A purse is a repository of “necessary stuff”. The opaque skin creates a private sanctuary and assigns a certain intimacy to the contents. It is an uncanny marriage of fashion and function. Do we ever really know what they contain?

“Judy Haberl has designed an exquisite high-end Hidden Agendas Boutique. Using molds from vintage purses she has collected over the years, Haberl has fabricated new purses made of Lucite, revealing unusual contents. The History of the purse dates back thousands of years. It was first used by men and in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics men are shown sporting purses tied around their waists. Fast forward to the 21st century and the purse, still considered a mainstay for a woman, is a desirable accessory which can itself make a statement as to one’s power and wealth.

People have always been fascinated by what a woman carries in her purse. The contents are personal, private, and hidden from view. Haberl’s purses are not for the faint of heart and reveal a wide range of personalities of ominous intent: each purse has a string of pearls, the perfect accessory, but added are small handguns, grenades, rope, dice, handcuffs, and jewelry. Not just the usual tissues, keys and makeup, the contents and Agendas are no longer meek!”

— Arlette Kayafas