Scoring yourself a classic designer bag is a form of investment as they appreciate in value over time but as much as we like the idea, there are times when we cannot justify the price we are paying.
Enter the alternatives that are by no means compromising on quality.
Often under the radar, bag labels like Venczel, Songmont or Polène—though the French luxury label has amassed a whopping amount of 1.8 million followers on Instagram at the point of writing—offer the industry and our wardrobes a new perspective, with innovations like alternative textiles, out-of-the-box designs and an eco-conscious process of making. The investment, in this case, is beyond merely monetary values.
Owning a luxury bag that ticks all your boxes yet only costs a fraction? We are singing this number. Ahead, we compile a list of alternative luxury bag brands that we have our eyes on, all fairly priced.
Polène
Founded in 2016 by the Mothay siblings, Polene has become the if-you-know-you-know bags that are sensibly priced. There are many reasons why people on and off social media wax lyrical about Polene. Not only do they source the leather from certified tanneries in Spain and Italy, but up close, the craftsmanship of the bags is also faultless as they were made in Ubrique, a southern Spanish city widely known for its artisan leather industry.
The choice of bags is overwhelming: the iconic Numéro Un, the brand’s first metallic bag Neiti, the capacious Cyme that will not drown a smaller-framed wearer (tried and tested!) and the latest Mokki that encapsulates the art of leather folding—an inflated origami lookalike.
It’s also worth noting that most of the bags from Polene are shaped organically with soft curves, gentle folds, precise leather draping and weaving. These unique shapes complement the natural-inspired colour palette the brand has to offer, aligning with their ethos to be at one with nature—images captured in nature are a mainstay. That being said, Polene is also committed to reusing scraps from its creation to make small leather goods like bag charms and handmade interior objects that are released in a limited quantity. Another reason to love.
THEMOIRè
Ethical and environmentally responsible, THEMOIRè is a project that revolves around innovative leather alternatives, with the least environmental impact possible. Being environmentally responsible, however, is no longer a novelty in the fashion industry yet Themoire took it a step further, creating innovative alternatives that are milestones in leather manufacturing.
Bags from THEMOIRè are made from fruits like pineapples, apple peels, or grapeskin and seeds; coffee lovers might also be intrigued by the textile made with coffee grounds or bags adorned with hardware made from coffee powder. Not just the appearance, but also the inner linings are made solely with recycled materials, most of which are recycled PET bottles.
Being eco-friendly is the brand’s core idea, but the design is not left on the sidelines. From the shell-like Tia clutches to the uniquely shaped Crisali bags, instead of taking cues from trendy silhouette every season, Themoire’s designs are unorthodox—something fresh that the saturated market is lacking.
Manu Atelier
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The fashion girls love it. From Gigi Hadid to Julia Fox, Manu Atelier sits comfortably in the A-lister wardrobe. Founded by the Manastir sisters, Beste and Merve, it is the newest creative force in the industry.
From afar, the bags from Manu Atelier are designed in distinctive shapes—the cylinders are still an all-time bestseller after a decade, adding a note of whimsy, especially with the wide array of options in colours and textures available to pick from.
Up close, the bags are crafted with scrupulous attention to detail, a given for the sisters since their father was one of the most celebrated leather goods handcraftsmen in Istanbul. Hence, it’s no surprise that the bags from Manu Atelier are made by hand in a family-run workshop in Beyoğlu, with materials sourced from Turkey. The appeal of Manu Atelier, we reckon, is in its fine quality given the fairly labelled price tag. A supple bag that not only takes home the crown in novelty but also promising quality? It’s not hard to see why Emrata is an avid fan.
Songmont
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Songmont is a brainchild of Song, who had difficulty finding a day bag that ticked all the boxes of a white-collar worker who commutes every day carrying her laptop. Song recognised the gap; therefore, with the help of her mother, a skilled craftswoman, the founder created not only a bag label but an inclusive community that supports senior craftswomen, one like her mother.
The brand started with this group of grannies in a workshop—initiated by Song’s mother—who’d infused their skills in traditional crafts into every design, embroideries on the leather bag, for instance. As the brand grew, the group of veteran workers passed on the baton, now taking over the chair in the repair department. The brand, however, kept that spirit by commissioning older models to front campaigns, making these luxury bags as affable as they can be.
While Songmont sits comfortably in the minimalist camp, the bags come in practical yet fun shapes like the Shan backpack that mimics the book bag a monk would carry, or the Drippy tote that takes after the shape of a coffee drip bag. Embracing its roots as a China-based brand, Eastern cultural references don’t go unnoticed throughout the collections, with details like bags in the shade of jade.
DeMellier
You know this is the ultimate “quiet luxury” bag when even the Princess of Wales carried one. DeMellier is a fast-growing London-based brand known for its refined bags made in Spain.
With pared back, no-nonsense designs and quality-assured materials, the collections are aptly named after different cities. DeMellier is a metropolitan wardrobe must-have—from the trapeze-shaped swinging-sixties lookalike Cannes clasp bags to the gigantic New York tote, a bag du jour seeing how the big bag (stuffed to the brim) trend is taking over the runway this season. Everything from DeMellier screams timeless and functional, which is best if you are looking for a transitional bag. By that we mean weather transitions, travelling around cities or even transitioning between roles.
Venczel
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Copenhagen fashion has been gaining more attention recently—some called it “fashion’s fifth city”, and we can see why. Cult-favourite Venczel, for one, is an uprising star among the fashion-forward groups.
Despite having a minimal colour and appearance, Venczel plays around with the bag silhouettes, taking the form of abstract shapes and oblique lines. Design-wise, the bags are loud yet subtle. It is perhaps this contrasting juxtaposition, that Venczel finds its voice amidst all the emerging brands.
If you wondered why these organic shapes look uncannily familiar, it is because Matilda Venczel, the brand founder, works closely with Casey Cadwallader, designing bags for the legendary fashion house, Mugler.
Yu Mei
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When Yu Mei appeared in headlines along the phrase “600 units sold within 17 minutes” several years ago, we knew we had to put this New Zealand-based leather goods label on our radar.
Functionality is the keyword for the brand founder, Jessie Wong, as she sets off to create her bag to fit more than just a purse and lipstick. The brand was born out of necessities, so to speak. Made with that in mind, the utilitarian brand is crafted for the modern woman who are looking for efficient and fuss-free, throw-everything-in bags. Because let’s be frank, there are days we just want to roll out our beds, grab everything and go.
In this case, the choice of material is vital. Made with regenerative materials, most of the bags are made of deer nappa, using only the by-products of the venison industry that would otherwise go to waste.