Junior Drake Goes Casual With Canvas
Junior Drake, a 4-year-old handbag line named after founder Dennis Brown’s actress mother, launched a new line of canvas purses in May at the ENK Accessories Circuit show in New York.
The family owned, Los Angeles–based company initially found success manufacturing Italian leather bags in China. Distinctive touches, like a silk lining festooned with images of Ms. Drake in her Hollywood prime and quality fabrications landed the purses in 500 doors, including Anthropologie, Fred Segal, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
In the competitive world of accessories, the company is hitting its stride.
“We’re getting the sort of attention now that I thought we’d have six months in,” Brown said. “The retailer response has been great.”
Executives at Junior Drake are counting on that momentum to help propel the new canvas collection. Featuring two fabrications and eight new silhouettes—including a roomy bucket bag and a large tote perfect for carting a laptop—the new line is the company’s approach to logo-driven merchandise.
“We felt canvas was becoming more important and more popular,” Brown said. “But we’re trying to create something a little bit different.”
Embroidered with the company’s logo and “168”—a number that invokes good luck in Chinese culture—the more casual line features textural embroidery and leather trim. Wholesaling for $135 to $190, the bags will be available in khaki, brown and black.
—Erin Barajas
