Mark Cross - Oldest American Luxury Brand

[MelissaPurse]

Been on a kick collecting vintage Mark Cross bags and wanted to share this underrated luxury brand. It’s iconic bag is the “Grace Box” named after Grace Kelly after appearing with it in Alfred Hitchcock’s Read Window movie. Just wanted to shine a spot light on this brand and the great quality bags they have.

 

[catsinthebag]

So glad you started this thread! Mark Cross was the first high-end bag I ever owned, a Murphy Bag from 1993. It’s pictured here (on the left) with the two other Mark Cross vintage bags I own, a Crescent bag and a camera bag. The Murphy and the camera bag are pebbled leather, the Crescent bag is Box leather. I still use the camera bag. All are from 1993-1995. The quality of these bags is amazing — all leather lined and super durable.

Coach bought Mark Cross in (I think) the late 1990s and then discontinued the brand. A friend of mine worked at Coach corporate at the time and told me Coach was going to start its own premiere label but that never really took off. I was so thrilled when I saw Mark Cross has been resurrected, but I have yet to buy one of the newer bags.

 

[CarryOn2020]

Beautiful bags!

Here is the current info on the owner, Neal Fox - Sara Lee owns Coach, but sold Mark Cross.

Mark Cross (brand) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

After the Murphys sold the business, Mark Cross went through a succession of different ownership until it was shut down in the late 1990s by its then-owner Sara Lee. It remained dormant until it was relaunched in 2011 by new owner Neal J Fox, who produces the products in the same Italian factories as the company did over 40 years prior.

 

[MelissaPurse]

So glad you started this thread! Mark Cross was the first high-end bag I ever owned, a Murphy Bag from 1993. It’s pictured here (on the left) with the two other Mark Cross vintage bags I own, a Crescent bag and a camera bag. The Murphy and the camera bag are pebbled leather, the Crescent bag is Box leather. I still use the camera bag. All are from 1993-1995. The quality of these bags is amazing — all leather lined and super durable.

Coach bought Mark Cross in (I think) the late 1990s and then discontinued the brand. A friend of mine worked at Coach corporate at the time and told me Coach was going to start its own premiere label but that never really took off. I was so thrilled when I saw Mark Cross has been resurrected, but I have yet to buy one of the newer bags.

View attachment 4984456

That is awesome to finally connect with someone who have a vintage Mark Cross collection, so excited. The cognac binocular bag in the front I just got today from Mark Cross, they sell vintage pieces on their website which I think it’s pretty awesome that they’re offering options to their customers to explore both the old and the new styles. They even responded to my email and shared the history that my style was first made in the 1930s and my version is dated 1980s. The black and red one I purchased from eBay last week and they are amazing. As you stated like yours they’re leather lined and the leather is amazing! So glad you chimed in and shared a pic. I went down the rabbit hole on reading their history even did a ytube video just to add more info out there since it seems to be a really underrated brand that I feel deserves a bit of shine.

 

[MelissaPurse]

Beautiful bags!

Here is the current info on the owner, Neal Fox - Sara Lee owns Coach, but sold Mark Cross.

Mark Cross (brand) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

After the Murphys sold the business, Mark Cross went through a succession of different ownership until it was shut down in the late 1990s by its then-owner Sara Lee. It remained dormant until it was relaunched in 2011 by new owner Neal J Fox, who produces the products in the same Italian factories as the company did over 40 years prior.

Thank you . The history is pretty rich and current owner Ulrik Garde Due is the one who brought the whole vintage offerings on their website to give new customers a piece of history. Which is pretty freaking cool.

 

[catsinthebag]

That is awesome to finally connect with someone who have a vintage Mark Cross collection, so excited. The cognac binocular bag in the front I just got today from Mark Cross, they sell vintage pieces on their website which I think it’s pretty awesome that they’re offering options to their customers to explore both the old and the new styles. They even responded to my email and shared the history that my style was first made in the 1930s and my version is dated 1980s. The black and red one I purchased from eBay last week and they are amazing. As you stated like yours they’re leather lined and the leather is amazing! So glad you chimed in and shared a pic. I went down the rabbit hole on reading their history even did a ytube video just to add more info out there since it seems to be a really underrated brand that I feel deserves a bit of shine.

I didn’t know Mark Cross sold vintage pieces on their website! I MUST check that out! Thank you!

Your bags are beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like your binocular bag. I had an opportunity to buy a black version of your red one at a local consignment store, but it had a big scuff right on the front flap that I couldn’t unsee, so I passed. I wish they’d bring back some of the old models! That thick pebbled leather is TDF.

 

[MelissaPurse]

I didn’t know Mark Cross sold vintage pieces on their website! I MUST check that out! Thank you!

Your bags are beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like your binocular bag. I had an opportunity to buy a black version of your red one at a local consignment store, but it had a big scuff right on the front flap that I couldn’t unsee, so I passed. I wish they’d bring back some of the old models! That thick pebbled leather is TDF.

Yaaasss! My preferred leather is pebbled. Totally love the quality of their yummy thick leather as you described. I had to stop looking in the preowned market because I feel I would have to buy a whole other bookshelf to display them and I’m not trying to go down that road..lol however it is still tempting.

 

[snibor]

When Mark Cross was closing down years ago, I purchased a bag at Filene’s Basement (discount store that no longer exists). Several years later I thought it’s dated and since Mark Cross doesn’t exist, I’ll just donate the bag (which I did). I could kick myself.

 

[MelissaPurse]

When Mark Cross was closing down years ago, I purchased a bag at Filene’s Basement (discount store that no longer exists). Several years later I thought it’s dated and since Mark Cross doesn’t exist, I’ll just donate the bag (which I did). I could kick myself.

Oh wow, do you recall what the bag looked like?

 

[snibor]

Oh wow, do you recall what the bag looked like?

It was a black shoulder bag. I thought there was a pattern on the bottom of the bag but my memory might be wrong on the pattern. It definitely was black. It was in clearance and I remember being thrilled grabbing it.

edit. I just did a google search and while I haven’t found my exact bag, I did see the pattern I remembered. It had zig zag in the bottom part and its top was plain black with a mark cross emblem in the middle.

 

[skyqueen]

I was in love with Mark Cross when I saw Grace Kelly carry it in Rear Window

 

[MelissaPurse]

I was in love with Mark Cross when I saw Grace Kelly carry it in Rear Window

View attachment 4986017

Do you have any grace boxes in your collection?

 

[MelissaPurse]

I received the black one last week and fell in love with this vintage style. I hopped onto eBay hoping to see if they made it in any other colors. Found this cognac one and it arrived today. Let’s just say I’m in extra love ❤️ ...the thick pebble leather and suede lining is so luxe. So happy to have discovered this brand wish I knew about it sooner.

 

[skyqueen]

Do you have any grace boxes in your collection?

Don't own any MC bags but I love them...so classic! I may hop on eBay, too

 

[Greenredapple]

I was unfamiliar with MC so I went ahead and browsed the current collection. I found this classy looking handbag with a twist.