About Bally
Bally was founded in 1851 by Carl Franz Bally in the Swiss village of Schönenwerd. Originally a cotton weaving business, the company expanded into shoes and accessories. By the 1870s Bally was an international leader in shoe production and ready-to-wear fashion.
Bally launched its first handbag collection in 1942. Early designs were simple, functional leather bags for everyday use. Over the following decades, the brand pioneered new handbag shapes like the Town bag's east-west silhouette. By the 1970s Bally was creating more fashion-focused leather goods in sleek, modernist styles.
Central to Bally's identity is exceptional Swiss quality and craftsmanship passed down through six generations of the Bally family. The brand only uses premium leathers and finishes each bag by hand in its Swiss ateliers to ensure longevity and understated elegance.
In the 1990s and 2000s Bally updated its handbag offerings with more modern shapes and hardware while retaining its core values of subtle refinement. Iconic lines like the Scaramanga have become classics of discreet luxury.
Recent decades have seen Bally partner with eco-tanneries to develop sustainable leathers and adopt ethical sourcing practices. The brand also works with NGOs to empower marginalized artisans and donate 1% of profits to children's charities worldwide.
As other heritage brands fade, Bally continues to resonate across generations drawn to quintessential Swiss sophistication. With over 170 years of leathergoods expertise, Bally handbags remain globally admired for their effortless, enduring style.