Miche (pronounced ''MEE-chee'') is the name of a

fashion Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, Fashion accessory, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into Clothing, outfits that depict distinct ...

handbag A handbag, commonly known as a purse in North American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag used to carry personal items. It has also been called a pocketbook in parts of the U.S. Terminology The term "purse" originally referred to a smal ...

with interchangeable designs and handles. The company specializes in hand and shoulder bags based on a system of magnetic interchangeable bag covers (or Shells) and accompanying accessories.

History

The company was founded in 2005 by Michelle Romero and Annette Cavaness. In 2004, Romero thought of an idea to change the outside of a handbag, without physically changing the bag itself. She created a

prototype A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototype ...

by taking apart her own bag and revamping it using

super glue Cyanoacrylates are a family of strong fast-acting adhesives with industrial, medical, and household uses. They are derived from ethyl cyanoacrylate and related esters. The cyanoacrylate group in the monomer rapidly polymerizes in the presence ...

and scrap fabric. The name of the company came from Michelle's nickname, Miche (pronounced ''MEE-chee''), which her

mother-in-law A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship. A person is a child-in-law ...

calls her. The company was previously a subsidiary of Party Plan, based in

South Jordan, Utah South Jordan is a city in south central Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, south of Salt Lake City. Part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, the city lies in the Salt Lake Valley along the banks of the Jordan River between the Oquirrh ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. In March 2016, the US distributors of Miche bags closed the company down and organized a liquidation sale. Production and distribution continued through their former international partners including Miche Canada and Miche Europe. In April 2021, the patents and trademarks were purchased by four previous Miche representatives. Headquarters were relocated in Elizabeth, Colorado, and wholesale distribution relaunched in the USA.

Styles and designs

Miche Base Bags were available in four sizes and various colors. Base Bags featured different internal pocket layouts and removable handles. Shells could be purchased separately or with a Base Bag, and attached to the Base Bag using

magnets A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, steel, nickel, ...

. The exteriors of the Classic and Petite Base Bags incorporated a

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

and

polyester Polyester is a category of polymers that contain one or two ester linkages in every repeat unit of their main chain. As a specific material, it most commonly refers to a type called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters include some natura ...

blend in their hard-sided construction, while the Demi and Prima sizes were made of softer materials. Shell materials varied depending on the style, but were generally made from

faux leather Artificial leather, also called synthetic leather, is a material intended to substitute for leather in upholstery, clothing, footwear, and other uses where a leather-like finish is desired but the actual material is cost prohibitive or unsuitab ...

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable Plain weave, plain-woven Cloth, fabric used for making sails, tents, Tent#Marquees and larger tents, marquees, backpacks, Shelter (building), shelters, as a Support (art), support for oil painting and for other ite ...

cotton Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...

. The Miche line also included other specialty bags that were not interchangeable as well as coin purses and wallets. New Shells and accessories were released monthly. On January 8, 2010, Miche introduced its Hope Initiative: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each specially designed Hope Shell and related accessories went directly to various charitable organizations.Miche Bag unveils cancer-awareness bag
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References

External links

*{{Official, http://www.michelives.com Companies based in Utah American companies established in 2005 Manufacturing companies established in 2005 2010s fashion Fashion accessory brands Bags (fashion) 2005 establishments in Utah