Missy Falchi Talks The Next Era Of Lovard And Expansion Into Jewelry

There are handbags, then there are Lovard handbags, which are either quaintly petit, elegantly oversized or the perfect clutch. The Dallas, Texas based brand was co-founded by Missy and Kate Falchi, the wife and daughter of the late handbag designer, Carlos Falchi.

The brand combines the spirit of Carlos Falchi’s signature love of colorful exotics with their timeless tailored sensibility. Each collection maintains a sustainable approach through limited monthly releases and an eye toward quality and style.

Missy Falchi, also known as Lee Gunn Falchi, runs Lovard. “I believe every woman wants to invest in a handbag that can stand out and stand the test of time,” she said.

Known for their unconventional handbags, like their croissant clutch, the violin crossbody, the gumdrop tiny tote, or the north-south tote bag, these structured bags all have a classic style.

Falchi worked in the public relations department of Neiman Marcus for years, and along with her husband, built a handbag empire. Even though Carlos Falchi passed away in 2015, and the Falchi fashion house closed shortly thereafter, the family’s fashion legacy is still going strong with Lovard, which they launched in 2018.

For the uninitiated, Carlos Falchi was a handbag and accessories designer from Brazil, who emigrated to New York City in the 1970s, where he first released his Buffalo duffel bag in 1974. He became known in New York’s culture scene, designing handbags and clothing for Patti Smith, Miles Davis, Tina Turner and Mick Jagger. His handbags were worn by Jackie Onassis, Sharon Stone, Cate Blanchett, and more.

He always made a statement by adding a nontraditional splash to traditional bags—be it through unconventional colors or adding a futuristic touch to designs. He won the Coty Award for design in 1983 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Accessories Council of America in 2004 and the Independent Handbag Designs of America in 2007. Today, some of his designs are in the prestigious fashion collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Though the Falchi handbag empire was led by Carlos Falchi, Missy Falchi was part of the core design teams. “Some of the pieces I designed didn’t fit the brand aesthetic,” she said. “They were more constructed, cleaner, and what we didn’t realize at the time is that those pieces, while not classically ‘Falchi,’ were the beginnings of what would become Lovard.”

The Falchi women built Lovard onto what Falchi once was. “The truth is, I really missed working in the accessories business after we closed Falchi,” said Falchi. “Lovard has allowed me to play around with new ideas that may not have worked in a typical Falchi collection.”

Lovard stands out with their shiny hardware, which includes gold and silver plating that has become a brand staple. “I’ve also really enjoyed making jewelry,” she adds. “For all the years we made handbags, I never thought I would be designing necklaces and earrings, but here we are.”

The brand’s signature look is based around their stylish hardware, architectural styles and their D-ring which is always at the front of their bags and mixed into their jewelry. Lovard recently expanded into jewelry—gold earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Their new bicycle chain necklace is their top seller. It adds a touch of 1990s glam and works well with a blazer and pants.

The brand is known for their signature green handbags. This fall, they’re using a bright color they call “Jungle Green” for their latest collection. “It’s bright, delicious and fun to wear,” said Falchi. “It’s BRAT adjacent, if you will.”

The fall collection also includes two new colors, a tangerine color, as well as a baby blue color, colors you may not think of when it comes to fall but works with tropical trips abroad and warmer areas like Texas, where the brand is based.

Lovard’s latest collection caters to the working woman with new colors and textures on the styles. Their colors of choice include browns, blues and greens on their handbag styles—like a bright cobalt blue for their Lady Tote or their Box Tote in green.

Lovard aims to set itself apart with their quality craftsmanship, commitment to using First Grade Italian leather and eclectic designs. “I wanted to be sure that none of the bags we were making were pieces people had already seen,” said Falchi. “The fact that you can accessorize any of our bags gives each piece its own point of view.”

The designs of their golden tassel charms really lend itself well to their jewelry expansion. It also helps each woman express their personality through their own Lovard handbag. “There’s a woman who loves our snake charm on a Box Tote, and another woman who looks great with our hobo and a long gold tassel charm,” said Falchi. “You can really make the accessories your own without looking like the rest of the world.”

Next up, the brand is eager to do more special orders. “If there’s a woman out there who wants a lilac weekend bag—Lovard can do it!” says Falchi.

Falchi is also planning on expanding into other materials. She’s looking to make handbags in satin and crocodile, as well as expand into more jewelry styles. “I’m constantly getting inspired, texting our designers, asking them ‘can we make this?’” she said.