There's a New Wave of Instagram It-Bag Brands

When it comes to cult handbags, emerging brands can become power players overnight thanks to a couple of Instagram posts. Danse Lente, Wandler, Staud and Simon Miller all produce bags that are easily identifiable and have an accessible price point of £500 or less. These are certainly an investment but an investment that is more realistic for those of us not on investment-banker salaries.
This hype around bags by smaller labels doesn't seem like it'll slow down any time soon, as there is a new wave of Instagram It-bag brands emerging in 2018. You probably aren't on a first-name basis with some of these brands just yet, but after four weeks of street style pictures in September (aka fashion month), we think you will be. These three brands are all doing something a little different, making them truly stand out on our Instagram feeds. From wicker belt bags to a dreamy zebra-printed mini shopper, keep scrolling to shop the new wave of cult bag brands.
1. Trademark
At Net-a-Porter's A/W 18 trends presentation, Lisa Aiken, the retailer's fashion director, declared New York–based label Trademark the new Instagram It-bag brand. Its bags are all under £400 and look really luxurious, thanks to the use of croc-effect leather and vintage silhouettes. The Harriet bag below has officially stolen our hearts.
2. Hayward
Come September, we have a feeling these animal-printed shoppers will be in every other street style picture. Hayward's founder, Marin Hopper, is the daughter of actor and director Dennis Hopper and actress and author Brooke Hayward. She writes on the Hayward site, "It was impossible for me to end up in a career that was not somehow connected with the art of making things."
Related: 14 Designers That Create the Coolest Handbags Under £700
3. Wicker Wings
Related: Winter 2018 Fashion Trends: The Only Looks You Need to Know
Brother and sister Belinda and James Yu discovered that their grandmother created handwoven wicker baskets in China before she moved to England. This inspired them to create their own basket bags using the traditional techniques their grandmother followed.
Next up, see our guide to the key trends for A/W 18.
Emma is a freelance fashion editor with over 15 years experience in industry, having worked at The Telegraph, Grazia and, most recently, British Vogue. Emma was part of the founding team of Who What Wear UK, where she worked for six years as Deputy Editor and then Editor—helping shape the team into what it is today is one of the biggest privileges of her career and she will always see herself as a Who What Wear girl, contributing to both the US and UK sites. Whether she's writing about runway trends or spotlighting emerging brands, she aims to write about fashion in a way that is democratic and doesn't promote over consumption.
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