“Accessories are the vitamins of fashion,” said Italian fashion journalist and style role model Anna Dello Russo. As the backbone of the wardrobe, accessories are daily companions, where two components are particularly important: endless combinability and that certain something. Especially with bags, the function factor always plays a major role in addition to the look.
FashionUnited has identified bag labels that emphasize timelessness and attention to detail. With craftsmanship, material know-how and simple design, the Sagan, Agneel and ATP Atelier brands stand for bags that are characterized by the times but withstand the transience of trends.
Sagan – Viennese flair, Japanese influences and craftsmanship
The label, headquartered in Vienna, was founded in 2016 and has since represented a sustainable, timeless design approach that produces bags with recognition value. The two founders Tanja Bradaric and Taro Ohmae have Croatian and Japanese roots and are inspired by both Viennese flair and Japanese aesthetics.
The label’s name, which means “the left bank” in Japanese, represents a sensitivity to individualism and an inventive non-conformity. Under the motto “familiar done differently”, the design duo creates minimalist bags that become eye-catchers with their sophisticated, handcrafted details. “We think as a consumer, it’s all about the conscious decision for valuable material and timeless design that doesn’t inspire the short-lived or the moment, but will accompany you in the long term,” Bradaric told FashionUnited.
The assortment ranges from small bags and leather accessories to spacious tote bags. Many of Sagan’s customers come from the cultural and creative industries and appreciate the Viennese way of life and local craftsmanship. So it’s not surprising that Sagan’s best-selling bag at the moment is the Pazar Book Tote – a large tote bag for everyday use, with a patch pocket on the outside that fits a book. “We try to give our customers a world in which stories about tradition meet the timeless and progressive. So with every bag we pass on a piece of culture,” says Bradaric.
In addition to conventional leather, Sagan uses other materials – including “Grape Leather”, a vegan material that is made from grape pulp, a by-product of the cider factory.
In production, Sagan mainly works with specialized production facilities in Austria and Japan. “We see that design is strongly shaped by resources and local production,” says Bradaric. Therefore, the design duo also strives to visit the production sites more often to gain insights into the production. The cooperation with specialized artisans should also be promoted.
According to Sagan, respect for the origin of materials is a key factor when it comes to rethinking the fashion industry. Going forward, Sagan is particularly interested in working even more closely with retailers who understand the Sagan product and can pass its values on to customers.
Points of sale: via our own online store, in KaDeWe, as well as in selected shops in Japan (Isetan, United Arrows, Urban Research)
Price category: The handbags are between 300 and 700 euros, smaller leather goods between 100 and 200 euros
Contact: See website for additional contact details
Agneel – changeability, attention to detail and Italian expertise
The Berlin bag label Agneel was founded in 2016 by Yesim Karaman. Karaman’s design language aims to combine form with function. At Agneel, the bag is understood as a companion for eternity, which should complement the style of its wearer instead of covering it up. The creative process at Agneel eludes conventional collection cycles and trends. Instead, the Berlin label relies on minimalist design, which is enhanced with details such as unusual shapes, leather embossing and distinctive closures.
Since the company was founded, the bags have been made in a workshop in the Turkish city of Izmir – but now production is to be relocated from Turkey to a family business in Florence, which has been working with Agneel since 2021. The leather used by Agneel is sourced from suppliers certified by the Leather Working Group. The non-governmental organization evaluates leather manufacturers based on comprehensive criteria, including water and energy consumption and waste management.
“We perceive that more and more consumers are actively looking for an alternative to fast fashion and that they value the products that they buy out of conviction even more,” says Karaman. Agneel sees the future of enduring fashion in “enlightened customers who know exactly what kind of product they want to invest their money in.”
The designs have been created for women who want to take the bag to work in the morning and still want to take it out in the evening. With the launch of the boxy shoulder bag “Dena” at the end of 2021, Agneel has created a new customer favourite. Other best-selling models include “Nora”, a crescent-shaped shoulder bag and “Agnes”, a bag with a soft shape.
Agneel is currently working on strengthening the core collection. “However, our goal here is not simply to design more and more and always something new. Rather, it is about finding gaps, i.e. finding out what is missing on the market for our target group. We would then like to design this bag for them,” says Karaman. Agneel is also aiming for greater international brand awareness. To this end, the label would like to work together with various retailers worldwide in the future – especially stationary.
Points of sale: via our own online shop, as well as via the Freiraum online shop and stationary at Ofelia in Berlin
Price category: The prices are between 340 and 680 euros
Contact: If you are interested, Agneel can be reached via a contact form on the website
ATP Atelier – Scandinavian design, made in Italy
In 2010 Maj-La Pizzelli founded ATP Atelier together with Jonas Clason. The label combines Scandinavian modernity with craftsmanship from Italy. In addition to bags, the range also includes shoe collections. ATP Atelier’s bag collections range from large, spacious models to the smallest leather accessories, such as card cases and separate bag straps.
According to Pizzelli, sustainability was a decisive factor when the company was founded – but she does not only see the ecological part as important. “It’s also about the relationship we have with the pieces we bring into our lives. It’s about not taking more than you give and really taking care of your belongings so that they last a lifetime,” she writes in a company manifesto. Pizzelli coined the expression “Smart Luxury” for ATP Atelier. The products should not become obsolete too quickly and should be valued – the purchasing decisions should be motivated by reason instead of trends.
All cow skins used at ATP Atelier are processed through vegetable tanning into the end material from which the bags are made. Vegetable tanning is a more environmentally friendly alternative to harmful chrome tanning, which is still largely used in leather production today.
In the future, ATP Atelier wants to explore new manufacturing techniques and question the norms of the industry – what exactly the label intends to do is not yet certain.
Points of sale: various online platforms in Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, as well as physical points of sale in Scandinavia, Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and in Dubai. ATP Atelier has its own flagship store in Stockholm
Price category: in the bag segment, ATP is between 300 and 700 euros
Contact: Further contact details can be found on the label’s website