Mandarina Duck is an Italian fashion company, founded in 1977, that specializes in high-quality, functional leather goods and travel items with a contemporary, informal style. The brand is known for its innovative use of materials, original designs, and a bold color palette, which broke away from the traditional, monochrome market at its inception.
Company Overview
Founded:
1977 in Bologna, Italy, by Paolo Trento and Pietro Mannato.
Headquarters:
Milan, Italy.
Ownership:
Acquired in July 2011 by the E-Land Group, a large Korean fashion retailer.
Icon/Logo:
The colorful and tireless Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), which symbolizes travel, curiosity, and a lifelong companionship, perfectly representing the brand’s values.
Target Audience:
Demanding, curious, positive, and on-the-move consumers who value a combination of smart design, functionality, and unique aesthetics.
Distribution:
Products are sold through a global network of owned retail stores (in cities like Milan, Seoul, and Barcelona), over 600 selective wholesale points of sale, and major travel retail/duty-free locations in Europe and Asia.
Product Lines and Style
Mandarina Duck is distinguished by its blend of creativity, irony, and innovation, creating hybrid and unique products for a globetrotter lifestyle. The company has developed two primary collections:
Leisure Collection:
This line focuses on products and accessories like handbags, shoulder bags, and wallets that accompany women in their daily lives, emphasizing a female spirit.
Travel & Business:
A more practical line offering smart and attractive solutions for travel and work needs, including luggage, briefcases, and backpacks.
Key aspects of their products include:
Innovative Materials:
The brand pioneered the use of unconventional materials like the “rubberised canvas” in its first collection, Utility, and later “Mitrix” fabric, a blend of nylon and polyester.
Color:
The brand is famous for its bright colors, a key differentiator in a market once dominated by conventional black or brown leather goods.
Sustainability:
Mandarina Duck has a strong focus on sustainability with its “Ecoduck” initiative and collections like the Eco Coated line, which uses recycled PET plastic bottles for its fabrics.