Brand History

1876

1896

1920s
Whiting & Davisā beautiful,Ā high quality purses areĀ theĀ coveted accessory of flappers,Ā actresses and āwell dressedĀ women everywhere.ā ThroughĀ automation and advertising,Ā the company expands itsĀ reach, becoming, and remainingĀ to this day, the worldās leadingĀ mesh handbag manufacturer.

In the teens and early ā20s, WhitingĀ & Davis bags are made of smallĀ precious metal rings and areĀ unpainted for the most part, theirĀ striking designs coming from aĀ mixture of metal colors, artfullyĀ joined rings and metal fringe. ByĀ the end of the ā20s, flat Armor meshĀ painted in bold Deco designs andĀ Dresden mesh, with its tiny ringsĀ silkscreened by hand in dreamyĀ Impressionistic shades, takeĀ center stage.


1930s
The 1930s bring high-profileĀ collaborations with iconicĀ designers Paul Poiret and ElsaĀ Schiaparelli, while Whiting &Ā Davisā famed creations continueĀ to turn up in the hands of stageĀ and screen actresses of the era.

Jane Wyatt with a Whiting &Ā Davis purse accessory.

The renowned and prolific ElsaĀ Schiaparelli designs for Whiting &Ā Davis in the mid 30s, introducingĀ several new, more modern shapesĀ to the line.

Beatrice Lille with a Whiting & Davis ring mesh purse.

Trailblazing French designer, Paul Poiret, theĀ first to design without rigid tailoring and corsetingĀ while also launching cosmetics, perfumesĀ and housewares lines, collaborates with Whiting &Ā Davis to create colorful bags with āParisian allure.ā
1940s
During World War II, a shortage of raw materials leads Whiting & DavisĀ to temporarily stop production of its metal mesh bags and turn its attentionĀ to supporting the war effort by manufacturing radar equipment. At the closeĀ of the war, the company returns to making its signature mesh handbags asĀ well as other mesh goods.

āHand in Hand with Fashionā- A Whiting &Ā Davis slogan of the time.

1950s

Jane Russell wears a sleek dressĀ of Whiting & Davis mesh, weighingĀ a purported 21 pounds, whileĀ romancing Robert Mitchum inĀ the 1952 movie Macao.

1960s
Whiting & Davis embracesĀ the Mod Era with simplerĀ styles and clean lines.




1970s
Gold Rush! Whitingās āsoft, sensuous and slitheryĀ handbags,ā halter tops and dresses are the perfectĀ glittering accessories for a decade spent writhingĀ under disco balls to Donna Summer and ABBA.


1980s

Christie Brinkley covers Cosmopolitan, SeptemberĀ 1983 in a Whiting & Davis metal mesh dress.
The excesses of the late ā70sĀ slide right into the fashions ofĀ the ā80s, with mesh accessoriesĀ and apparel continuing to drapeĀ some of the most beautifulĀ bodies of the time, Ā butĀ apparently not the girl nextĀ door according to this WhitingĀ & Davis ad featuring FrederiqueĀ Van Der Wal.

Frederique Van Der Wal
1990s

Absolut Whiting & Davis!Ā Anthony Ferrara designs aĀ dress using Whiting & DavisĀ silver mesh for the iconicĀ Absolut Vodka campaign.Ā The cost? A very cool halfĀ million dollars.

Nicole Kidman takes Oscars dressingĀ to the next level in 1997, wearing aĀ Dior by Galliano dress and carryingĀ a vintage Whiting & Davis bag.
2000s
The love of Whiting & DavisĀ handbags (new and vintage)Ā continues today with top actresses,Ā musicians, stylists and bloggers.

Kim Cattrall in sequins and zebra print Whiting &Ā Davis at the height of her Sex in the City fame.

Eva Longoria carries a Whiting & Davis clutch atĀ the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2002, āWhiting & Davis Purses – The Perfect Meshā, a bookĀ entirely about Whiting Davis handbags, is published.

Paris Hilton wears a Whiting &Ā Davis bag.

Today
Whiting & Davis remains the recognized leader in metalĀ mesh handbags more than 120 years after its first meshĀ handbag was produced and continues to attract discerningĀ fans, including actresses, musicians (and you!), by regularlyĀ introducing new styles with an eye toward both trend andĀ functionality.Ā While that first bag was simple, unpaintedĀ ring mesh, Whiting bags now come in a variety of shapes,Ā colors and mesh styles with trims such as snakeskin, studsĀ and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

Lady Gaga incorporates a Whiting & Davis gate-topĀ bag into one of her fabulous outfits.

A 2012 Vogue Germany editorial featuringĀ a Whiting & Davis fringed bag.

A Whiting & Davis dimple mesh minaudiere in Shape, December 2012.