IN THE BAG

New season calls for a wardrobe refresh and accessories are the fastest track to an instant update. Don’t be fooled by the mention of a new season though. If you choose wisely, your arm candy will transcend trends so that you’ll find yourself reaching for it for years to come. In this way, it’s the best sartorial investment you can make. From the coolest bag to the year's defining label, keep scrolling to discover the best new handbag brands that will dominate this season and far beyond.

ACNE STUDIOS

A celebrated fashion favourite, Acne Studios is a Scandi-cool label with a dedicated global following. Originally founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Acne Studios (A.C.N.E. = Ambition to Create Novel Expression) was a design collective that produced graphic design and advertising. A year later, co-founder Jonny Johansson produced 100 pairs of jeans that were loved by clients and caught the attention of Vogue Paris. Since then, the label has expanded into womenswear and menswear, but it’s their accessories collection that has captured the fashion pack’s hearts. Encapsulating an understated aesthetic, their collection of bags are made with minimalism and practicality in mind.

THE BAG TO NOTE: Crafted from lightly grained leather with an understated embossed logo and tied knots on each side, the Musubi shoulder bag is the perfect everyday bag. Inside, there’s open space for all your essentials and a secure zipped pouch that opens with a branded ribbon pull. The icing on the cake? Strong sustainability credentials.

ATP ATELIER

When best friends Maj-La Pizzelli and Jonas Clason founded ATP Atelier, the concept was simple: to create leather goods that couple contemporary Scandinavian design and authentic Italian craftsmanship. As they began designing, they found themselves gravitating towards styles for the everyday. The bag you can take to the supermarket, the shoes you can run errands in, the accessories that last. In creating this, they began to challenge the concept of luxury. Now, their collections fit into a category they call “smart luxury”. Each of their bags has been creating not just because, but to make a real difference in women’s lives.

THE BAG TO NOTE: ATP Atelier fuses the minimal aesthetic of Scandinavia with the craftsmanship of Italy for bags like the Arezzo — named after the Tuscan city. Handmade in the brand's Italian workshops from buttery leather, it's crafted to a trapezoid shape with a saddle inspired flap that opens to reveal a spacious lined interior. The perfect back-to-work bag to serve you well on commutes.

JW ANDERSON

JW Anderson has long been considered the purveyor of swoon-worthy accessories thanks to his innovative designs and considered edge. A label you can shop effortlessly this season for womenswear, menswear and shoes, the AW21 handbag collection is where are heart truly lies. With a beguiling combination of pared-down simplicity and conceptual thinking, JW Anderson arm candy fuses the signature anchor logo with modern design elements to include a lust-worthy line-up of purses, chain styles, and totes.

THE BAG TO NOTE: First introduced in JW Anderson's SS15 runway, the Twister bag has been revived for AW21. Crafted by skilled artisans in Spain, it features a top twisted handle with a magnetic flap closure that opens to reveal a spacious interior. Carry it as a clutch or across the body thanks to the detachable chain. The perfect accompaniment for the return of special celebrations.

ANYA HINDMARCH

When Anya Hindmarch launched I’m Not a Plastic Bag in 2007, it became a global phenomenon. The canvas tote spurred a worldwide sustainability movement and ignited conversations around single-use plastic bags. In Japan, frenzied customers camped overnight to nab one of the limited-edition totes, while in the UK over 80,000 people queued on the day of the launch. Fourteen years later, Hindmarch has hit another home run with the I Am A Plastic Bag collection.

THE BAG TO NOTE: Reinvented in style but retaining the same environmental messaging, the I Am A Plastic Bag collection is a must-buy. Speaking to both the trophy tote and mini-me trends, the newly imagined totes come in two drastic sizes. Made entirely from plastic bottles destined for landfill, it has a durable cotton-canvas feel that is also weather-resistant thanks to its clever coating made from recycled windscreens. Not forgetting the brand's monogram, its slogan embroidery is hand-finished. The perfect take-anywhere bag for holidays to come.

BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE

Bao Bao Issey Miyake is a collection of bags and pouches based on ‘shapes made by chance’, first introduced in 2000. Heavily focused on the brand’s structural, engineered clothing, the label continues to produce collections of modern, wearable accessories. Expect handbags that combine flexibility and function, are light and soft PVC bags that can also bend, fold and transform.

THE BAG TO NOTE: With a triangular structure, the Wring Drawstring Bucket Bag's experiments with geometry to create three-dimensional designs. It's crafted with the brand's signature PVC triangle appliqués and its open top is secured with drawstring fastenings, which double as a shoulder strap. It’s the perfect party bag for re-entering the world in style.

LALO

A brand loved by stylish A-listers such as Alexa Chung and Miquita Oliver, Lalo specialises in woven totes. Each one of their designs are hand-woven by female artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico. What’s more, the brand makes each of its designs from recycled PET plastic. A truly sustainable hero brand, Lalo supports its workers and ensures a fair wage for all. Inspired by market shoppers, their bags bring a fashion-forward edge to a practical style.

THE BAG TO NOTE: Handmade by skilled weavers in Mexico, the Lily bag from Lalo takes approximately five hours to make. Woven from recycled plastic in a checkerboard pattern, the simple design is carried by two tonal top handles that open to reveal a spacious interior for all your essentials — and some groceries too. The perfect bag for everyday errands.

JACQUEMUS

Jacquemus is having a major moment thanks to the cult status of its Le Chiquito bag, most likely to go down in history as the tiniest It-bags around. That said, the label has a lot more to offer than just itty-bitty bags. There’s plenty more to discover. Crafted in buttery leather and soft canvas, the range includes everything from the aforementioned pint-sized It bag to roomier shoulder bags.

THE BAG TO NOTE: All good things come in small packages and the Le Chiquito Mini Leather Top Handle Bag is pure perfection in accessory form. Crafted in Spain and made using buttery leather, it features the bag’s iconic envelope shape and is branded with golden logo lettering.