A French designer has launched a luxury handbag made from a real meteorite – at an out-of-this-world price.
‘Mini Meteorite Swipe Bag’ is the creation of Paris fashion brand Coperni, and costs an astronomical 40,000 euros (£35,000).
The limited edition item has been crafted out of resin and moon rock that fell to Earth 55,000 years ago, found in 1968 in the south of France.
Measuring nine inches from the top of the strap to the bottom, the design ‘subtly combines archeology, design, and classical and primitive art’, Coperni claims.
The brand has already released a handbag made entirely from clear glass for $2,800 (£2,200), letting people see what’s being carried inside.
The bag is made out of stone, resin and moon rock that fell on earth 55,000 years ago, found in 1968 in the south of France
Coperni’s expensive new creation got a mixed reception when images were shared on social media
It’s unclear how many units of the meteorite bag Coperni has for sale, but the brand warns that the item is non-refundable due to its ‘bespoke nature’.
Each unit sold ‘will vary slightly’ but will come with a certificate of authenticity, it adds.
‘Each piece is exclusively handmade, so the shape may vary slightly from the picture,’ Coperni says on its website.
‘The meteorite will be individually sourced per each order and can come from various locations, depending on where the meteorite fell on Earth.’
Coperni’s new creation got a mixed reception when it was shared to social media.
One Instagram user called it ‘iconic’, while another called it a ‘shopping bag for the Flintstones’.
Another said it looked like ‘the inside of my mom’s old slippers’.
Despite being made of rock, the bag weighs just 3.9lbs (1.8kg) – less than the average handbag.
The rare moon rock has been crafted by hand in Italy and incorporated into the bag by the Italian factory Semar.
Coperni claims the object – which measures just 9 inches from the top of the strap to the bottom – ‘subtly combines archeology, design, and classical and primitive art’
It’s unclear how Coperni obtained the rock or where it’s been in the last 55 years since its discovery in France
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an space rock that originates in space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface. The term is slightly different from ‘meteoroid’, a rocky object still in space, and ‘meteor’, a meteoroid that has entered a planet’s atmosphere (file photo)
It’s unclear how Coperni obtained the rock or where it’s been in the last 55 years since its discovery in France.
It’s possible Coperni bought it from a museum or a private collector; MailOnline has contacted the company for more information.
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an space rock that originates in space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface.
The term is slightly different from ‘meteoroid’ (a rocky object still in space) and ‘meteor’ (a meteoroid that has entered a planet’s atmosphere).
When a meteor comes hurtling toward Earth, the high-pressure air in front of it seeps into its pores and cracks, pushing the body of the meteor apart and causing it to explode, meaning it’s often collected over a wide area.
For those lucky enough to afford the Mini Meteorite Swipe Bag, Coperni is taking orders now before shipping from next week.
Mini Meteorite Swipe Bag is part of Coperni’s autumn-winter 2023 collection, which debuted earlier this month in Paris.
Coperni models were joined on the catwalk by Spot, the robot dog created by US firm Boston Dynamics, as part of a partnership between the two.
One model even sported a yellow and black outfit inspired by the robot’s distinctive design as part of the show.
A performance by a model with a robot at the Coperni Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 show during Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2023 in Paris, France
One model even sported a yellow and black outfit inspired by the distinctive colour design of Spot the robot dog
It’s not the first time Coperni has turned heads for its bizarre projects; it’s already released swipe bags made out of glass of various colours, including a clear glass version that reveals the contents.
The item is made from extra thick blow glass to offer some level of protection from cracking easily in case it’s dropped.
Speaking about the trend, fashion stylist Ellis Ranson told FEMAIL: ‘We can finally see what’s inside a celebrity’s bag with the new “it bag” no matter how whacky it might be.’
An even more peculiar bag design, 3D printed to resemble a pigeon, was also recently released by British label JW Anderson for £650 or $890.
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