First Decade of BALENCIAGA Motorcycle Bag History

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#31
saira1214 said:
Is Olive brown more green? My VF is very brown too and I wanted more of a green. Makes me more sad that someone stole it. Never even got to see it. :(
Click to expand...

I remember that episode. That is just so awful. I will definitely keep my eyes open for you. Agree with Beaux...that Olive Brown would tend to have more olive than brown. I think of it as a brown bag though.
 
#32
maxxout said:
I remember that episode. That is just so awful. I will definitely keep my eyes open for you. Agree with Beaux...that Olive Brown would tend to have more olive than brown. I think of it as a brown bag though.
Click to expand...

Thanks, maxx! I still have not come across one since then! I did see one on AnnsFabulous finds sometime last year for a good price, but it had already sold. If you say it is more of a brown bag regardless, I guess I will not be that mad. :p
 
#33
Here is my caribou le Dix gold tag, and a flat brass Bordeaux which I don't know much about as no tags. Maybe an 02?

I would really love to find a Bordeaux caribou!
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 955
#34
sunspark said:
Here is my caribou le Dix gold tag, and a flat brass Bordeaux which I don't know much about as no tags. Maybe an 02?

I would really love to find a Bordeaux caribou!
Click to expand...

HOLEY MOLEY .. talk about a rare bag (the Bordeaux). If the tag does not have gold stitching, then it would be either a 2002 1 (spring/summer) or 2002 3 (fall/winter). The Bordeaux Caribou was made in 2001 3 (would be the Gold Label) and 2002 1 (spring/summer) which would not have the Gold "Le Dix" label.
 
#35
beauxgoris said:
I have both 03 Olive and 07 VF - the colors are close.... but my VF is much more brown then green, but then again VF seems to vary bag to bag.
Click to expand...

I have had 3 (yes T-H-R-E-E) Vert Fonce bags and now have a City that I happened upon and WILL NOT BE SELLING!!!

However, that being said .. I agree that the colors have differed somewhat, although I also find the hardware has a lot to do with it. For instance, with the GGH, the color looked a lot more "olive" and with the GSH, it looked a lot more brown. Both of my cities (one sold & one current) look more consistent. Could that have something to do with the "supposed" change in color?
 
#36
Thank you all for your patience. I have just completed the next page in Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag History. Please enjoy and visit it online too:
http://www.realdealcollection.com/bal_bags_01-02.html

BALENCIAGA 2001 to 2002

Balenciaga's motorcycle bag was first produced in 2001 with flat brass hardware and long leather strings (tassels) on the zipper pulls. These early "Lariat / Classique / First" bag's leather strap was between 24"-29" long with chunky brass clips and no weight distributor. In the second season, a leather-bound mirror (without a backside pocket) was tied on by a leather tassel. Dust bags were plain black as well as white with a black BB logo and black with a white BB logo.

2001_le_dix_fbf.jpg

Early Motorcycle Bag Season Determined by Interior Branding

2001 Fall/Winter - first season:

Interior branded with a single-sided leather tag gold stamped "Le Dix Balenciaga Paris" with matching color or black linings, 24"-27" strap (if included), but no mirror.

2001_tags.jpg


2002 Spring/Summer - second season:

Interior branded with a single-sided leather tag debossed "Balenciaga Paris" with black linings, 24"-27" strap, and a tassel attached leather-bound mirror.

2002_ss_tags.jpg


2002 Fall/Winter - third season:

Interior branded with a double-sided leather tag debossed "Balenciaga" "style codes/made in italy" with minor hardware and construction changes, a longer 27"-29" strap, and a tassel attached leather-bound mirror that included a backside pocket with the pewter hardware bags.

2002_fw_tags.jpg


'01 F/W to '02 S/S (1st & 2nd season) - 3 Leather Types with "Flat Brass" Hardware:

1. "Smooth" leather - buttery and silky soft calfskin (veau) or lambskin (agneau)

01_black_smooth.jpg


2. "Pebbled" leather - thick and stiff textured caribou (carabou)

01_chocolate_pebbled.jpg


3. "Arena" leather - soft and squishy vintage-crafted goatskin (chevre)

01_caramel_arena.jpg
 
#37
2001-FW-2002-SS-color-swatch.jpg


'02 F/W (3rd season) - 3 Hardware Options & 3 Leather Types:

1. "Flat Brass" Hardware on "Moto-tough" Arena leather - glossy and distressed thin goatskin (chevre)

02_olive_mt_arena.jpg


2. "Pewter" & "Multi-zip" Hardware on "Suede" leather - thick and velvety soft sueded calfskin (veau)

02_fw_black_suede.jpg

02_fw_burg_mz_suede.jpg


3. "Pewter" & "Multi-zip" Hardware on "Monk" leather - waxed and distressed thick calfskin (veau)

02_fw_brown_monk.jpg

02_fw_brown_monk_zips.jpg

2002-FW-color-swatch.jpg


bag_history_from_2002.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: cakeymakeybakey
#43
Such a generous thing to to do, Corey. I'm heading to your site to see more.

Someone asked me if it was ok for them to request an email from you when you get a bag that you know they are looking for. By that I mean a heads up before you send out the "just arrived" email.
 
#44
I'm in the middle of documenting all the bag styles, including rare prototypes, from 2001 to 2002 and then will keep going through the first decade.


Here's a photo that shows one of the lucky 25 models, Gisele Bundchen, that were given a Balenciaga moto-bag in 2001:
1_of_25_fbf.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#45
I feel so fortunate to have had some of these bags in my collection; I've always loved the Flat Brass hardware .. with they would have brought back a few bags with it for the 10-year anniversary .. fingers crossed .. maybe something for the 15-year anniversary??? :graucho:

Corey .. I didn't know they had a Rouge/Red FBF .. oh man, thanks for setting a new HG trek!! ;)


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top