Hong Kong-based brand Mischa, which has based its business on coated canvas handbags, is moving upmarket and into the world of all-leather bags. Made from napa leather and featuring contrast color details, there is a tote that sells for $499 and a cross-body camera bag style that sells for $305. Both bags feature a perforated hexagonal design that references a design motif of the Mischa canvas range.
Mischa, founded by Toronto-born Michelle Lai eight years ago, is one of several niche handbag brands that has emerged on the local Hong Kong fashion scene recently. In 2004, she entered the handbag game with her line of hand-stitched clutches made from Japanese obis. She went on to establish her own brand in 2008.
The brand sells at 30 points of sale across Asia, including Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, and Kapok in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan. Mischa also sells through its own online store.
July was another tough month for Hong Kong retail. But there are signs that the situation is starting to improve as cash-rich mainland Chinese tourists head back to the shopping mecca. Retail sales in July in Hong Kong fell 7.7 percent to 34.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $4.46 billion at current exchange. But that figure represents an improvement over June, when sales dropped 8.9 percent.
Hong Kong’s August retail sales are due in the coming days.