Left: Vintage 1940’s Concertina bag; Right: Stella McCartney Accordion Bag
It is no secret that designers shop vintage stores for inspiration, and some might even get away with an exact knockoff. But you only need to go as far as picking up the book, Handbags: The Power of the Purse
to see the original “Concertina” bag from the 1940’s. I doubt Stella McCartney was trying to pull this off as her original design but this is a pretty blatant rip off. Sure, the original looks a bit flimsy and impossible to use so she did do us a service by providing a “practical” vintage inspired piece that can be used to carry balls and apples. Another change, instead of concertina, she calls it the accordion. I’m no musical instrument expert but from what I can gather, a concertina is smaller and is like the instrument you see Rhesus monkeys use at the circus. Thank you, Trish, a loyal Bag Snob reader, for sending the image and bringing this to our attention. The Stella McCartney Accordion Clutch is $2045 at Net-a-Porter.
Wow, that’s pretty unbelievable. I actually like the Concertina bag better because of the handle.
I’d love to hear more about both of these bags! Is the designer known on the Concertina bag? With such a unique shape, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were patented . . .
Has Stella McCartney addressed this uncanny similarity at all?
I`ve read about the Stella McCartney before. Cute and funny design, but not something I`d wear on a daily basis.
I don’t like either one of them honestly. They are both ugly. But I say be creative don’t be blatent in knocking something off because the same designers complain when someone knocks off their goods.
I have a concertina bag, original owner, and have put it away and taken out many times. I usually use a scarf inside and tie the corners through the bag. I wish all my bags collapsed and stored as easily. Anyone have an idea to the worth of these bags???
Catherine, I got two originals and they are originally from Japan and were used to carry fish and other seafood back from the market. I also have two similar to these, also from Japan) but with net, Karl Lagerfeld ripped off that same bag for Chanel, Spring Collection a 2010.
They are all perfect beach bags, not really for city shopping.