Bags Designing Software Helps Luxury Brands to Instil Eco-friendliness in Business Model

Nitin Nimbalkar
8 min readSep 23, 2021

The rise of resale in the fashion industry over the past decade is fuelling by a growing demand for more sustainable options. Though the trend has been a little slow in the luxury industry, it is gradually becoming the talk of the town. With buyers becoming more aware of their choices and how it impacts the environment, the designers must also go with the flow and take the concept a little further by allowing their buyers to design their bags that best speaks for their personality and fashion sense. The handbag design software is a customization solution that can be installed on the website and in the physical store and allow your customers to design their purses, tote bags, backpacks, and many other kinds seamlessly. The tool has a built-in digital feature that enables buyers to preview their product in 3d before they place an order.

Bags Designing Software Helps Luxury Brands to Instil Eco-friendliness in Business Model

Bags Designing Software Offers Relevant Solutions to Harbor the Sustainability Concept

Since time immemorial, handbags have been the status symbol for fashionistas, and as the term “sustainability” has made it big in the fashion industry, its demand among buyers has risen exponentially. The avid fashion-lovers looking for something realistic yet environmentally conscious of keeping up their items should look no further because eco-friendly handbags offer some handy, sustainable options. When it comes to recent and modern bags, haute couture purses have become the most sought-after designs around the world. The eco-friendly options have become the power tool to entice customers eager to add them to their wardrobe. A great way to enhance the style and accessorize without jeopardizing the climate is by filling in your new collection line that balances the production and nature.

With customers witnessing the increase in their disposable income and becoming more sustainably conscious, it is inevitable for brands to remain static and not act upon customers’ demands. It is well-known that buyers are making responsible choices, but a bigger onus lies on brands’ part. When brands show interest in creating trendy and meets all the requirements to be eco-friendly and ethical, buyers tend to support them in creating a greener and more circular economy. And in the past year, the long lockdowns and limited access to favorite brands prompted people to realize what should they prioritize and shun the fast-fashion practice. Buyers are increasingly demanding products that are costlier yet the best in quality that will last more years. And more ethical consumers emerge, brands are compelled to shift to sustainability subtly.

Here are some more factors and case studies that instil the need to implement sustainability in the luxury industry:

· Exploring New Market Avenues to Recover from the Loss

The COVID-19 majorly impacted the global fashion market, and it is expected to recover to the pre-pandemic level in 2022, reaching USD 1,096 billion at constant 2020 prices. With sustainability becoming an increased focus area, brands must capitalize on the trend to engage with their buyers. The study further notes that the luxury economy was one of the driving factors in the Asia-Pacific region, as this geographical location witnessed a strong recovery from the pandemic in the second half of 2020. The growth observed in this region was spectacular, faster, and earlier than any other region. Vintage stores are becoming hot destinations for key opinion leaders (KOLs) and key opinion consumers (KOCs) in the Asia Pacific, driving the fashion value of vintage luxury goods and improving the image of “reuse” in the industry.

Experts in consumer goods industries state that the rise in the consumer’s social and political interests could be one of the defining factors that allow growth of the luxury goods in the APAC region. According to Euromonitor International’s ‘The Voice of the Industry: Luxury Goods Survey’ in 2021, 65 per cent of industry experts agreed that sustainability and environmental concerns would be a very influential trend for their businesses in the next five years, implying that there’s no longer a “wait-and-see” moment for the industry. Though, it would be unfair to comment that post-pandemic luxury brands suddenly decided to comply with the ecological and ethical standards. Even when the pandemic outbroke, the fashion and luxury industry had witnessed multiple initiatives on this front. For example, Nona Source, an online resale platform for materials from LVMH and Leather Goods Maison, and Kering’s partnership with RealReal were steps taken in the environment-friendly direction. But they have not paid enough attention to the APAC region, where most new developments were occurring. For instance, Valuence Holdings, a Japanese reuse and technology company that operates a second-hand luxury goods supply chain in Japan and 13 other countries, introduced a new initiative called ‘Valuence Resale Impact Calculator’ in early 2021.

Similarly, the 3D bag design software allows brands to control their production processes by offering customization and digital solutions. These novel features allow buyers to select the design, customize, and preview it with virtual solutions. Thus, it helps luxury brands cater to buyers’ needs while also safeguarding its and nature interest. Besides, it is an online platform, which means it is accessible to people across the globe for customizing their bags seamlessly. It also provides real-time engagement and delivers the freedom of creating a unique handbag design. Its user interface is quite simple to follow as it gives your customer the freedom and opportunity to select a handbag type, select the components (Front, back, side panel, lower panel, inside shoulder strap and, metal hardware) and, apply their finishing touches including, various colored leathers, even add initials or text.

