Bagging Rights

A luxury handbag is a rite of passage for every woman. From the celebratory purchase with one's first pay cheque to the subsequent quest for a limited edition Birkin, luxury bag makers know what women want. Which is why, in the competitive high-end retail arena, designers are working on overdrive to churn out the fanciest, most functional or statement-worthy handbags every season.

These days, handbag shopping is a massive…