History of the Celine Nano Bag
French fashion house Celine was founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana and her husband, Richard. But it wasn’t until the late 1960s when the luxury brand, which started as a made-to-order children’s shoe boutique, expanded into women’s handbags. Over the next 60 years, Celine added multiple iconic bags to its collection. Most of those were the work of Phoebe Philo, the creative director from 2008 to 2018. Collectors, influencers and celebrities alike recognize Philo’s long-lasting impact on the fashion community and beyond. In the eyes of many, she's responsible for revolutionizing women’s wear—conceptualizing tailored lines combined with soft silhouettes.
One of Philo’s first creations for the fashion house was the Luggage bag, which hit runways in 2010. After the Luggage hit “It” bag status, Celine introduced additional sizes. One of the most popular was the Nano. That popularity holds true for another of Philo’s legendary handbags: the Belt bag. Its Nano size has also become a mainstay for discerning buyers. Fortunately for us, Celine still produces these bags, so interested collectors can find them easily at retail boutiques or on the secondary marketplace.
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Celine Nano Bag
The Luggage bag is a classic design with functionality in mind and showcases Philo’s aesthetic hallmarks, which made her such a hit with legions of stylish individuals. Its structured silhouette features two handles and a zip-top opening, as well as a detachable shoulder strap. It also has a distinctive outer zip pocket on the front.
The Nano is one of several additional sizes released after its initial success, including the Micro and Mini. The Nano Luggage measures 8” x 8” x 4”, which collectors can wear as a crossbody or as a hand or shoulder bag. It features a detachable shoulder strap that has a drop length of 23”. Additionally, it’s one interior flat pocket is just large enough to hold a smartphone or a small card case.
The Celine Nano Luggage bag comes in various materials like lambskin, drummed calfskin, grained calfskin and crocodile-embossed calfskin, to name a few. More exotic and limited-edition iterations can showcase python, snakeskin and even tartan textile. Another exciting element of the Nano Luggage design is the color combinations: solid, bicolor and tricolor. However, today the House offers a muted color palette with soft grays, classic blacks, taupe, blush pink and even white.
The Belt bag has a similarly clean, modern classic. It’s also a top handle bag that features a front flap and “belt,” from which the bag draws its name, that secures the flap and fastens with a hook closure. The front belt has subtle knots, one of the distinctive details of the bag.
The Belt bag also has a variety of sizes, including the Pico, Micro and Mini. The Nano Belt bag is the Nano Luggage's exact dimensions: 8” x 8” x 4”. Like the Luggage version, the Belt bag comes in various colors, some especially vibrant with shades of bright pink and others slightly less subtle featuring silver leather. Celine also frequently lines both bags using calfskin.
Celine Nano Bags’ Value and Collectibility
Celine bags are having a moment, and collectors show no signs of slowing down when adding one of these coveted pieces to their collections. Adding to demand for Celine is Phoebe Philo’s departure from the French fashion house. When Philo left in 2018, it spurred collectors to snatch up available Philo designs.
Whether you’re a first-time collector or avid Celine fan, you’re in luck. The secondary marketplace is a Celine treasure trove though accessible product in no way has diminished the values of the bags. In early 2021, luggage-sized Nano bags fetch, on average, more than $1,800 on the resale market, while the Nano belt bags sell for around $1,700.