Men’s small bags and pouches hit mainstream popularity

Why weigh down your pockets when you could be using one of these small bags and pouches for men?

By Lynette Koh / 22 Sep 2022

Dior Men, Gucci, louis vuitton, Men's Accessories, Men's Fashion, Virgil Abloh

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Even though trouser pockets sagging under the weight of a wallet, keys and other paraphernalia are hardly the stuff that sharp dressing is made of, small bags carried by men were once seen as a joke and/or effeminate.

Over the past few years, thankfully, masculine purses have become a lot more commonplace, partly as a result of a proliferation of desirable designs by influential brands such as Gucci, Dior Men and Louis Vuitton.

Calling bags the new sneakers, a recent Wall Street Journal article reported research firm NPD Group’s findings that “US sales of men’s and unisex handbags were up almost 700 per cent in 2021 compared with 2018”. In the same story, Benjamin Schneider, a senior fashion analyst at research company Euromonitor International, noted that bags are “definitely among the fastest-growing, if not the fastest-growing (menswear) segment.”

For those looking for new stylish ways to tote their belongings while on the go, the Fall/Winter fashion season offers plenty of fresh options. During his nearly four years at Louis Vuitton, the late Virgil Abloh was behind the creation of many desirable bags, ranging from a Keepall that lit up to new shapes featuring the black and grey Monogram Eclipse canvas.

Building on Abloh’s short-lived but impactful tenure at the brand, its latest collection has bags such as padded totes that riff off protective sports gear, as well as cases in distorted shapes.

Carry these bags: Men's pursues and small bags of the season

Hermès - Sac A Depeches 29 Messenger

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According to industry players we spoke with, small bags grew in demand during the first two years of the pandemic. With many of us working from home, there was no need to schlep half our worldly belongings around. The trend remains strong, with brands launching small versions of bestselling classics. One of them is Hermès, which has a new, small version of its Sac a depeche classic briefcase this season. Available in grey, blue and black, the nifty crossbody also features a new lacquered clasp.

Related: Bags you won’t want to leave on the floor

Dior - Saddle CD 1947

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Designed by former Dior creative director John Galliano in 2000, the brand’s asymmetrical Saddle bag was a huge hit then. Since 2019, Dior Men’s Kim Jones has updated the style for a masculine audience with details such as broader straps, contrast stitching, and a safety buckle created by Matthew Williams of contemporary label 1017 Alyx 9SM. The latest version pays tribute to Christian Dior. Aside from being in grey, apparently the couturier’s favourite colour, the bag is also embroidered with his name and the year of the brand’s first fashion show.

Prada - Triangle Bag

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While a good number of popular men’s bags were inspired by classic women’s editions, the Prada Triangle reverses this pathway — well, kind of. Inspired by its triangular logo, the new shape debuted on the Prada Spring/Summer 2022 men’s runway. However, it did not take long for several styles to be made available in both the men’s and women’s collections. Its masculine offerings this season includes the bag in hardy, textured Saffiano leather in colours such as yellow, sky blue, white and failsafe black.

Related: Founder and designer Ethan K flies the Singapore flag with his ultra-luxe bespoke bags

Dior Men, Gucci, louis vuitton, Men's Accessories, Men's Fashion, Virgil Abloh