For anyone in dire need of a handbag refresh this season, make your next purchase from a small business. Not only will your contributions be deeply appreciated, but this is also an opportunity to discover non-mainstream fashion goods. If you’re wondering where to start, you can peruse through some Asian-owned handbag brands, below. As you may know, May, too, marks the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — a period that celebrates and acknowledges the history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States. Thus, there’s truly no better time to support an AAPI business than right now.
For those who like to show support to the AAPI community through fashion, art, and design, buy from one of the Asian-owned labels ahead. Your monetary contribution can lift up the AAPI community, and your purchase can broaden the reach of that small brand to a larger audience. The list of 14 brands to know encompasses emerging names like EMOTIONAL WORLD and XO GOGO to street style favorites like JW Pei and Senreve. You’ll find bags crafted not only in New York City, but also abroad in cities like Seoul and Copenhagen. There are designers like Jenny Lei of FRÉJA NEW YORK who offers classic, minimalist handbags — think Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s aesthetic — and, on the other end of the spectrum, there’s Sandy Ley of XO GOGO whose nostalgic baguette bags cater towards a more playful and carefree attitude of dressing up.
Before more spoilers are given out, simply scroll down to find, and buy, your next favorite handbag.
Pipatchara
If you’re looking for a brand that embraces slow and community-led fashion, check out Pipatchara Kaeojinda and her sister Jittrinee Kaeojinda’s handbag label Pipatchara. It started in Thailand, where the sisters’ aim was to create jobs for locals by teaching them the process of macramé — a type of artwork technique where various cords and strings are knotted into textiles and patterns. This look is still one of their signatures today, but since launching in 2019, the sisters have expanded their product offerings to include other purse designs and playful clothing, too. One of their most sought-after pieces right now is the Infinitude Party Bag, which features dangling geometric pieces made from water bottle lids and food containers.
