24 Best Handbag Brands That Editors Love, From DeMellier to Dragon Diffusion

Best affordable handbag brand

DeMellier is the handbag brand loved by celebrities like Beyoncé, Jourdan Dunn and Irina Shayk, but it's also one of the few rising London labels championed by the royals. And we mean championed: Catherine, Princess of Wales, rotates the Nano style in camel and navy, while Meghan Markle and The Queen Consort both have the Venice in bottle-green, and Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Pippa Middleton are also fans.

DeMellier prioritise responsible sourcing and small production lines. A portion of profits from every sale go to its permanent charity initiative 'A Bag, A Life' – funding life-saving vaccines for children in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages.

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Best for adding edge

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If you’ve never been about neutral tones or a #cleangirl aesthetic, you’ll no doubt be a fan of Zadig&Voltaire. The French brand oozes nonchalance, and its handbag department is sure to please those with a rock ‘n’ roll sentiment. It’s heavy on the hardware – think zips, chain-link handles, studs (a key accessory trend for AW25) and that iconic angel wings plaque.

Oh, and because Zadig&Voltaire loves a black bag, any investment is sure to go the distance in your wardrobe. These pieces are a great way to work a bit of attitude into your workwear looks, too. We love the new monogram canvas collection and the Rock Today Pochette (depicted) which has a deliciously slouchy silhouette.

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Best Scandi handbag brand

Handbags might not be what springs to mind when you think of Ganni. But, in recent years, the Scandi brand has pivoted slightly and gone hard on the accessories – resulting in not one, but two viral product launches.

We're talking about the lace-up ballet flats editors can't get enough of, and the cult Bou bag pictured left. This eco-friendly arm candy is made from recycled materials and comes in a plethora of colourways, from burgundy patent and powder-blue leather, to leopard-print satin and snake-effect styles.

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Best handbag collab

Rixo and Dragon Diffusion might just be the hottest collaboration around right now. We're not being hyperbolic – a mere few hours after the first drop, these bags started to sell out. But, fret not, new stock is coming on May 26. Just make sure you join the waitlist.

Part of a limited edition seven piece collection, there are three key styles to shop in Dragon Diffusion's signature woven leather fabric: the Amoria handbag (£245), the capacious Luciene tote (£385) and the boho Roxella waist belt £145) that'll give your fave Rixo dresses a new lease of life.

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Best British handbag brand

A heritage British brand, Mulberry was founded in 1971; but it wasn’t until Nicholas Knightly designed the Bayswater in 2003 that its era-defining It-bag streak started. The OG Brit-It girl Alexa Chung was always repping then brand – then in 2009, Mulberry launched its iconic Alexa. It was briefly discontinued and brought back in 2020 just in time for the Indie Sleaze movement.

Combined with the launch of Mulberry Exchange and Y2K fever, the British brand has gone from 'home counties' back to 'cool' in the past few years. The pocket-laden cargo bag, the Roxanne, is top of every vintage heads wishlists right now. And from current season we’re loving the clean Clovelly style and the padded Bayswater.

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Best sustainable bag brand

Following on from its expansion into shoes a few years back, Reformation launched handbags in 2023. The collection sees timeless shapes with the same 1990s vibes as the ready-to-wear – fuss-free leather styles, sans hardware, in playful but timeless colour palettes.

The LA-based brand is working with the same European tanneries that supply major luxury brands, so these babies are built to last. Nonetheless, they are 100% recyclable through RefRecycling (this scheme is currently US only, but it will be coming to the UK soon).

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Best high end handbag brand

Prada obviously needs no introduction. But its recent renaissance has proved the Italian brand to be something of an It-bag connoisseur. By leaning into the brand’s ‘90s codes and reissuing some archival shapes (Re-Edition and Re-Nylon being our faves) Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have breathed a new sporty (read: relevant in this smart/casual world) vibe into the house's conservative aesthetic.

That’s why its logo-embellished, ladylike bags look just as good with a tank top and slip skirt as they do with a preppy loafer and pleated mini combo. We love the Cleo’s deliciously simple shape and the Moon’s Noughties cargo vibes.

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Best luxury handbag brand

When JW Anderson joined Loewe as Creative Director back in 2013, he elevated the Spanish brand to fashion – and art – world royalty. In his toolbox? That knack for making a unique-but-wearable arm candy he nurtured at his namesake label. So, no matter how weird and wonderful his runway looks were, those leather goods were always propping up a steady stream of sales (which rise year-on-year without fail – last quarter, Loewe saw a 60% uptick in profits). From the iconic Puzzle bag to the Hammock and the reimagined Flamenco clutch, these accessories are well worth the investment.

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Best for work & weekends away

A work of modern art, By Banoo's creations are as functional as it gets – while still remaining impossibly chic. The briefcases (yes, we thought they died a late-Noughties death, too) reside as a firm star in the collection; cut from luxe camel, burgundy and black leather into a sculptural trapeze shape and available in sizes based on the model of your laptop.

Then there's capacious but structured totes, smart City backpacks and the weekend bags. To good to save for business trips, these suede bowling holdalls (pictured), available in 12- and 24-hour sizes, open to genius internal compartments so you can leave the packing cubes behind.

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The handbags with serious history

Gucci handbags need no introduction. The Italian house started in luxury leather goods in 1921, and was soon outfitting the most famous faces in history – the Bamboo bag launched in 1947 and was carried by the likes of Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana for decades to come.

