Carla Braccialini, the Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the handbag and accessories company that bears her name, died in Florence yesterday. She was 95.
Braccialini established the artisanal business with her husband, Roberto, in the 1950s. The company later became known internationally for its own collections and collaborations, including a 1986 licensing agreement with Vivienne Westwood to produce accessories.
After the Second World War, Braccialini saw an opportunity for experimentation in the Italian handbag market. Her designs stood out for their bright colors and playful details, featuring motifs such as flowers, animals and small houses.
Following her husband’s death in the 1970s, she ran the company with their three sons, Riccardo, Massimo and Lorenzo. Her life and career were recounted in the biography “La ragazza che non sapeva fare le borse,” which describes her journey from childhood in Ponte a Mensola, Tuscany, through her work as a mother, wife and entrepreneur.
Braccialini was named a Cavaliere del Lavoro in 2009 by then-President Giorgio Napolitano. The brand has continued under Graziella Holding, an Arezzo-based company that acquired it in April 2017.
Sources: ANSA Cultura.