· Leading Brands Unveiling Sustainable Products Through Collaboration

Bags are undeniably every woman’s best friend, and with changing seasons and trends, there has been an evolution in the designing of the bags with respect to their shapes, sizes, and production patterns. And as the luxury industry is shifting from fast fashion to a more environment-friendly process, leading brands don’t want to be left behind to become eco-heroes. By investing in science and technology, they are making a tool for change. They are actively involved in developing materials that can curb unethical practices, such as wastage of natural resources, frequent disposal of products, and cruelty towards animals. Many brands have been involved in curating a distinct pattern or texture over the last few years, which can act as an alternative to the classic leather bag. These are unique in terms of design, offer wider colour choices, and have smooth finishes.

While some brands focus on creating designs that cater to modern requirements, some join forces with other brands to attain this dream. For instance, British fashion brand Mulberry has unveiled the latest chapter in its Mulberry Editions with Irish-born, London-based Richard Malone as part of the brand’s 50th anniversary. The brands have reinterpreted two Mulberry bags that feature the iconic Postman’s lock for the limited edition. The two have come together to highlight their commitment to British craftsmanship and sustainability, with its eco-friendly version of Mulberry’s signature scotch grain material. For decades, the fabric has been a key part of the brand’s collections and is used across all styles. It is now crafted from innovative Bio-Synthetic materials, repurposing inedible cereal waste into a hard-wearing, lightweight material that looks and feels the same as the original textured leather. Any leather used, for instance, on the straps and handles, is from Gold standard, environmentally accredited tanneries.

Moreover, several brands are collaborating with other junior artists or budding designers to offer them a platform to display their talent or support craftsmanship. These measures are not only taken into consideration by the emerging fashion houses, but leading brands have also leapt in this race as well and doing everything in their capacity to support the upcoming talent. Louis Vuitton, for example, has unveiled the new designs of its acclaimed Capucines bag made in collaboration with six contemporary artists. For the third instalment of its artist partnerships, it has asked international artists, including Gregor Hildebrandt, Donna Huanca, Huang Yuxing, Vik Muniz, Paola Pivi, and Zeng Fanzhi, to transform a blank canvas of the bag to represent their own signature style. With this step, the fashion label intends to highlight its own craftmanship and the artist’s creativity.

· Becoming More Inclusive and Embracing Diversity

For a long time, luxury brands have refrained from changing their stand on the social disparity they have created. Their designer and premium-priced bags have gained a lot of attention from high-end buyers, whereas the rest of society always felt overlooked. Therefore, more brands are coming out to support the neglected group and provide designs that best suits their lifestyle. For instance, the Italian accessories brand Coccinelle is partnering with Barbie on a new bag and campaign focused on inclusion and diversity. The brand believes that the future holds enormous opportunities for those willing to grab it. Launching its new ‘Coccinelle for Barbie’ international project supports “a stereotype-free dimension where barriers fall, differences are celebrated, and natural beauty is encouraged”. The campaign will run around twenty-five countries around the world and included Italian and international ambassadors and female leaders, including Daniela Scattolin, Annalisa Arcando, and Nina Rima, who will share their stories and promote a global message of inclusion and positivity.

Coccinella has started a campaign that highlights Barbie manifesto bag made of strong nylon canvas, which also includes 50 per cent recycled sources apart from leather handles and a grosgrain ribbon. Its collection will feature the words “The Future is Limitless” in graffiti-style characters.

Additionally, traditional fashion has illustrated bags and apparel that suited a particular age group and working community. Especially the bags were earlier designed that only displayed fashion sense and offered no practical use. However, things started to change in the early 1970s, when Lopez’s soft, sensual drawings helped usher in a new era of freedom. The designer’s sketches have in the past appeared on coats and handbags and helped the leading brand, Fendi, to evoke the most iconic party looks that were rooted in diversity and inclusivity. Similarly, the brand’s designer Kim Jones, who has spent most of designing for men, says that diversity and inclusivity are key to stay relevant. In the recent Milan fashion show, he displayed his collection by bringing bags for men and women that offer more functionality to them.

Closing Comments-

Undeniably, brands have to develop a premium and luxury selling experience to create their unshakable place in the luxury industry. With COVID-19 bringing a new conscious awareness among buyers, the brands have to firm stand and determination that goes far beyond compensating for the company’s negative impact on people and the planet as consumers are meteorically searching for more morally brand brands responsible. Thus, it would be fair to conclude that the definition of sustainability is evolving with time, and brands must aim to create social, environmental, and economic value with their future business model. If this is an overwhelming task, the handbag design software by iDesigniBuy is at your service. It helps brands think beyond their production process and think about ethical credentials and environmental concerns. Its customization solution enables brands to gain the best of both worlds by bringing together fashion and technology, which will help in eliminating environmental concerns.

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Nitin Nimbalkar

Being the founder of a software company specializing in web and mobile application development, I have around 18 years of experience in the industry.