Black & Latino designers are leading the way.

Once upon a time, your shoes were a symbol of being dressed or not. “Heels or sneakers?” determined the vibe of the occasion, but with streetwear switching up the status quo and WFH changing the way that we dress forever (or at least for now), there’s a new IT accessory looking to make a statement: The Handbag.

Now don’t get me wrong—a good purse or bag has always been a status symbol and just a plain good way to wrap up an outfit, but handbags have never touched “the culture” like they do today, and all without breaking the bank. Our favorite Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, and Hermès Birkin bags aren’t going anywhere, but gone are the days that you had to drop a few stacks to tap into luxury. With limited drops and sold-out collections, Black and POC independent designers are paving the way for a new kind of “It” bag.

Telfar has been giving a big middle finger to the fashion industry since the inception of the unisex brand in 2005. It was steadily rising in popularity when 2020’s "buy Black push thrusted its famous shopping bag into the forefront of our social media feeds and to your favorite fashion girl’s hip. The “It’s not for you—it’s for everybody” motto has stayed true, with prices ranging from $150 to $300, even when worn by Beyoncé herself. Before we knew it, this bag wasn’t just a fun accessory, but also a nod to the culture and an unsaid (gender fluid) sisterhood shared between everyone who wore it.

Today, the bags have been selling out in minutes for almost two years straight, and with new collabs like Uggs and Converse, the momentum isn’t slowing down. Now, a bag doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to be a signature of taste.

Brandon Blackwood is another Black designer with bags that immediately say “this girl’s got style” before you murmur a word. With structured trunk bags, trend-forward bucket bags, and thoughtful play with materials like shearling, lizard, and leather—the NYC-based namesake brand puts design first in a way that keeps shoppers coming back. It first made waves with a bag plated with the words “End Systematic Racism” and got yet another stamp of approval when a recently launched bag was featured next to Charlotte in the Sex & The City reboot, And Just Like That.

Williamsburg-based Raul Lopez has also shaken up the scene with the return of his brand LUAR in September at New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2022 showing when they entered the accessories category. The signature style has a striking top-handle that immediately garnered the attention of celebrities and influencers alike, and the fair price tag of under $400 makes each bag an attainable nod to the culture. It’s been called the “next Teflar,” but that feels lazy. Why compare?

These designers have ushered us into an era where logos are baked into design and familiar silhouettes are just as valuable as flashy logos. So the next time you look to add a bag to your collection, consider doing it for the culture in the new luxurious way.

— Kindra Moné