Back in 2012, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made waves in the fashion world with their controversial pill purse. This luxury handbag, part of their brand The Row, was crafted from black patent crocodile leather and decorated with colorful prescription pills. The price? A staggering $55,000. While proceeds went to UNICEF, the design sparked debate—was it a bold artistic statement or an inappropriate glamorization of drug use?
A decade later, the pill purse remains as bizarre and overpriced as ever. At a glance, the pills might resemble confetti or cupcake sprinkles, but that doesn’t make the design any less questionable. Only 12 of these bags were ever made, and not all featured the pill motif. Whether anyone actually bought one remains a mystery, but it’s safe to say you won’t find them popping up on resale sites like Poshmark.
The idea of using an unattractive, ultra-expensive bag to raise money for charity seems flawed. If the Olsen twins wanted to support UNICEF today, they might have better luck selling a more affordable version—perhaps swapping the pills for candy, lipsticks, or other playful elements. Or, if they wanted to lean into the controversy, they could take it even further with designs featuring needles and bongs.
Despite the pill purse fiasco, The Row is still around and was reportedly profitable as of 2020. The brand has since shifted toward a more understated aesthetic, offering high-end basics in luxurious fabrics like wool, silk, and cashmere. Their handbags today are far more refined—sleek, well-crafted, and free of controversy. While they still come with hefty price tags (starting at $1,200), at least they’re stylish.
As for me, I won’t be splurging on a Row handbag anytime soon. But if you’re in the market for a high-end accessory that won’t raise eyebrows, their current collection is a much safer bet than the infamous pill purse.