African Leather Handbags

If you're tired of couture and are itching to introduce a little zing into your wardrobe, African leather handbags can bring an exotic twist to your look.

Expand your fashion horizon.

What They Are

It's a simple matter. Handbags crafted in Africa, using leather and whatever accents and embellishments the designer felt essential to his vision, are deemed African leather handbags. Expect a lot of beads, hanging cords, contrasting and flamboyant colors with patterns and drawings that look both exotic and tribal. Many of these handbags are handmade items, and, more importantly, though they are imports, their prices are relatively inexpensive because most African leather handbags don't even register on the fashion scene. These accessories are usually sold as souvenirs to tourists, or they are the purchase of people native to the culture.

The Look of African Leather Handbags

Unless you are from Africa or have a reputation for being a world traveler, it is difficult to pull off the whole trendily tribal look and not appear like a freshman anthropology major with a penchant for pot and weird subtitled films. High fashion designers such as Michael Kors periodically toy with African influence but rarely to the blatant extent of genuine African leather handbags.

These are not the bags that will traditionally accompany an executive to the office, nor are they considered appropriate for the evening scene.

Making a Fashion Statement

Stylistically, the combination of brightly Masai beaded leather does not hold the refined luxury appeal of an Hermes Birkin bag. Most fans of African leather handbags would never try to swap their Birkin for the tribal effect.

So how can one pull off a look using these striking accessories?

Going Bohemian

If Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw could fuse the elements of high profile couture and vintage pieces by combining haute designers and bargain store clearance items, then it is possible to take African leather handbags to a fashion extreme and create a bohemian effect. These handbags are frequently embellished with contrasting beads. Hence you can pair them up with brightly colored shawls or ponchos, drapey fabrics, and flowing skirts.

Some vendors actually advertise the use of these African handbags for eveningwear, which is generally risky. If you absolutely must, and this means a categorical must, accessorize your gala attire with a tribal handbag, make sure your gown features either an animal print or at least a vividly zany pattern that will parallel the contrasting colors of your handbag from Ghana.

The Globe Trotter

Unless you are a globe-trotter or a person expressing the true source of his or her cultural heritage, it may be difficult for you to pull off the look of these noticeable handbags. African inspired accessories are frequently very flagrant items. Unlike the subtleties of a Chanel clutch it is hard to go unnoticed when you're carrying a cowhide messenger bag that features dangling cords and patches of animal hair.

However, if you're a tourist or a world traveler extraordinaire, you can simply throw the bag over your shoulder and spend the rest of the day explaining that you "picked up this little number while summering in Niger". It isn't pretentious as you are now an appreciator of foreign art.

Where to Purchase

The easiest way to purchase genuine African leather handbags is to hop on a plane to Africa and spend three weeks rifling through street vendors until you've located the ideal handbag. Unfortunately, handbags manufactured in Africa are difficult to locate in the United States without the help of specialty stores or online auctions.

African Creations is an online retailer that carries a small amount of authentic good from Africa, including a few handbag models. However, many other online vendors cannot be trusted regarding the source of their merchandise. You may find that your Swahili leather clutch was actually stitched together in Mexico. So if you want the real deal, be prepared to hunt through a slew of websites.

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