Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s if you wanted an affordable, stylish bag that was beloved by fashion folk and celebs alike there was one brand that instantly came to mind: Kooba. Kooba is, or rather was, as its Instagram hasn’t been updated since 2019 and its web store is no longer, a contemporary handbag brand that began in the late 90s. At the helm of the New York based brand was mother-daughter duo Bonnie and Abbe Held. At the height of Kooba’s popularity its bags were a beloved choice of many celebs, including Blake Lively, Rihanna, Sienna Miller, and more. They were sold at some of the best department and specialty stores like Saks, Barney’s New York, and Neiman Marcus.
Offering a stylish line of leather bags at affordable prices it’s no wonder that Kooba had its moment in fashion history, and though it was well before my time, Kooba was covered a fair bit here on PurseBlog too. Kooba’s bags today are definitely dated and so very Y2K, but at the time they were everything a handbag lover wanted. Slouchy, smooshy, and detailed with novelty detailing like studs or bows and today we’re taking a look back at the Kooba bags celebs loved a decade ago and beyond. And if you’re interested in owning a piece of 2000s fashion history, check out Kooba bags on The RealReal.
