Nothing gets me giddier than discovering a brand-new designer with a whole lot of potential to blow up. It's the reason I often find myself in a 2 a.m. Instagram hole, eight pages deep, my Saved folder overflowing with new discoveries. It's why I'm likely to stop strangers in the street and inquire about the origins of their outfit or throw an out-of-the-blue DM someone's way (see something, say something, right?). For someone who scouts the internet every day for the best shopping, uncovering a new-to-me brand I'm infatuated with is a serious thrill.
I'm not alone in this, either. My fellow editors also have a keen eye for greatness, so I tapped them to share the new handbag designers they can't stop thinking about and, no surprise here, but their picks are really good. From the perfect, polished top-handle bags to the quirky novel shapes you didn't know you needed, I'm sharing eight new brands you might not have heard of yet but definitely will soon. Go ahead and stalk the following designers at your leisure, and shop the handbags I personally recommend investing in.
Neous
Want to know the bag that cool girls from all over are wearing right now? Meet Neous. Or rather, re-meet the brand. It's earned a reputation for its sculptural shoes, but the brand has just begun trying its hand at bags and the results are even more stunning than we expected. Senior editor Allyson Payer is even calling it the latest It bag.
Shop the brand:
Yuzefi
Yuzefi has been around for a while, our editor in chief Kat Collings told me, but is still relatively under the radar. Well, at this rate, it won't be that way for very long. Each new design is stronger than the last and the brand's latest creation, the Baguette Bag, is proof of its imminent rise of fame.
Shop the brand:
Marge Sherwood
Where my Wes Anderson fans at? When designers Sungeun Um and Soonyoung Kim launched their handbag line in 2016, they named it after Gwyneth Paltrow's character in The Talented Mr. Ripley, and it's a whole vibe. They've since made their mark with polished and petite handbags, usually finished in croc-effect for an extra-luxe look.
Shop the brand:
Kassl
You might have already heard of Kassl since its trench coats and outerwear are a favorite among the fashion crowd, but it's recently launched a series of handbags with puffy, cloud-like shapes that are really impressing us.
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Georgia Jay
With its uniquely shaped shoulder bags and petite top-handle pouches trending at the moment, Georgia Jay is poised to be a popular bag brand this year and ahead.
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Rylan
I spotted none other than our Editor in Chief Kat Collings carrying this retro top-handle bag during New York Fashion Week last season, and it's been on my mind since. Rylan, an Australian label, is behind the design, and as I quickly learned, it specializes in bags that strike a balance between retro and of-the-moment.
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Oroton
Although not necessarily a new brand, I felt compelled to include Oroton here since its gorgeous bags just hit Net-a-Porter which, for any label big or small, is an indicator it's on the up.
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House of Want
Surprise! A cool new bag brand that's all under $100. While scrolling through Shopbop's selection, I spotted these on-trend baguette shapes and had to do a double-take to make sure I was reading the price correctly, but sure enough, these babies are just as cool as they are wallet-friendly.
Shop the brand:
Speaking of It items, these six are officially on my wishlist (and the affordable versions I might buy instead).
