Reworking & Dreaming: 6 Brands Reinventing Handbags

A handbag is more than just an accessory—it’s an extension of the body, a familiar weight by your side. It moves with you, adapting to your habits and rituals, until the day comes to replace it. This seemingly small shift disrupts daily patterns, forcing a confrontation with change and the allure of the capitalist “new.”

So why not go second-hand? With platforms like Vestiaire and TheRealReal, selling your old handbag and buying another is more fashionable than ever. Pre-owned pieces are often in excellent condition—not to mention significantly cheaper. These days, having a keen eye and scoring a great thrift find is even more coveted than owning the latest designer purse.

For those looking beyond traditional luxury, under-the-radar labels offer unique styles at a range of price points. Over the last decade, as the fashion industry has pushed its biggest names further out of reach, these brands have stepped into the spotlight. But with so many options, how do you decide what reflects your style right now?

When making your next buy, the sad but simple truth is that “more expensive” doesn’t always mean “higher quality.” In fact, the luxury handbag industry enjoys some of the highest profit margins in fashion. Meanwhile, recent YouTube videos from artisans and bag enthusiasts have exposed a disappointing reality: some so-called “luxury” bags fall short in quality.

Brand recognition and iconic shapes only add to the complexity, fueling the desire for a bag that feels unique—one that no one else seems to have. Whether you’re after functionality or the perfect complement to your latest look, the decision between style and substance isn’t always clear-cut. But with the right labels, you can have both.

From Hodakova to Published By, independent designers are striking a balance between craftsmanship and statement-making design, turning handbags into sculptural art. Below, Interior Closures reveals six of our favorite handbag brands. Making your next find simple, we’re spotlighting the ones that deserve a place in your closet.

Reworking

HODAKOVA

If you’re into deadstock vintage, you should know Ellen Hodakova Larsson’s designs. Her Swedish label, which won the 2024 LVMH prize, is known for its accessories composed of belts and buckles. Hodakova’s made-on-order pieces use only repurposed materials, transforming used leather into luxury baguette bags. Their upcycled, deconstructed styles put a spin on traditional utilitarianism, adding an edge to any look… and who can have enough belts?

DENTRO

DENTRO exposes seams and all with the brand’s “inside-out bags”. Revealing the foam on the designs’ exterior, the label places an emphasis on showing the construction process, subverting the structural form of the handbag. Highlighting this, their Paper Bag turns factory cutting patterns into a print, imperfectly perfect for anyone with a keen eye for craftsmanship. 

Dreaming

SANT

If you’re seeking the middle ground between minimalism and avant garde, Sant’s geometric, Bauhaus-inspired designs may be the answer. The label’s bags come in an eclectic range of colors and prints including yellow snakeskin and metallic green. Though it was the brand’s focus on Italian craftsmanship that made it into a fast cult favorite, its unique styles and shapes are what makes it your next wardrobe essential.

L’ALINGI

Looking for a bag to pair with your evening wear? At L’ALINGI, jewelled clutches and feathered pouches make the perfect party bags, just big enough to hold all of your belongings. Bringing luxury with mundane objects, the playful designs utilize seashells, butterflies, and flowers as motifs. All of the label’s accessories are handmade, and only available in limited quantities, so act fast, as you’ll value these pieces for years to come.

Innovating

PUBLISHED BY

Designed digitally with a 3D modelling software, Published By’s metal bags take inspiration from contemporary architecture; the forms the brand generates are almost geological, alluding to nature despite their metal exteriors. Placing the technology involved in the creative process at the forefront, Published By works in the place where the fashion and tech industries meet. If your wardrobe tends to stray away from convention, these bags are the perfect way to accessorize.

CLIO PEPPIATT

Your next going out staple, Clio Peppiatt’s crystalline purses use traditional embroidery techniques to blend craft and function. With the intention of preserving artisanal skills, the designer works closely with a team focused on passing forward their knowledge to create striking silhouettes. These eye-catching, beaded bags are not to be missed!