Prada Vintage Bags

Prada makes some of the world’s most luxurious handbags. The iconic Italian fashion house’s vintage purses, crossbody bags, shoulder bags and other bags are part of a storied history that reaches back to 1913, when it was founded by Mario Prada.

In 1919, Prada was named Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household. During the years that followed, the company expanded internationally and, to this day, continues to innovate in the luxury fashion space.

Prada is famous for its Saffiano leather, which is heat-treated for high durability and quality. Elegant and modern, Prada bags are made of leather or nylon. From clutches to tote bags, Prada’s designs tend to be sleek and timeless. The Re-edition Nylon Mini has been a favorite among celebrities, but the Galleria, which is known for its clean lines and sturdy construction, the Cahier and the Nylon tote are also popular designs. Nylon revolutionized the fashion house’s business, with the first Prada nylon backpack released to universal acclaim in 1984.

Because of the craftsmanship involved in creating Prada bags, they carry a luxury price tag whether they’re vintage, pre-owned or brand-new. And as coveted objects that make bold statements to the outside world, vintage designer handbags generally have appreciated in value more in the past 10 years than houses or cars have. A vintage Prada bag may be a great investment — if it’s the real deal. When you’re trying to tell if a Prada bag is real, perhaps the most obvious tell is a price that’s too good to be true. But not all fake Prada bags are sold at low prices, and it’s not always easy to discern real from counterfeit without a close inspection.

Some inauthentic Prada bags are more obvious than others, rife with telltale signs like poor-quality stitching, tarnished hardware and even misspellings of Prada. A fake may be so evident that you don’t even have to pop it open to know it’s not genuine.

A genuine Prada bag has the inverted triangle logo. The plaque containing the logo on a real bag is the same color as the bag itself, so watch out for even tiny differences in hue. The plaque should be perfectly straight and securely attached — if it’s crooked, it’s a fake. (Read more about how to spot a fake Prada bag here.)

Find a wide variety of vintage Prada handbags, top handle bags, travel bags and other items on 1stDibs.

The House of Savoy coat of arms and knotted rope on Prada’s seal herald that the iconic Italian luxury fashion house was named Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household in 1919. Started in 1913 by Mario Prada, the brand’s original shop in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II still has the mahogany shelves that displayed its early wares such as travel items and handbags. Today, these fine leather goods are joined by the clothing, wallets and other various accessories that keep the brand on the cutting edge of fashion.

When Mario Prada’s granddaughter, Miuccia Prada (b. 1949), inherited the business from her mother in the late 1970s, Prada was recognized for its quality craftsmanship, yet it was still a modest-sized company. Miuccia, an enthusiast of unconventional Italian filmmakers who’d earned a Ph.D. in political science, introduced the concept of using pocone — a military-grade water-resistant nylon that feels like silk.

Nylon revolutionized the fashion house’s business, with the first Prada nylon backpack released to universal acclaim in 1984. Soon the durable, water-resistant material was incorporated into Prada’s ready-to-wear collections for both men and women. No one had previously considered nylon a part of luxury fashion, and it wasn’t long before the family-owned company best known for its luggage was leading modern style that emphasized function as much as form.

Characterized by clean lines and a refined elegance that signaled the new direction of the legacy brand, Miuccia Prada debuted her first ready-to-wear collection for women in Fall/Winter 1988. More inventive fashion would follow in the ensuing years, such as the 1993 launch of the more affordable, more playful Miu Miu line, which was aimed at a younger audience, and the introduction of Prada Sport in 1997 — a collection now widely seen as prescient for its embrace of athleisure.

Prada has regularly gone against the grain to elevate styles that have long been out of fashion. In 1996, there were dresses and skirts in clashing patterns and muted earth tones that seemed flat and outdated, all worn with chunky high wedge sandals. Fanny packs followed three years later, and elaborate lace in 2008. Each season continues to bring new eye-catching innovations for the historic brand, including enhanced attention to sustainability with Prada Re-Nylon, a new line of bags created from recycled ocean plastic.

Today, find a wide variety of vintage Prada evening dresses, bags and other items on 1stDibs.

An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.

Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”

First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.

They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”

From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.