Cartier has introduced the Clash de Cartier bag to its leather goods line, with a jewellery-inspired clasp that opens and closes with a twist of the stud. It is made in Florence, in Cartier’s workshops.
The Clash de Cartier Bag and Its Stud
The starting point was an envelope. Its influence is in the fastening, which defines the bag’s shape on either side of the handle, while the stud comes from the Clash de Cartier collection and gives the bag its name.
Marlin Yuson, Cartier’s creative director of accessories and leather goods, said: “The aesthetic of this bag is driven by the purity of its lines. We took inspiration from an envelope to design an elegant, sleek fastening system that subtly defines the shape of the bag on either side of the handle. It can be left open for a loose, casual fit, or fastened with a turn of the stud for a more tailored, structured look.”
Left open, the shape is relaxed. The Clash de Cartier bag can be carried in the hand or on the arm, as well as over the shoulder.
Cartier’s pictures show three Clash de Cartier bags stacked against a plain backdrop, with two long rounded handles on both the black and burgundy bags. Another image shows a model holding the caramel bag against her body with her arm. On the burgundy bag, a stud fastening sits at each side.
Leather, Colours and Sizes
Natural grain gives the leather its texture. The finish is tactile, described as matte by Grazia Singapore, and the Clash de Cartier bag is designed to develop a patina over time.
Black and caramel are offered alongside burgundy: Cartier burgundy was registered as a Pantone colour in the 1970s, in connection with the Must de Cartier line. The bag comes in a variety of sizes, including the small, medium and large totes.
The Three Totes
Small Tote
The small Clash de Cartier bag is the option for cross-body carry: its shoulder strap is adjustable and removable, and it can also be carried by hand or on the shoulder.
In burgundy calfskin, it measures 220 mm high and 290 mm long, with a depth of 120 mm. Two golden-finish stud fastenings close the bag. Inside are a zippered pocket and a burgundy lambskin lining.
Large Tote
The large Clash de Cartier bag has a hot-stamped golden Cartier signature on the front and two golden-finish stud fastenings. Made in black calfskin for shoulder carry, it measures 300 mm high and 390 mm long, with a depth of 190 mm.
A removable pouch sits inside. The large tote also has an inside zippered pocket and a burgundy lambskin lining.
Medium Tote
Also made in black calfskin for shoulder carry, the medium Clash de Cartier bag measures 260 mm high and 350 mm long, with a depth of 150 mm. It has two golden-finish stud fastenings and an inside zippered pocket, along with a removable pouch. The lining is contrasting burgundy lambskin.
The House Behind the Bag
Cartier was founded in 1847. Its expertise spans watchmaking and jewellery, as well as leather goods and perfume. Cartier says that, since its foundation, it has committed to preserving its expertise and developing new skills while honouring the history of the Maison. It oversees the entire production chain through a Watch Manufacture and a Jewelry Manufacture. The new Clash de Cartier bag is crafted in its workshops.
Training takes place through two institutions created for Cartier’s craftspeople: the Cartier Jewelry Institute and the Cartier Watchmaking Institute. The Maison des Métiers d’Art has a mission to preserve, innovate and share.
The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain was created in 1984, when it opened on an estate outside Paris. Alain Dominique Perrin was president of Cartier at the time.
