Why it belongs in ORBIS
Florentine handbag house founded in 1954 by Carla and Roberto Braccialini as a small straw-bag workshop; after Roberto's death in 1976, Carla took over and introduced the whimsical animal- and object-shaped bags - cars, fish, birds - that became the brand's signature.
Braccialini was founded in Florence in 1954 by Carla Braccialini and her husband Roberto, starting as a small workshop producing straw handbags decorated with leather appliques. After Roberto's death in 1976, Carla took control and steered the brand toward the whimsical, sculptural bag shapes - cars, fish, birds, shoes - that became its trademark. Through the 1960s-1980s the brand expanded into the US, Germany and Japan, and in 1987 began a collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. Today Braccialini is headquartered at Via di Casellina in Scandicci, near Florence.