Designers

The iconic handbag designers don’t need an introduction, however, there are lot of other designers who rock the accessories world.  Here’s a directory of those bag designers featured on bagwhispers.com:

• Aigner Munich – is a German fashion brand but was born in New York at the turn of the 20th century.  Whilst catering for both men and women, the brand’s heritage is in handbags and luggage with signature bags such as the saddle and doctor’s bags.
• Alef bags – every bag is designed, developed and manufactured exclusively in Italy, the home of leather handbags and the team celebrate the tradition of craftsmanship and combine this with advanced techniques of leather processing.
• Anya Hindmarch – founded in London, UK, Anya brings bold ideas to women’s bags from bags with eyes, to cuddly love hearts on London’s iconic locations and most recently creating stylish tote bags made from plastic bottles
• Bimba y Lola – founded by two sisters, daughters of a famous fashion designer, the girls named their fashion label after family pets.  Their bag collection each season is fresh and bold.
• By Far – is an Australian brand founded by 3 women, designing for women.  Both bags and shoes are made in Bulgaria from quality Italian materials.  The brand boasts a few celebrity model clients too!
• Coccinelle – having spent 6 months living in Italy, I have a soft spot for Italian brands and Coccinelle brings beautiful shapes and textures to women’s hand bags and shoulder bags.  The bags really do bring joy; as they say gioia de vivre!
• Cult Gaia – an LA based brand that launched in 2012 with a manifesto to create objet d’art.  The accessories are structural and stand out.  The iconic Ark bag, bamboo crescent shaped clutch bag took the fashion world by storm.
• DeMellier – from London based, Barcelona born Mireia Llusia-Lindh, the bags are handcrafted in Spain using Italian and Spanish materials.  For every bag bought a set of lifesaving vaccines and treatments for children are funded.  Charity via bags!
• Esin Akan – is London based and founded by Esin who studied design in Milan and London.  Her credentials result in bags that can take you from work in the day to an evening out, weekdays to weekend, looking elegant and stylish.
• From St Xavier – I accidentally came across the brand shopping in Anthropologie and I was blown away by the quality of bead work on this shoulder bag.  This brand designs in Australia and sustainably sources and manufactures in India.
• Furla – creates bags for both women and men.  An Italian brand which brings a refreshingly contemporary and minimalist design.  Whenever I travel, and fancy a new bag to carry onboard a flight, I head to Furla as they seem to have a solution.
• Gabriela Hearst – a fusion of South America heritage from Uruguay and North America design influences from New York.  You can always expect stand out shapes with a bag from Gabriela.  Gracias!
• GUM Design – is surprisingly from Italy.  The team take rubber and process it and apply a chic but functional design. Bonus, the bags are waterproof!
• Hølssen hails from Oslo in Norway, set up by friends Mathieu and Sebastien who deliver a bag collection, that scores highly on function which attract a strong male audience.  Their ethos is high quality leather bags that stand the test of time.
• Issey Miyake – the well know Japanese fashion designer is known for his tech-driven designs which extends to bags from the iconic Bao Bao range and more recently the ‘Pleats Please’ range for both men and women.
• Jacquemus – A French design house that has become increasingly well known for its women’s bag range.  Think of summer days on the south of France or cycling through Provenance; from the micro top handle to woven tote bags.
• Kate Spade NY – Take a splash of its bold New York routes and combine with feminine shapes, you will find the brief for a Kate Spade handbag.  Now under a new creative director Nicola Glass, I’m sure we’re entering a new era for the brand.
• LaBante– when sustainability, ethical sourcing is high on the list, this is a brand who has got your values at the core.  The collection of handbags through to laptop bags are ethically produced with recycled environmentally friendly materials.
• Little Liffner – is a Swedish brand, based in the capital Stockholm.  Known for its minimalist style, the bags are packed with subtle character.  If you aren’t someone looking for a label on display but seeks clean cut shapes, check them out.
• Mansur Gavriel – take a bite of the big apple design label, and just like New York, you’ll feel colour.  Each collection always brings stylish shapes and warm colours combined with Italian manufacture. Expect and enjoy the quality.
• Manu Atelier – this is a family business through and through with a strong feminine touch.  Sisters created the handbag business in 2014, inspired by their father who was a leather craftsman.  Based in Istanbul Turkey – çok güzel!
• Mlouye – pronounced me-loy, is where you go to source a bag high on design – think architectural, in fact, often said inspired by Bauhaus movement.  This brand has roots in the East (just, Istanbul Turkey) and in the West (USA). Londra’dan merhaba!
• Nannacay – is a bag brand with a strong social roots.  The bags are made by a community of artists from Peru, using the reeds in colourful designs and interesting shapes.  Handmade and sustainable with worldwide shipping.
• Off-White – is an Italian luxury fashion brand founded by the American designer Virgil Abloh who brings an urban street style to Off-White.  Not for those who want to merge into the background.  These bags stand out.
• Paradise Row – from East London in the UK, an area with a rich heritage in the textile industry, this brand is helping to preserve leather craft.  The bag collections are inspired by social themes; notably the characterful bags of the Empathy range.
• Proenza Schouler – a truly New York brand, with many awards to the credit of the designers at the helm, Jack and Lazaro, who met at New York’s Parsons School of Design and named the company after their mothers’ maiden names.
• Rebecca Minkoff– a New York brand that is global and known for accessible luxury handbags.   Famous for the M.A.B (morning after bag!), Rebecca’s handbags have been recognised for trademark leather, studs and metal embellishments.
• Rejina Pyo is a London based fashion brand built upon a philosophy that brings a touch of the extraordinary.  The bags are wearable pieces that have a distinct design and because of the quality will wear well.
• Scotria – is both London and Barcelona based.  Think architectural and stand out shapes, inspired by interior designs, with the ability to customise with different colour spirals.  
• Staud – is a west coast, Los Angeles brand where bag shapes are key.  Whether you are looking for a bag for the weekend or a week day, you’ll find something in one of Staud’s collections.  Expect a little twist with the designs too.
• Tea and Tequila – this brand is full of surprises.  The bags are designed in London and manufactured sustainably in Mexico; handmade by indigenous communities of women.  These artisans create simple shaped bags but with loads of personality.
• Uterqüe – is from the same Spanish company as Zara, so expect fashion forward bag designs.  The bags have a European vibe and stand out silhouettes in quality materials, mainly leather but expect other textiles too, such as raffia.
• The Volon – is an interesting brand, with its origins as a furniture company, so structure and design aesthetic are strong and based in South Korea.  Good news, these designer bags are available online on many international retailer websites.
• Wandler – is a young brand, formed in 2017 but has hit the luxury handbag market with a bang.  The designs are eye catching, available in bold colours, but remaining elegant.   Whilst the bags are handmade in Italy,  the brand is born and bred Dutch.
• Wicker Wings – if think you know wicker bags, you may need to think again.  This brand brings a modern twist to high quality wicker weaving, which is an art under threat.  Good news, they are all about sustainable sources.
• Xenab Lone – is a leather accessories brand founded in London, four years ago.  Note widely available, so keep up to date via their instagram feed.  Functional and minimalist designs are combined with high quality materials and craftsmanship.
• Zadig & Voltaire – this Parisian brand has been around since 1997, however, each year brings fresh designs and even collaborations, for example with the iconic model Kate Moss.