Is Furla A Luxury Brand? Here Are All The Details You Need To Know
The Italian brand Furla has a long history of creating luxury handbags and leather goods, but is Furla a luxury brand? Keep reading to find out the answer…
This Italian luxury goods company first began by creating incredible handbags, but the brand has grown to now include small leather goods as well as some super stylish shoes – all of which are really classic, timeless designs.
Some may consider Furla a luxury brand because of the brand’s long history of producing high-quality handbags since 1927, and because they really take pride in the fact that all of their products are made in Italy with the country’s finest leather.
However, the range of items on offer and the price tags of these items are not on a par with other luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton or Gucci, and therefore many people do not consider Furla a luxury brand at all. So, which one is it?
This article will consider the brand’s history, the price range of the luxury goods, craftsmanship, and materials, as well as looking at some top products from the brand, before finally answering the question, is Furla a luxury brand?
Is Furla a luxury brand?
The History of Furla
The Furla brand was founded by Aldo Furlanetto in 1927 in the Italian city of Bologna and it has been creating leather goods and accessories ever since. Furlanetto first created a range of women’s clothing and accessories, which were then sold via wholesale, a method of selling Furla products that continued until 1955.
1955 was the year that Furla opened its first store on Via Ugo Bassi in Bologna, and the shop is still in operation right now. In the 1970s, more members of the Furlanetto family joined the business – Aldo’s children Carlo, Paolo, and Giovanna began to have a role in the company, and soon the first line of Furla bags was released. These bags have now become the emblem of this leather company.
The brand continued to grow throughout the late 20th century, with stores opening in Rome, Paris, and eventually on Madison Avenue, New York City. Today, Furla products are stocked in Furla boutiques, and department stores all over the world, including in Asia, Europe, and the United States.
In 2008, the brand decided to set up the Furla Foundation, which aims to foster young creative talent and promote contemporary culture in Italy. This was actually a continuation of the Furla Art Award, which was launched in 2000 and awarded to young Italian artists, supporting them with the production of their work and furthering the art and fashion produced in Italy.
Furla is now seen as an international brand that is well respected in the fashion industry because of its good quality products, signature style, and commitment to eco-sustainable practices.
The Quality of Furla
The best way to work out whether Furla is a luxury brand is to consider the quality of its products, taking into account the price range of the items on offer, the materials that are used, and the craftsmanship used in making Furla goods.
It is worth noting that the range of products Furla sells is pretty small; on their website, you can see that they focus on creating handbags, as well as wallets, shoes, scarves, key rings, and a few items of jewelry. Ready-to-wear fashion is notably missing – this is an element worth taking into account when considering whether Furla is a luxury brand.
1. Price Range
Looking at the price range of the products offered by a brand is a great way to work out if the brand can be considered a luxury. For Furla, their handbags are their best sellers and can range between $128 and $818. Smaller leather goods, such as wallets, are sold for between $68 and $278, depending on the size and the materials used.
The shoes sold by Furla can have a price tag of $225 for a pair of sneakers, all the way up to $545 for a pair of leather boots. Their price ranges show that Furla products are not sold for as much as similar items from so-called true luxury fashion brands and fashion houses.
2. Materials
The materials used in Furla products include textured leather, polyester, cotton, calf leather, and suede, while the hardware is either gold plated or palladium plated.
Many of the Furla handbags are made from real leather, which is something they take great pride in, and that is marked very clearly on their website. Furla also uses Italian leather in their products, which is a testament to the high-quality bags they produce.
Polyester and cotton are woven together to produce jacquard fabric for some handbags, however, Furla is also working on its sustainability and beginning to create some bags from recycled thermoplastic polyurethane.
3. Craftsmanship
A vital part of Furla’s brand DNA is the fact that Furla products are always made in Italy. The brand’s atelier is found in Tuscany, not too far from where the brand was founded in Bologna. This means Furla can be sure all its products are made with Italian quality and traditional craftsmanship.
This sort of care over the production and craftsmanship of all items they sell suggests the luxury nature of the Furla brand.
Our Top Picks from Furla
Here are a few of our favorite Furla products that we feel you will absolutely love, too!
1. Crossbody bag
A crossbody bag is such a handy bag that everyone needs in their collection, and this Furla 1927 Mini Flap Crossbody Bag is utterly irresistible. Made from smooth black calfskin leather, the bag is finished with gleaming gold hardware to add a glamorous finishing touch.
The Furla Arch turn lock opens to a compact interior, fitted with a slip pocket, making this bag ideal for your evening out essentials, while there is another slip pocket on the exterior of the bag. Plus, the chain strap slides so this bag can be worn across the body or on the shoulder – so versatile!
2. Top Handle bag
The Candy Boston Bag was designed for Milan Fashion Week, Spring Summer 2022, and became an instant hit. This bag is made from recycled thermoplastic polyurethane, which reuses previously produced materials to cut down the items being thrown into landfills.
The bag has a simple, curved satchel silhouette, with two top handles and then embossed with the Furla brand name and ‘Re Candy’. This bag is available in loads of different vibrant colors to add a pop of color to your look.
3. Tote bag
The Furla 1927 Leather Tote Bag would make the perfect elegant and sophisticated work bag. Crafted from black textured leather, this bag is super practical with its open top, and gleaming gold Arch logo embellishment for that subtle Furla finish.
There are protective feet on the bottom of the bag to add a little structure, and inside you will find a center zip pocket that divides the interior so you can stay perfectly organized. This stunning and chic leather tote is available for just $628 and has been expertly crafted in Italy.
4. Sneakers
A stylish pair of black sneakers are a must-have in any wardrobe, and can be styled in so many different ways – these Furla Joy Sneakers are a great option if you are looking for a pair. The sneakers have a black, calfskin leather upper for a supple, luxurious feel, which has then been decorated with a white leather Furla logo to create a striking look.
The black, thick rubber sole is super comfortable, so these sneakers are perfect for those busy days when you are on your feet. Get your hands on these classic, timeless sneakers for just $275.
Conclusion
So, is Furla a luxury brand? After considering all these aspects of the Furla designer brand, we can come to the conclusion that Furla is an accessible luxury brand. This means products are made with good quality materials and craftsmanship, but they are not as opulent or as luxurious as other luxury brands, and therefore the items do not have such a high price tag.
Furla sits alongside brands such as Tory Burch and Coach, who also fall into this accessible luxury category – these brands are a great place to start if you are beginning a luxury handbag collection or are just looking for a high-quality bag that won’t break the bank.
If you are looking for a high-quality bag made with fantastic craftsmanship in a classic, timeless design, then Furla is definitely the accessible luxury brand you should head to.
We hope you found this article answering the question, is Furla a luxury brand helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
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