New York City’s maverick handbag designer, the Brazilian-born Carlos Falchi, began his multibillion-dollar accessories brand in the bathtub of his Greenwich Village apartment.
In the 1960s, Falchi started by making leather clothing — bleaching snakeskin in his tub — for rock stars and jazz artists like Mick Jagger, Tina Turner and Miles Davis. But when he turned his attention to handbags, persuaded by Geraldine Stultz, the president of Henri Bendel, he found his true calling.
In a world flush with iconic “It” handbags, Falchi’s bags are distinctive and eye-catching, with soft, pliable forms, dazzling patchwork designs and dyed skins from exotic animals such as alligators, frogs, buffalo and water snakes. Even though he was a self-taught artisan, Falchi managed to reinvent the approach that yields the stiff, formal structure typically associated with the upright handbags of European luxury houses. His groundbreaking and oft-imitated Buffalo bag, an unconstructed and lightweight satchel made from a single skin with only two seams and a gathered front, went on to garner universal success for the craftsman, with Women’s Wear Daily deeming it “the most copied bag in the industry.” For his celebrated slouchy bag, Falchi was inspired by the draping techniques he learned while attending art school in Japan. In 1983, he won a Coty American Fashion Critics Award for the accessory.
Falchi made his clutches, shoulder bags and top-handled bags by hand in his New York City atelier, and the designer’s work garnered praise from fashion legends such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Barbra Streisand and Sarah Jessica Parker. In the years leading up to his death in 2015, Falchi began to sell inexpensive versions of his handbags on the Home Shopping Channel. A sampling of his work is held today in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Find a range of vintage Carlos Falchi handbags and purses on 1stDibs.
Carlos Falchi Hieroglyph Style Cabochon Gold-Tone Necklace
By Carlos Falchi
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Carlos Falchi Hieroglyph Style Carbochon Gold-Tone Necklace is a striking statement piece that seamlessly combines artistic craftsmanship with bold design. Crafted in a luxurious...
Estate Angela Cummings Bold 18k Gold Diamond Braided Collar Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A bold, dramatic and fanciful 18k gold vintage collar necklace signed by noted designer Angela Cummings. Intriguing graduated concentric circles of twisted gold tipped with sparkling...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$8,188Sale Price|25% Off
W 2.37 in L 2.76 in
Multi-Strand Pearl Choker Necklace with Angel Skin Coral 18 Karat Gold Clasp
By Bonebakker
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Gorgeous 5-strand pearl necklace with an exquisite large sized carved angel skin coral 18 karat gold clasp. Can be worn with the clasp in the back, although the beautiful clasp is me...
Coral, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold
14 Karat, Madeira Garnet and Diamond Multi-Comet Necklace
By Martha Seely
Located in Carlisle, MA
This is a very special necklace - made in 14k with Madeira garnets and diamonds. The joyful movement of this design is made with garnet comets, moving ...
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold
Miriam Haskell Strand of Large Faux Baroque Pearls
By Miriam Haskell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Miriam Haskell's strand of large vintage faux baroque pearls with a gold tone setting. The closure is a six pearl extender and a gold tone hook set with a faux pearl. This strand i...
Pearl, Gilt Metal
Edwardian Seed Pearl, Diamond, and Platinum Choker Necklace
Located in New York, NY
The thirteen strand cultured pearl collar necklace, with tubular slide-clasp ends, center highlights a platinum and diamond set spiral medallion, designed as a diamond set feather-ed...
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
18 Karat Yellow Gold 12 Brilliant Cut Sapphires Collar Choker Necklace
By Anna Maccieri Rossi
Located in Santarcangelo Di Romagna, IT
Inspired by time, Anna Maccieri Rossi's 'Sunset to Sunrise Collar' tells a story of change through the colors of the natural brilliant cut sapphires...
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Peridot & Diamond Railway Choker in 18k Yellow Gold
By Karma El Khalil
Located in New York, NY
Peridot & Diamond Railway Line Choker features emerald cut green peridot stones linked by 2 parallel rows of white diamond bars. Includes a lobster clasp closure with extender chain ...
White Diamond, Peridot, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,870 / item
W 0.4 in L 1.97 in
18K White Gold 1.00 ct Diamond Pave Made in Italy Shapeshifting Cosmic Pendant
By Beatrice Barzaghi Milano
Located in Milan, IT
18K White Gold Made in Italy Pendant with 1 Carat Diamonds: A Shapeshifting Companion to Your Transformation. Unlock Your Divine Potential with the Gemini pendant necklace. Gems and metal are energetically cleansed to emit their best vibrations. The Gemini pendant necklace is made of 18 karats white gold and features around 1,00 carat, F-G vvs-vs, n. 155 brilliant cut round diamonds pavè. Its fluid shape changes because of a central hinge while wearing it. It is CAD designed by Italian designer and gemologist (GIA G.G.) Beatrice Barzaghi, then 3D printed, fused in gold, hinged, set and polished by hand by the best Italian goldsmiths. The necklace’s weight is about 6.48 grams. The pendant is 50 millimeters long and 10 millimeters wide. The length of the necklace measures 43.5 centimeters. The pendant may be made of yellow or rose gold and set with brown or black diamonds. I conceived this necklace with a central hinge so that it changes shape according to and helping the change, the evolution of the wearer. With its ethereal lines this necklace symbolizes the reaching of Enlightenment; the fulfilment of the gifts we were born with. The Gemini necklace...
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
$28,345 / item
L 19.69 in
620 carat Australian South Sea Pearls 18K Yellow Gold Diamonds Clasp Necklace
By Beatrice Barzaghi Milano
Located in Milan, IT
620-Carat Australian South Sea Pearls and 18K Gold Clasp with Diamonds Unlock Your Divine Potential with the Sirio pearls necklace. Gems and metal are energetically cleansed to emit...
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat White & Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace set with 0.89 Carat Diamonds Pave
By Eva Soussana
Located in Paris, FR
Designed by Eva Soussana, artist and founder of Hera-Jewellery, this elegant and refined pendant necklace from the 'Anna' collection celebrates love for eternity with its two intertw...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Hermes Diamond Torsade Necklace 18K White Gold Necklace
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a rare and highly collectible Hermes Torsade diamond necklace. This no longer produced Hermes choker style necklace is featured in 18K high polish substantial white...
Diamond, White Gold
Vintage 80's Tiffany & Co Paloma Picasso Diamond 18k Gold Choker Necklace
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A sublime, sleek, and elegant vintage Tiffany & Co. gold and diamond choker necklace by renowned designer Paloma Picasso. The wide ribbon of high karat 18k yellow gold, designed as a...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold