp Pliage most popular line is the Le Pliage collection. There are several reasons for its popularity among both teenagers and adults. While the bag may seem pricy compared to other generic bags on the market, the price point is very reasonable considering the craftsmanship and allure of the Longchamp brand. It's great to be able to own a quality bag that is both beautiful and practical. The Longchamp Le Pliage collection includes a canvas surface that makes clean up a breeze. The bag also folds up and snaps closed to a very convenient small traveling size when not in use. Leather accents on both the handles and top flap give the items within the Le Pliage collection a signature and stylish look that has an international appeal. The quality and style of the Le Pliage collection is recognized and enjoyed worldwide. The Start up Line-LM The LM line was first launched in the early 1970's and made its first appearance in the Japanese market. The gorgeous bags were a hit and were the catalyst for Longchamp's growth through all of Asia and most of the world today. The original LM line had calfskin leather that was silk-screened with the vintage horse and belt criss-cross logo. This line was discontinued from the Longchamp collections by the 1980's. The vintage line has been re-launched this year in honor of Longchamp's 60th year anniversary. Pipes Longchamp began to receive recognition and praise due to their line of leather covered pipes, but eventually, this trend faded out. As the interest in the leather covered pipes diminished, Longchamp completely transitioned from producing leather covered pipes to leather accessories in general. About 35 years ago, Longchamp stopped selling their famous leather pipes. Longchamp now consists of a variety of leather accessories including wallets, travel equipment, purses, belts and much more. The next time you see a Longchamp bag take a moment to take a look. Remember that it's all in the details, the quality and the history of the Longchamp line gives it the allure of both fashion and prestige. These bags truly are timeless and are constantly in style. It is no wonder that as Longchamp celebrates its 60th anniversary it continues its reputation of international style, quality, and beauty. LongChamp Pliage This article was written by a Longchamp specialist at WhatSheBuys. You can view all Longchamp handbags including the famous Longchamp Le Pliage Totes and Longchamp LM Collection. WhatSheBuys is an authorized retailer of world class brands for women, men and children.