Bags in 2022 will have craft, color and unique shapes
Acquiring lesser bags for the past two years, we may find new styles extremely tempting but there is also a reluctance to go for the current and opt instead for the tried and tested.
The bag trends for 2022, in fact, “toe the line between of-the-moment and timelessly archival,” according to Libby Page, the senior market editor of Net-a-Porter.
“Heritage brands continue to perform well,” she observes, “with customers shifting to more luxury-focused shopping over the past two years or so.”
This quest for value is evident as designers turn toward artisanal, craft-like weaving, crochet and macramé — trends that bode well for Philippine designers and manufacturers who have been employing handcrafted techniques for bags in the local and export market.
There is also the move towards more ethical fashion with an increased interest in leather alternative handbags that have a reduced environmental impact.
Of course, at the end of the day, with pandemic fatigue, we can become creatures of impulse: A bag can be a just reward to lift our spirits so there are a lot of vibrant options both in bright colors and unusual shapes and even many glittery party options.
Spotlight on craft
The emphasis on handcrafted luxury brings to the spotlight the new woven bag, which Page calls “the ultimate summer purchase,” citing JW Anderson’s knitted woven shopper and the macramé bags of Chloe.
We are spoiled for choices locally, with weaves in different materials like bankuan from Zarah Juan, who trims her bags with woven fabric from Benguet communities.
Bondi Studios employs housewives who weave beads together into totes and handbags while Calli uses solihiya cane weaving.
Archival pieces
Luxury brands have been going back to their iconic roots that have established them with quality and timeless pieces.
Gucci’s Jackie bag is being recreated in new ways and Carrie’s baguette bag from Sex and the City is making a comeback in time with the series’ return, which coincides with Gen Z’s current passion for all things ’90s in fashion.
The crescent bag, also big this year, is another vintage shape being revived.
Bright and unusual colors
The covetable bag in “Bottega Veneta green” designed by Daniel Lee seems to have spurred the demand for bags in bright and unusual colors even now that he is no longer with the brand.
Very Peri, Pantone’s color of the year, will be popular, as will pink. But even if you’re a beige person, opt for a less predictable shade like taupe.
The bigger, the better
The need for practical bags during the pandemic has only increased, especially now with more people going back to offices. From the humongous “bring your home with you” from Khaite to the chic quilt-and-chain versions at Chanel, there will be room to bring all your necessities with you.
Local designers and manufacturers have many versions of the large tote, which comes in handwoven fabrics from all over the Philippines and are embellished with artisanal work like embroideries, beading and cane weaving.
Ethics matters
The material as well as the source of a bag matters more than ever, so consumers will go for ethically produced pieces from communities that are properly compensated and the process of production has to have less impact on the environment. Stella McCartney’s mushroom leather bags are perfect vegan alternatives, as is Santos’ versions made from cactus leather. We have Philippine manufacturers like Rags to Riches (R2R) that upcycles old fabrics and Kilus Foundation that reuses juice doy packs.
The shape is the thing
What are accessories for, after all, but to have a little fun, and you can do this with some of the whimsical designs from the likes of Moschino, with its baby bottle bag, and Thom Browne with his dachshunds in togas. Zarah Juan always has bags like telephone and padyak shapes to make you smile. For something more understated, go for unusual shapes like Zacarias’ Betty Crown clutches or Beatriz Accessories’ Vega and Nebula clutches reminiscent of star fragments.
Party time
Whether we actually can or not, the mood to party is there, so designers like Dior, Tom Ford and Versace have gone all-out with the glitter. Crystal Seas showcases Mindanao’s heritage with tinalak bags beaded with shell beads and paillettes that give a celebratory vibe, while Mele+Marie’s handcrafted wood and acrylic minaudiere will give a polish to your look at the next dinner gathering with friends.