Prada Handbags & Purses

An influential Italian fashion house, the name Prada is etched in annals of fashion history. In addition to the designer's lauded clothing and footwear, Prada is perhaps best known for its distinctive handbags and purses.

Like the French brand Louis Vuitton, Prada got its start as a manufacturer of fine travel trunks preferred by the traveling elite. Although its first handbags were constructed of leather, in 1985, Prada left its imprint on the world of designer handbags with the minimalist basic black nylon Pocono bag designed by Miuccia Prada, the granddaughter of the label's founders.

Prada made black nylon chic in the 1990s with wildly popular and utilitarian bags bearing its triangle-shaped metal logo. Today, the designer has a full portfolio of bags: Prada crossbody bags, Prada messenger bags, Prada beach bags, and Prada hobo bags, to name a few.

From simple pouches to over sized Prada tote bags, the brand's stylish carriers often sell out at retail and perform consistently well at auction. A simple vintage Prada purse may go for a few hundred dollars or more when the hammer comes down, while a limited-edition Prada crocodile handbag often sells for $45,000.

Quick Facts

• In a 2008 auction at Christie's in London, a Vitello Drive Prada handbag from the '90s crafted in a black leather bowling bag style sold for the equivalent of about $1,000
• In a January 2015 Heritage auction, a Prada locking handbag made of tan canvas and trimmed in yellow ostrich skin sold for $895
• In a 2014 Stroud auction benefiting victims of domestic violence, a Prada pink and orange straw basket bag owned by Kate Moss sold in England for $100