The Carpet King
Back in fashion after 40 years
BY: Tamara Spiegel

Jerry Terrence, the king of the carpet bag is back on the fashion pages after a 40-year hiatus. JT bags, constructed of carpet and solid frames, were on the arms of chic, Hollywood starlets. There was even a song inspired and named for Jerry’s creations burning up the radio airwaves. After bursting on to the fashion scene in the 60's, Jerry’s carpet creations disappeared, only to be seen in vintage shops and on Ebay.

The recent decision to return to the bag-a-licious fashion world was not one that Jerry made quickly. After leaving the bag biz, he moved to Hawaii, and enjoyed life as an entrepreneur in the restaurant and nightlife business. Why return now? Jerry saw a void in a market full of skins and metallics. He thought that in all its modernity, the accessories industry needed a softer touch – so soft, you could walk barefoot on it!

"There’s nothing else out there like it," says JT Carpet Bags CEO Napoleon Carom. Carom points out that these bags sold like crazy back in the day, and Jerry thought this was just the right market to test the waters in…again. "The response has been tremendous," said Carom, "we've had a very warm welcome back."

One of the first stores to carry the new, JT Carpet Bag's spring line was LF Stores. Marcie Lesjak, Director of Retail Operations for LF stores, is banking on the originality and history behind the brand. "We felt that Jerry’s one-of-a-kind designs were right in line with our stores. We wanted to carry something fun and edgy that no one else had picked up." Lesjak says the JT Carpet Bags are able to hold their own in sales, even in LF's Robertson Boulevard store, right in the heart of one of Beverly Hills most fashionable shopping areas.

So, what’s next for JT Carpet Bags?
Warning… you are about to get a BagTrends.com EXCLUSIVE FALL PREVIEW:
Carom let this bagista know that he has something "super hot" up his sleeve for the fall. Fresh off of production are the new "Shag Bags," featuring cutting edge hardware, leather, pony and of course, shag! "Everything about us is out of the box…we want to be the most creative handbag company in the world." It may be a lofty goal, but Carom is certain he and Jerry can achieve it. So, don’t be surprised when JT Carpet bags start to show up on an arm near you!