London, England 1839. A humble workshop hums away.
There have always existed individuals whose goals are not constrained by conventional wisdom. These individuals perceive traditions as an opportunity for change.
We call these people visionaries, and despite all the obstacles, they have the power to alter the course of history.
In a male-dominated business, Harriet Jane Cave set out to do the impossible by establishing a leather goods company that would be admired worldwide.
The First Leather Handbag... and more
Throughout the years, H.J. Cave blended master craftsmanship with utility, creating some of the most defining products of the 19th and 20th centuries. As a royal leather maker, H.J. Cave would be awarded with a voice to honor women, and for the first time cater products for the modernizing woman.
The leather “Hand Bag” as H.J. Cave called it, was undoubtedly a staple. First created & advertised by H.J. Cave, it is considered the First Leather Handbags sold exclusively for women. Archival records show advertising of these as early as 1868, making H.J. Cave a pioneer in fashion innovation. Today a modern incarnation of the first handbag is still sold by H.J. Cave dubbed “The Harriet”
The English Trunk was H.J. Cave's original creation. In 1839, a light weight interpretation of trunks was commisioned from woven wicker and wrapped in waterproofed canvas. This was the marquee product which first launched H.J. Cave as a household name.
"A Lady's Portmanteau" was a 5-part trunk first patented by H.J. Cave. It was the first trunk produced particularly for ladies. The 5 sections, later dubbed "Quinequepartite," were each designed to carry a certain type of women's item.
Expanding Luggage was another patent filed by Harriet. As elite women traveled the world they found that their luggage would return bulkier. As a result, Harriet designed a system in which the top of the trunks could expand.
Osilite trunks were the precursor to modern luggage. Used in the 1933 Everest Expedition, it was made of stabilized wood. This allowed the cases to be incredibly light, yet maintain a strong structure. It was widely adopted for use in flights and automobiles.
An Inspiration- Royalty's First Choice
Simply put, no other trunk maker could compete with H.J. Cave. Not even a young Louis Vuitton. In 1867 in Paris around 3% of the world’s population gathered for the World Exposition. Here, the greatest trunk-makers from around the world competed to win the top prize. It was both H.J. Cave and LV’s first time competing, and H.J. Cave took home the Gold medal for leather goods and luggages, while Louis Vuitton would take home the Bronze. In the following World Fairs, Louis Vuitton and H.J. Cave would enjoy friendly competition with H.J. Cave regularly winning Gold and Silver medals.
Shortly thereafter, H.J. Cave would gain the Royal Warrant of Appointment, which meant that H.J. Cave would officially supply luggage and railway baskets to the Queen of England Alexandra and later to Queen Victoria.
Her cases would travel the world, and eventually be used by Presidents, Prime Ministers, world travelers, Kings, and even the Everest Expeditions. A testament to quality of craft.
A young Guccio Gucci was inspired to create Gucci after witnessing the elegant luggage while working as a bellboy in the Savoy Hotel in London. H.J. Cave was the Queen's royal baggage maker at the period, and were widely utilized by the Savoy Hotel's elite clients. Undoubtedly, H.J. Cave’s prominence and prestige was inspiring to the young man who loved British craftsmanship.