The brand boasts a rich archive of coveted handbags, from classics like the Horesebit (launched in 1955) and the Jackie (1961) to contemporary icons like the quilted Marmont and chain-trimmed Dionysus. This season, though, we're obsessed with the label's newest creation: the Gucci Giglio is a roomy monogrammed canvas tote spliced with the brand's signature tricolor webbing.

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Best heritage handbag brand

One of the oldest luxury handbag brands in the world, Louis Vuitton has been making leather goods since 1854. And in 1896, that instantly-recognisable monogram canvas was born – the tessellated logo design that adorns so many brand icons, such as the Speedy, the Alma, the Nerverfull, the Pochette and the Noé bucket bag.

In 2025 French label has launched a new bag we're certain will be added to that list of house icons. Nicolas Ghesquière's latest baby, the LV Biker (pictured) has already been spotted on Emma Stone, Sophie Turner, Chloe Grace Moretz and Blackpink's Lisa (who also just made her acting debut as Mook in White Lotus).

Best for trending silhouettes

Staud is celebriting its 10 year anniversary this year. That means a whole decade of the LA-based brand fore-fronting multiple cool-girl movements – Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner are well initiated in the Staud hall of fame.

At its heart, however, Staud a brand that was created to make great fashion accessible. A consideration that has never wavered. Prices remain competitive making the temptation to become not just a customer but, let's say, a collector very, very tempting.

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The all-rounder brand

Haya Al Abdulkareem studied at London's Central Saint Martins before heading home to Kuwait to launch Folklore in 2014. Focusing on quality production and sustainable materials, the brand works exclusively with a family owned leather goods manufacturer in Spain. Every bag is handmade by artisans, using locally sourced leathers (quite often offcuts) and tanned only with natural vegetable dyes.

Folklore is a real all-rounder – there is always something different and exciting to choose from. Once a go-to for sparkly crystal-trimmed satin clutches and bucket bags, now you'll find boho suede totes and elegant candy-coloured leather numbers.

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Best ornamental bags

Basically British fashion royalty now, Erdem is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. It makes sense, then, that the Montreal-born Erdem Moralıoğlu (he studied at London's RCA) decided to do something different ahead of his eponymous label's big birthday.

Debuted on the Spring/Summer 2025 runway and dropped into stores last November was his very first handbag design: the Bloom. This collection is as romantic as you would expect. Each contemporary bag is topped with an exquisite gold 3D floral handle that's handmade in Florence and take hours to craft individually. We can't wait to see how the label progresses in this category.

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Best London handbag brand

British brand Peachy Den just launched its first line of handbags. True to the brand's playful Noughties-inspired vibe, the collection is starting with just four bowler bags complete with chunky silver hardware and contrast piping that take us right back. In a mad dog lady move, founder Isabella Weatherby invited 200 dogs to an open casting at Peachy Den's flagship store and named the bags are the four winners: Stella, Larry, Chai and Ottie.

These bowlers aren't all fun and games though, they're expertly designed to make your life easier: there's an elasticated sleeve for laptops, as well as a pocket for valuables and a D-ring to clip your keys to. The team even contacted airlines to check this baby would fit under your seat on flights. Genius.

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Best for boho bags

You might love Ba&sh for its ethereal blouses, printed dresses and denim separates, but did you know the French brand has a great handbag lineup, too? It shares the same effortless, bohemian aesthetic as the ready-to-wear – whether you're plumping for the brand's metallic Swing designs (a real Mary-Kate and Ashley circa 2008 vibe), a fringed suede cross-body, or its recently launched drawstring June bag.

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Best for vegan handbags

'Style that doesn't cost the earth' is Mashu's slogan, speaking to both its sustainable and price-friendly approaches. But don't get to thinking that style is sacrificed. The brand, founded in 2017 by Ioanna Topouzoglou, is all about designs that are most often bright, with statement hardware and in interesting silhouettes. Jaunty handles are also Mashu's things with its clever details making them easily recognisable.

Moreover, every Mashu bag is vegan and the result becomes beneficial on two fronts as the lack of leather also keeps the price point down. Whether you're gifting a loved one or choosing your next style, you'd do well to start and end your search here.

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Best for 'going-out' bags

Manu Atelier was founded by Beste and Merve Manastır (the daughters of one of the oldest hand craftsman and leather goods manufacturer in Istanbul, Turkey) back in 2014. Despite a very successful expansion into footwear, handbags are still at the heart of the brand – with its cult Cylinder bags still being a best-seller nearly a decade on. The sisters count The Princess of Wales, SJP and Bella Hadid among their stylish fans.

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Best budget handbag brand

Vegan handbag brand JW Pei was founded by a husband and wife duo Steph Li and Yang Pei in 2018. It didn't take long for the LA-based label to rack up a celebrity fan base; the likes of Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Irina Shayk and Em Rata have been spotted wearing its bags on repeat (in particular the cult ruched Gabbi style). The affordable price point is what keeps customers coming back, and you can also choose from detachable handles and chains to switch up your chosen design and make your purchase go the distance.

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Best for bucket bags

J&M Davidson was founded by photographer and designer (not to mention, husband and wife) duo John and Monique Davidson in 1984. Working from their Golborne Road studio in Notting Hill, the pair soon expanded from a single studded belt into leather goods, and quickly picked up celebrity fans such as the late Princess Diana and Jerry Hall. The brand has continued this legacy since the Davidson's moved on, adding ready-to-wear into the mix but focussing mainly on its Spanish-made handbags – we're obsessed with the sculptural Quiver bucket bags and the fringed Carnival design.

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