Written by Jasmyne Seed
Nothing sets off a good look like a statement luxury bag! Whether a finely-crafted clutch, a chic mini bag that only holds your phone and patience, or the perfect everyday tote, handbags have the ability to elevate your style, be a source of convenience, and are interchangeable enough to remix any ensemble.
Now, while I encourage my fellow hardworking Queens to splurge on themselves and indulge in the finer things, the “it girl” bags of the moment seem to be of the car note price variety (a Hermes bag STRAP is $1,550 alone, y’all!). However, there are plenty of options that won’t blow your bag entirely while maintaining a lux aesthetic. Below I rounded up a few of my fav emerging brands making their mark in the premium handbags and accessories space, spearheaded by Black designers that deserve that Dior Me, Double C, Bottega, energy!
Luxury Bag: Telfar
Designer: Telfar Clemens
Since its debut in 2005, Telfar has created an underground phenom in the world of bags and accessories, especially after Bey sported their medium, all-white tote recently. Despite the exclusive allure, Telfar remains a unisex brand committed to inclusion, their slogan being, “Not For You – For Everyone”. This is further demonstrated in their raw and diverse marketing efforts.
The signature Telfar vegan leather totes come in an array of colors and three sizes, the long straps converting the totes into shoppers or cross-body’s. With an effortless approach, it makes these the perfect go-to bags for literally any occasion. However, with the exclusivity of the bags (selling out in minutes), they are only available via sporadic monthly drops on their site.
The drops are announced a few weeks in advance before they’re available to order, or you can catch the 3rd installment of the “Bag Security Program” (how I secured mine!), a program created to place unlimited pre-orders at one given time (date TBA). Among the must have totes you can shop their accessories, jewelry, footwear, apparel and collab collections. Highly suggest you join that email list to secure your “Telfy”!
Luxury Bag: BruceGlen
Designers: Bruce & Glen
The Wonder Twin dynamic that is BruceGlen has produced a must-see brand. Tripling as editors, musicians and preachers, the brothers added fashion designers to their resume in 2019 and have since gotten the vibrant self-named brand placed at a Saks and Bloomingdales near you.
Their micro, metallic fuchsia “Grenade” bag gives me “wearable art” feels, while their sleek “mini egg bag” gives a modern Y2K aesthetic! The BruceGlen “Too Much” bag lends itself to the indecisive fashion lovers, offering 3-tiered, detachable bags, a style that has been gaining traction in fashion lately.
Among the bright, bold bags, the BruceGlen collection is rounded out by sustainable male and female apparel and accessories that include an ode to vintage millennial fashion with the “slap bracelet”.
Luxury Bag: Love, Cortnie
Designer: Cortnie Elizabeth
Discovering this gem on Instagram, I rave about it to anyone who’ll listen!
Handcrafting the bags herself, Miami-based designer, Cortnie inadvertently curated the brand from her grandmother’s kitchen in 2011. After launching on Etsy, Cortnie developed the Love Cortnie e-commerce site and has been shipping her beautiful creations worldwide ever since.
The line includes roll-down clutches made of calf hair that ooze fun and sophistication, tasseled-bucket bags, and trendy leather belt bags to name a few. The Love Cortnie brand is reviving the art of craftsmanship and producing one-of-a-kind pieces that have since gotten lost in the era of fast fashion. With bespoke options available or the endless ready-made designs, you can’t go wrong with an ultra original, Love Cortnie piece.
Luxury Bag: Brandon Blackwood
Designer: Brandon Blackwood
Elite fashionistas have taken to this brand since its premiere in 2015. At the height of the 2020 racial injustice and continued oppression faced by the Black community, designers like Brandon chose to address the centuries-old critical issues through their art form.
He created the ESR collection, a line of mini totes with the powerful statement, “End Systemic Racism” embedded on them, front and center. The thought-provoking collection sparked necessary conversations among fashion goers and has catapulted the Brandon Blackwood brand even further. The rest of the collection is comprised of contemporary mini bags like the super cute Kendrick trunk, posh suede bucket bags and convenient shoulder wallets. Available at the following retailers BrandonBlackwood.com and Saks.
Luxury Bag: NL The Label
Owner: Nichole Lynel
Fashion buyer, designer and creative director Nichole is the name and face behind her online boutique, Nichole Lynel, serving the girls head-turning freakum’ dresses, effortless sets, and plush sweaters among many other styles.
The ultimate girl boss has since incorporated, NL The Label, a division of her own designs that include two exceptional purses.
Made of 100% leather, “The Lunch Box” is a cosmetic-style purse, adorned with a gold plated removable chain, available in pink and blue denim (very pretty and paid!) and the croc-embossed, “The Work” tote, created with the chic go-getters in mind.
