• Handbags vary in size and color.handbags image by Bionic Media from Fotolia.com
  
  "A great bag starts with a great design," states Valerie Shrader in her book "Hip Handbags." Purses and handbags are not only a functional accessory, they can help complete an outfit and make a look dressed up or casual as needed. Handbags can be made from virtually any material, innumerable amount of hardware items and a variety of other materials. Gather ideas from linings to fasteners and everything in between to make your next handbag.
  
  

Materials

• As the saying goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Almost any type of material can be used to create a handbag. For some canvas, straw, hemp or other natural materials make a beautiful bag. Others prefer a classic leather look made from calfskin, goatskin, lamb, snake skin, sheepskin or cowhide. Bags can be made out of faux leather which is a combination of plastics prepared to look like a certain type of leather. Even recycled items like candy wrappers, old juices boxes and aluminum cans get a new life as the surface of a handbag. Thinking outside of the box helps manufacturers come up with trendy looks for every fashion season.
  
  

Tools

• Tools to create handbags run the gamut depending on the type of material or fabric the manufacturer is working with and the type of hardware he plans to include in the design. To produce leather handbags, a full set of leather working tools come in handy to prepare the leather and manipulate it into the desired shape. A mallet, hole punch, several different sized awls, chisel and utility knives assist leather workers into converting leather material into a useful handbag. Other tools like a sewing machine, heavy leather or darning needles, rulers, cutting mats and fabric glue lets creators make bags of all types in the right proportions.
  
  

Hardware

• To keep a bag open or closed, add a handle, seal with grommets all make up types of hardware used to make a handbag. Zippers, snap clasps, buckles, O-rings, D-rings, chains and swivel snaps are few of the many types of hardware supplies manufacturers employ in creating a functional and decorative handbag. For structured bags, some designers use a metal frame work to keep the bag standing upright. Others use hardware both inside and outside of the bag to create compartments to make organization easy for the user.
  
  

Decorations

• A combination of tool supplies, hardware supplies and some creativity can embellish a handbag and turn it into a "must-have" accessory. Tooling implements lets manufacturers carve designs into the surface of the leather. An embroidery sewing machine can add decorative swirls, flowers or geometric designs onto fabric or thin leather. Custom hardware produced to display a logo or brand name helps buyers identify the types of bags and signature looks. Some designers add beads or sequins to dress up a plain looking handbag. The options and looks are limitless when it comes to decorating a handbag.