PARIS, Jan 27, 2010 (AFP) - British supermodel Kate Moss on Wednesday 27 January tries her hand at design with the launch of a line of bags for France's Longchamp, a 60-year family firm hoping to join the "It" crowd of luxury handbag makers.

Photo: AFP

Moss, the face of the brand for the past four years, says her ideal bag needs to be comfortable and light.

"I carry so much stuff my bags are full to the brim," she was quoted by the company as saying.

She said she felt comfortable working with Longchamp, which went from selling leather-trimmed pipes to US soldiers in Paris after World War II to making some of the hottest bags around.

"We get on well together", she said. "It was a fabulous opportunity for me."

Jean Cassegrain, general manager of the firm, told AFP that Longchamp was aiming for a continued collaboration with Moss.

The brand is probably best known for its "Pliage" line of coloured fold-up nylon and leather totes -- arguably one of the world's most popular bags since its 90s launch with 2.5 million sold a year.

With a yearly turnover of 260 million euros, 130 boutiques worldwide and sales on the rise (12 percent average growth pver the past decade), the company sees plain sailing in the years ahead.

"We were affected by the crisis," Cassegrain told AFP, "but globally less than some, with our turnover up five percent in 2010."

Last year's sales were badly hit in Greece and Spain but saw huge growth in some territories, notably in Germany (20 percent up), China, Japan and South Korea.