Bolsas, vintage Enid Collins Bolsos y estuches

Enid Collins Vintage Bags Handbags Cases

Enid Collins was a Texas designer of bags, handbags, and cases. She created her whimsical bags between 1959 and 1970, after which the production of her line of accessories was taken over by Tandy leather. Collins bags come in a classic bucket style, and she also introduced the wooden box purse, all of them embellished with fun animal and theme figures studded with glitter and jeweled with multi-color stones.

Look for wooden boxes, vintage handbags in leather or canvas, and assorted cases decorated with jewels, sequins, and embroidery. Texas purses printed with her signature, the initials "ec," or simply a small letter "c" were designed by Collins herself before 1970. Some of her leather designs include:

• Sea Garden buckets
• Daisy bucket purses
• Pineapple & Flutterbye boxes
• "Sign of Spring" designs
• Sun bucket and leather clutches

A vintage leather clutch or item printed with the capital letter "C" or the words "Collins of Texas" was manufactured after 1970, when the Tandy Leather Corporation took over production of the company.

A Sophistikit is a do-it-yourself kit that includes embellishments, paint, and jewels for decorating your own vintage leather, canvas, or wooden handbag. Sophistikits were sold in the late 1960s. You may come across a vintage handbag that was not made by Collins in Texas but made by a buyer with a Sophistikit.

Enid Collins vintage leather handbags can be an entry point for people who wish to begin collecting vintage classic and vintage designer handbags. Although some of her items are very rare, many were produced in large quantities and are still easy to find. Bags can be displayed as a collection on a wall or case, or worn as an accessory.

The same rules of thumb apply to collecting Zodiac vintage purses as apply to other handbags. Look for pre-1970 purses and clutches with good construction and the Enid Collins, "ec" or "c" signature. Also, make sure the handles are not worn or frayed, the leather is in good condition, leather and canvas seams are still strong, and jeweled decorations are not missing or loose. Box purses should have working clasps and be free of scratches and chips. Any leather clutch should also have a working clasp.