When Mansur Gavriel came along a couple years ago and exposed a glaring blind spot in the contemporary market for sophisticated, modern bags at a relatively reasonable price point, retailers reacted quickly. Not only did basically every store imaginable try to stock the brand, but plenty of retail buyers went out looking for new or previously overlooked designers who could cater to similar tastes. Thankfully, they found some.
In the intervening seasons, shopping sites have started to stock more small brands with forward-thinking aesthetics and attainable prices, which is great news for anyone shopping for bags. To help you sort out what’s what in time to spend your spring bag budget wisely, we’ve found five of the most notable additions to the accessories landscape; check out their bags and backstories below.
Flynn
Flynn is a relatively new line from Australian designer Oliver Tilsley, and the bags’ simple-but-not-too-simple approach and modern finishes have attracted the attention of some major US retailers. Shoppers seem to be paying attention, too; in the time I’ve been researching this article, several Flynn bags on my list to feature have sold out. Check out some of the best pieces below and shop more Flynn bags at Urban Outfitters, Shopbop and REVOLVE.
Flynn Baker Crossbody Bag
$180 via Shopbop
Flynn Conran Satchel
$350 via Shopbop
Flynn Rocky Crossbody Bag
$275 via Urban Outfitters
Flynn Tory Crossbody Bag
$275 via REVOLVE
Vasic Collection
Vasic Collection is a young brand (founded in 2014!) based in New York City and designed by former hairstylist Kanoko Mizuo. The bags are geometric takes on classic shapes, and for spring, many of the designs are lightened with canvas or fine basket weave. You can shop a larger selection via Shopbop.
Vasic Collection Bolder Canvas Bucket Bag
$290 via Shopbop
Vasic Collection Convey Satchel
$335 via Shopbop
Vasic Collection Gentee Satchel
$405 via Shopbop
Vasic Collection Marche Tote
$370 via Shopbop
KARA
We’ve been watching KARA since 2013, when the brand was only a year old, and designer Sarah Law has continued to build the New York-based brand since then. Most impressive are the recently introduced smooth leather bags, which take a page from the Mansur Gavriel playbook–smooth, clean leather in uncluttered shapes and at fair prices are a sure way to shoppers’ hearts. The larger Tie Shoulder Bag regularly sells out in black, so if you want one, act quickly. Shop KARA bags via Net-a-Porter, Shopbop and Barneys.
Kara Nano Tie Tote
$350 via Net-a-Porter
Kara Stowaway Large Crossbody Bag
$390 via Barneys
Kara Tie Shoulder Bag
$475 via Net-a-Porter
Kara Tie Tote
$475 via Net-a-Porter
Cuero & Mor
Cuero & Mor was founded by Maria Diaz and Pepe Romero in Santa Monica in 2013, with the intent to showcase the quality of fine leather with simple, functional shapes. The line, which is made in Spain, is extremely tightly edited: three shapes in three shades each. Many are sold out on the brand’s website, but you can shop several of the styles via Shopbop, where they also tend to go in and out of stock quickly.
Cuero & Mor Bucket Bag
$595 via Shopbop
Cuero & Mor Bucket Bag
$595 via Shopbop
Cuero & Mor Cross Body Bag
$395 via Shopbop
Cuero & Mor Cross Body Bag
$395 via Shopbop
Carven
Unlike the brands above, Carven is hardly new–it was founded by a Frenchwoman in 1945 and has had many lives. When Guillaume Henry left his spot as creative director in 2014, though, the company brought on two young designers with backgrounds at Givenchy–Alexis Martial and Caillaudaud–to lead the brand. Caillaudaud in particular is known for his deft handling of accessories, according to Vogue UK, so it’s not surprising that the brand’s bags have really started to shine lately. You can shop a larger selection via Forzieri or farfetch.com.
Carven Mahler Petit Bucket Bag
$430 via Forzieri
Carven Mahler Pochette Bag
$450 via SSENSE
Carven Mahler Top Handle Bag
$579 via farfetch.com
Carven Mercer Pouch Bag
$320 via Forzieri
