The Incredibly Affordable Handbag Brand Celebrities Can't Get Enough Of

What brand comes to mind when you think of the bags that have attained their It status? Possibly one of the biggest myths in fashion is that the brands doling out the trendiest pieces are often the most pricey. Don’t get me wrong—I love luxury items like any other fashion girl, but I know some of the best accessories don’t have to be expensive.

From affordable shoe brands to clothing brands (beyond Zara), there are so many alternative labels out there creating quality pieces, and JW Pei happens to be one of those brands. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Yang Pei and Stephanie Li in 2016, the accessories line has blown up over the past few years. In part, the brand's rise in popularity can be attributed to celebrities and trendsetters carrying its bags, but that’s not what makes buying into the brand worth the hype. This brand has built a cult status because of its fresh approach to design—the brand is never afraid to shy away from incorporating trendy elements like saturated hues, faux fur, and ruching. Each bag uses high-quality vegan leather and stays under the $200 price range. Basically, they’re giving the fashion girlies what they want.

But if you’re not sure about if the hype checks out or even which bag style you should buy first, don’t fret. Ahead, I’ve rounded up my personal ranking of the five best JW Pei bags based on popularity, price, and how perfect the product is itself. You’ll want to secure one of these bags ASAP.

Before ranking the best bags from this affordable accessories label, I must take a moment to mention how this brand has been rocked by everyone from Megan Fox to Emily Ratajkowski to our very own editors. Sometimes you need visible proof of how a brand has reached its it-status before you buy-in. And now that you’ve seen it for yourself, let us give you a rundown of the brand’s most popular styles…

1. JW Pei Gabbi Bag

You can’t roundup up the best bags from the brand without starting with its most viral style: the Gabbi Bag. I’ll never forget the first time I spoke with fellow editors about this bag and we predicted it would blow up. Since then, this bag spotted on style icons like Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber and has dominated the feeds of the fashion set. For anyone looking to buy their first JW Pei bag, this will be a good buy. It not only has as much street cred as any other designer bag but it's also made with supple vegan leather that comes in 14 colorways and a mini-bag size. Trust us—it’s the perfect little shoulder bag to add to any wardrobe.

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2. JW Pei Maze Bag

Ahh, the maze bag. While this style has only been spotted on a few celebrities (like Anne Hathaway), this bag is nevertheless a masterpiece. I own it, along with a few other fellow editors, and I can not emphasize enough how high-quality it is. It’s possibly the softest vegan leather I’ve ever touched in my life, and the woven material gives off "rich” energy without the price tag. I think this is its most underrated bag and one of the best you can buy, as it can be styled as a crossbody, clutch, or shoulder bag.

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3. JW Pei Rattan Bag

Think about the handbag styles that never seem to disappear (the Fendi baguette, or the Hemés Birkin). Beyond being luxury handbags, their cultural relevance can be largely attributed to not just celebrities or fashion lovers donning their bags, but television characters too. And if you needed further proof that JW Pei has cemented itself into the zeitgeist as a must-shop brand, then look no further than HBO's Gossip Girl reboot. In season one, episode two, Emily Alyn Lind, playing Audrey Hope, is carrying the JW Pei Rattan Bag—a nod to this brand’s staying power.

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4. JW Pei Fei Phone Bag

While JW Pei has become beloved for its practical shoulder bags, that doesn’t mean the brand is a one-trick pony. Case and point?Tthe Fei bag. As a dedicated fan of mini bags, I can personally attest to how this shape not only satisfies my cravings for small-shaped accessories but is actually functional. Plus, it comes in 35 different colorways, has managed to dominate the last two seasons of fashion week street style, and has been spotted on Whitney Port and Bretman Rock. Basically, this bag is the next It bag, so you better secure it quickly. 

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5. JW Pei Eva Shoulder Bag

Last but certainly not least, possibly one of the most iconic bag styles JW Pei released was its Eva shoulder bag. While the other styles have become a mainstay in celebrities’ and trendsetters’ closets, scrolling through social media, I immediately saw how this bag took off with women worldwide. This chic yet straightforward ’90s-inspired shoulder bag is the embodiment of the brand’s appeal—it’s timeless with a dash of trendy and affordable enough for anyone to add to their collection.

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Other Noteworthy JW Pei Handbags

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve hopefully realized that hands down, the hype around JW Pei’s bags is not only real, but it also makes some of the best bags. The brand has so many great new accessories and even bolder ones worth shopping for, so don’t be afraid to branch out and buy a different bag style. No matter which JW Pei bag you buy, you can rest assured it’s well worth the money.

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