Carlos Falchi
Encyclopedia
Carlos Falchi is a Brazilian
-born handbag and accessories designer known for his patchwork
designs. He has won awards for accessory design, and his accessories have appeared in several TV shows and movies. His business generates about $100 million a year in retail sales.
, New York City
. He worked as a busboy
at Max's Kansas City
while developing his designs; at one point his neighbor was Jimi Hendrix
. His clientele were originally rockers and jazz artists.
Bendels
Retailer Geraldine Stutz
, of Henri Bendel
stores, gave Falchi one of his early breaks. His designs became fashionable and he rose to early success. The late-1980s collapse of the Japanese economy
seriously affected his sales. He was a part of the It Bag
trend of the 1990s-2000s. At one point a bad business decision caused him to lose his own name brand to another company.
and ostrich
and are soft and unstructured.
contracted with Falchi to produce a line of ten lower priced bags, using synthetic materials, that were sold at Target stores for November and December 2009. He has also launched another lower priced line, Chi, which is sold on Home Shopping Network
, where he has appeared.
in Dallas. They have two daughters: Kate, who is a designer with her father's company, and Juliet, who works for Estée Lauder
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
-born handbag and accessories designer known for his patchwork
Patchwork
Patchwork or "pieced work" is a form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. The larger design is usually based on repeat patterns built up with different colored shapes. These shapes are carefully measured and cut, straight-sided, basic geometric shapes...
designs. He has won awards for accessory design, and his accessories have appeared in several TV shows and movies. His business generates about $100 million a year in retail sales.
Background and education
Falchi began his career in 1970s Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He worked as a busboy
Busboy
Busser, busboy and busgirl are terms used in the United States for someone who works in the restaurant and catering industry clearing tables, taking dirty dishes to the dishwasher, setting tables and otherwise assisting the waiting staff....
at Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City
Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South, in New York City, which was a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s.-Origin of name:...
while developing his designs; at one point his neighbor was Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. His clientele were originally rockers and jazz artists.
BendelsHenri BendelHenri Bendel is an American upscale women's specialty store based in New York City that sells fashion accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods...
Retailer Geraldine StutzGeraldine Stutz
Geraldine Stutz was an American retail groundbreaker. She was appointed president of Henri Bendel in 1957, serving for 29 years until stepping down in 1986.She was born in Chicago, Illinois....
, of Henri Bendel
Henri Bendel
Henri Bendel is an American upscale women's specialty store based in New York City that sells fashion accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods...
stores, gave Falchi one of his early breaks. His designs became fashionable and he rose to early success. The late-1980s collapse of the Japanese economy
Japanese asset price bubble
The was an economic bubble in Japan from 1986 to 1991, in which real estate and stock prices were greatly inflated. The bubble's collapse lasted for more than a decade with stock prices initially bottoming in 2003, although they would descend even further amidst the global crisis in 2008. The...
seriously affected his sales. He was a part of the It Bag
It Bag
It Bag is a colloquial term from the fashion industry used in the 1990s and 2000s to describe a brand or type of high-priced designer handbag by makers such as Hermès or Fendi that becomes a popular best-seller.-History:...
trend of the 1990s-2000s. At one point a bad business decision caused him to lose his own name brand to another company.
Materials
Falchi's bags often use skins such as python, alligatorAlligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
and ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
and are soft and unstructured.
Market venues
His main collection tends to be sold at upscale department stores for prices ranging from $1,500 to up to $5,000. In 2009, American discount retailer TargetTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
contracted with Falchi to produce a line of ten lower priced bags, using synthetic materials, that were sold at Target stores for November and December 2009. He has also launched another lower priced line, Chi, which is sold on Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
, where he has appeared.
Personal
Falchi has been married 25 years to his wife, Missy, who he met while she was working for the special events office in a Neiman MarcusNeiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
in Dallas. They have two daughters: Kate, who is a designer with her father's company, and Juliet, who works for Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder Companies
Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company has its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
.