Goyard: The World’s Most Mysterious Luxury Handbag Maker
Luxury handbag fabricator Goyard is one of the oldest and most mysterious trunk and leather goods makers. Founded in 1853, this renowned brand is known for its excellent craftsmanship, premium materials and elusive presence. Maison Goyard notoriously does not advertise, does not speak to the press, does not post prices or even operates an online store. That means collectors must place an order in-person at a Goyard boutique or complete an online form. For many years, the company did not have an active social media presence. Instead, it relied on word-of-mouth recommendations to maintain its air of exclusivity and discretion. This ensures the highest luxury cachet among its many fans.
Goyard offers four product lines: handbags, travel goods, special orders and pet accessories. Goyard customization involves close collaboration between the shopper and the maker, taking into account the collector’s requests and its brand values of timelessness, practicality and function. Most often, custom orders include hand-painted leather goods with the requested initials or stripe detail. Both letter and stripe accents come in bright color palettes that create a striking and deeply personal piece.
Materials and Craftsmanship of Goyard Handbags
Maison Goyard’s printed coated canvas is the hallmark of the brand. Known simply as Goyardine, the durable, waterproof fabric is crafted from an exceptionally lightweight blend of cotton, linen and hemp. It features a chevron print composed of thousands of tiny dots. In early versions, skilled artisans meticulously hand-painted the Goyard Chevron onto leather, adding to the craftsmanship and value of these covet-worthy totes and travel bags.
Collectors recognize Goyard accessories by their Chevroches leather handles and trim, and on specific models, Chevroches leather lining. This particular leather features a grained, yet silky surface with a very light feel.
In addition to their fine materials and craftsmanship, Goyard bags' value lies in their permanence. Unlike many brands, Goyard does not continually evolve its handbag designs from season to season. Since the bags maintain their elegant design attributes, this guarantees your bag will always be in style.
Goyard Handbag Colors
For more than a century, Goyard offered only black canvas bags with a neutral chevron print and the option of black or natural (brown) leather trim. In 2002, the Maison expanded its color palette: burgundy, green, grey, navy and sky blue, orange, red, yellow and white. Tonal leather trim finishes each of these colorful bags with a classic monochromatic look. The Maison has since discontinued its pink option.
Goyard Handbag Sizing
Anyone who has browsed Goyard carryalls notices that the leather maker distinguishes its bags' capacity using French signifiers. When shopping for a Goyard purse, ensure you order the correct size by remembering that:
- GM corresponds to Grand Modèle, which is a beach or travel-sized bag
- MM stands for Moyen Modèle, Goyard’s medium size offering
- PM, or Petite Modèle, is the size recommended for daily carry
- Mini, which is the smallest of the handbag offerings
Goyard Handbag Collections and Silhouettes
In addition to sizing standards, Goyard’s handbags fall into uniform collections that change very little, if at all, over time. Each model's difference lies in the details, like the lining material or strap anchor style and decorations. Essential Goyard silhouettes include:
The Goyard Saint Louis Tote: Collectors consider Goyard’s Saint Louis series to be its centerpiece. This chevron-patterned tote possesses a roomy GM or PM silhouette that’s both lightweight and reversible due to its unlined interior. A small pochette in emblematic chevrons is attached to one of the straps for organizing personal essentials. Simultaneously, its handles feature a thick-to-thin design in Chevroches leather and are handsewn onto the bag's top line via precisely five stitches per strap anchor.
The Goyard Anjou Tote: The “little brother” to Goyard’s reversible Saint Louis Tote, the Anjou Tote’s main point of difference from that style is its Chevroches calfskin leather lining where the Saint Louis has none. Carrying this reversible bag with the opposite side out reveals the rich leather interior. The Goyard Anjou Tote comes in GM, PM and Mini sizes.
The Goyard Marquises Tote: A structured silhouette framed by a top zipper and bottom metal feet contributes to the Goyard Marquises Tote's polished feel. Released in 2013, the Marquises highlights dimensional beechwood accents expertly crafted onto the strap anchors with metal rivets. Goyard has discontinued this iteration, so the best way to discover your favorite Marquises Tote is by finding one on a trusted resale market. This unique design is available in GM and PM silhouettes.
Other Goyard handbag collections and styles to consider: Goyard Artois, Goyard Belharra Biarritz, Goyard Belvédère, Goyard Bellechasse Biaude, Goyard Comores, Goyard Hardy, Goyard Isabelle, Goyard Jersey, Goyard Okinawa, Goyard Rouette, Goyard Victoria and Goyard Voltaire.
Goyard Handbags Value and Collectibility
Goyard conveys its prestige not only through its expertly crafted designs and fine materials but also because the brand maintains little media or online presence. Consequently, anyone who seeks out a Goyard bag must be in-the-know regarding this luxury goods producer. Outside of visiting one of a handful of retailers that carry the brand, a secondary marketplace frequently offers collectors the best opportunity to obtain their Goyard pièce de resistance.
Goyard totes maintain good-to-excellent resale values. In early 2021, Goyard Saint Louis PM models regularly fetch around $2,600. The Anjou tote retains resale values nearly as high as its original cost with pre-loved iterations selling for approximately $2,400.