In 1995, Giorgio Armani set out to design a bag for the dynamic women he dressed. Known for his sleek suits characterised by clean lines, the Italian designer looked to the tailored jacket for inspiration, incorporating details such as the roundness of the cuts and the darts that shaped volume. Christened La Prima (“the first” in Italian), the square accordion bag — distinguished by pleats further accentuated with stitches (evocative of tailoring) — marked his first foray into the world of accessories. “I studied it for a long time to make it functional and sophisticated, feminine yet not overly romantic. I relied on Italian craftsmanship to get this result. The line of this bag echoes the fluid and precise silhouette of my clothes; the understated shape, softened by pleats at the corners, makes it perfect for all occasions.” His dedication paid off — the La Prima is still oh-so-chic over 20 years later, modernised with a double-slide handle that lets you carry the bag by hand, on the shoulder or across the body. The new edition comes in delicate vegetable calfskin, palmellato calfskin (soft yet sturdy for everyday use), as well as a sophisticated rendition in patent crocodile.
