Affordable French Designer Bags for you to Discover | Bags for Breakfast

Since the recent Chanel price increase, I've received a couple questions about handbag options that are more affordable than Hermes and Chanel, but still maintain outstanding quality.

This past year I have spent a lot of time in France and thanks to this experience, I have had the pleasure of discovering and falling in love with outstanding iconic french brands that have the same quality and as long of a heritage as Hermes, but without as high of a price tag, and more accessible.

All of the following brands are great options for if you want to carry a beautiful artisan crafted, high quality handbag, but don't have a big budget. If you want to shop from brands that are not trend driven. If you rather reserve your Hermes bags for special occasions but still want to carry a quality bag for everyday use. Or if you just love and appreciate a great bag!

Here are my favourite french designer bags that are not Hermes or Chanel or Dior, which I hope you explore further if you haven't already heard of:

Le Tanneur

This brand specializes in handcrafted leather bags, wallets, belts, and small leather accessories. The brand was founded in 1898 in the town of Belley, France by a leather craftsman named Abel Tanneur.

The company has a rich history and has always been known for its high-quality leather goods. The brand's signature is its use of vegetable-tanned leather, the same traditional method of tanning leather that produces a unique, natural finish that Hermes uses. Similar to Hermes, Le Tanneur's handbags can last a lifetime thanks to them prioritizing quality and durability. Their designs are timeless and elegant with a focus on simple and clean lines, and meant to be both functional and stylish. The sizing of their bags are perfect for day to night use as well!

My favourite handbag Le Tanneur has to offer is the Petit Sac a Main Emilie. It is a timeless design, with soft edges and a fine grain, yet has a solid structure that will keep its shape.

In recent years, Le Tanneur has expanded its offerings to include more contemporary designs and materials, while still staying true to its roots as a maker of traditional, high-quality leather goods. The brand has a loyal following mainly in France, which is why in my opinion it's the most underrated brand on this list, it's probably the one with the least global presence, but certainly has quality that should be world renowned.

Lancel

Lancel is a French luxury leather goods brand that was founded in 1876 by Angèle Lancel in Paris, France. The brand started out as a small shop selling smoking accessories, but with soon expanded to include leather goods such as handbags, luggage, and wallets.

Lancel quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality leather goods and innovative designs. In the early 20th century, the brand introduced the first-ever bucket bag, which became an instant hit and a fashion icon, so we have Lancel to thank for that!

Today, Lancel continues to be known for its iconic designs, quality craftsmanship, and use of luxurious materials. My favourite Lancel bags are the Rodeo de Lancel and of course, their bucket bag, Le Ninon de Lancel.

Lancel's products also focus on practicality and functionality but have a more playful and funky design, I'd say more comparable to a Fendi vibe. The brand loves to incorporate unique features like hidden compartments and detachable straps, to make its products even more versatile and user-friendly. Lancel feels fun and fresh and youthful even though it was founded hundreds of years ago. This may be because Lancel pretty often collaborates with other high-profile designers and artists to create limited-edition collections that are always fun to look out for.

Faure Lepage

Faure Le Page is special because it is the oldest brand on our list, and honestly the oldest brand that I know of, if you can find an older luxury brand that is still operational today I would love for you to comment it below! This brand was founded in 1717 by King Louis XV's personal armorer, Auguste Faure, who was known for creating some of the most innovative and finely crafted firearms of his time.

Somewhere along the line, Faure Le Page's began creating handbags and it quickly became its signature product since the design was so unique at the time. It features a distinctive scale-shaped pattern reminiscent of a coat of arms that is embroidered by an artisan with over 21,000 stitches on jacquard canvas or embossed onto grained calf leather using techniques developed by the brand long ago that they still use today.

Their brand really incorporates their armorer roots from the titles of their bags like their "Daily Battle" tote bag, to the descriptions of their products and of course their slogan "Armed to Seduce." They feature their roots is similar to how Hermes features their saddle and harness making roots through bag charm accessories and smaller leather goods. My favourite is their fire armed themed accessories in the shape of a caliber is so unique and gives a really cool and edgy feel to a sleek little accessory.

Their more rigid handbags are also adorned with metal hardware, which is inspired by the same metal used to make their arms, and on any bag you can add personalized "medals" as they call them, in your initials, or they have a selection of super cute medal charms you can choose from that I had a coups de coeur for!

The legacy these brands have is remarkable to me. The fact that a brand that was thriving in the 1700's was able to be adapted throughout the years into styles that people want to wear today while still preserving their history is so special and something I think should be really valued.

At a quick glance, Faure Le Page may be compared to Goyard, and would be a great alternative in terms of price point. While both brands have a strong connection to French history and culture, each truly has their own unique identity and aesthetic. Faure Le Page's signature scale-shaped pattern and ornate hardware give its products a distinctive, almost medieval feel, while Goyard's signature chevron Y shaped pattern is a more contemporary vibe.

The biggest difference is marked by how Goyard has a more global presence, with more boutiques worldwide. Faure Le Page, on the other hand, has a smaller footprint, and people aren't as aware of this brand nor its rich heritage.

Overall, while there are similarities between Faure Le Page and Goyard, each brand has its own unique identity and aesthetic, making it difficult to compare them directly. Both brands are known for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship

Moynat

If you haven't heard of Moynat, it is a gorgeous gorgeous brand that I find is so elegant. This is a luxury fashion brand that has been making trunks for hundreds of years. The brand was founded in 1849 by Pauline Moynat, who was one of the first women to establish a trunk-making business in Paris.

Moynat quickly became known for its ultra innovative designs, creating individual designs to fit seamlessly in the trunks of every early automobile model's trunk. The two most popular models were the "Limousine" trunk, which is a long slim trunk, and the "Bed Trunk", which was a portable bed that could be folded into a trunk for travel.

The brand gained a reputation for excellence and quickly became a favourite of the European aristocracy, with clients including queens and empresses.

However, despite its early success, the brand fell into decline in the mid-20th century and eventually ceased trading in the 1970s. It was only in 2010 that the brand was revived by LVMH, who was drawn to the brand's unique heritage and history. The brand's products are still handcrafted in France using the same traditional techniques that have been used for over 150 years and has kept the original designs and signature M monogram pattern, and artisan hand-painted personalizations that the brand was originally known and loved for.

My favourite bag Moynat has to offer is their Gabrielle Clutch, which would resemble a Kelly Pochette style, and the Gabrielle BB, which is the same model but with a top handle. This design is simple and its shape is poised, the extended lines of the M clasp are graceful. It would make a beautiful evening bag, or to wear everyday if you're extra sophisticated and love a classic look. The tourterelle colour is my favourite, it's a really serene shade of grey.

Today, Moynat is once again a thriving luxury brand, with a focus on quality craftsmanship, innovative design, and attention to detail. In terms of price, Moynat is on the higher end of this list, and would be most comparable to Dior. It still comes below Hermes and Chanel, but you are certainly not skipping on quality with Moynat, it is a perfect alternative for the more known, but less accessible designers.

These are just four brands that I've selected, but there are so many amazing French designers with outstanding quality besides the brands that dominate the fashion world. If you want to continue to discover