Handbags on the MUUZ girl radar (that you’re not finding on any high street)
- Sophia Wheway
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Fast fashion might be everywhere, but the MUUZ girl knows that the best bags are the ones with a story. The kind you don’t see on everyone’s arm. The kind that feel personal, intentional, and a little bit special.
From handwoven leather to deadstock fabrics, architectural patchworks to cloud-soft Italian pouches, these are the handbag brands quietly making waves and absolutely deserving a spot on your radar. And every bag on this list is under $400.
Handwoven, honest, unmistakably crafted
Every Vipera bag is a celebration of authenticity. Crafted from select natural leathers and meticulously handwoven, no two bags are ever exactly the same, and that’s the point.
Small variations in texture, colour, or markings aren’t flaws, but proof of craftsmanship. Designed in Rome and handcrafted in India, Vipera blends heritage techniques with contemporary silhouettes.
Each bag tells its own story, one of patience, precision, and respect for the process. Because the best things are never mass-produced.
Vintage quality, modern confidence
Pierre Laborde’s design philosophy says it all: “Vintage Quality With Modern Sensibility.” His handbags bridge eras, blending classic craftsmanship with bold, fashion-forward design.
Known for high-gloss finishes, bright colours, and richly stylised interiors, think tapestry linings that feel like a hidden secret, each bag is designed to feel indulgent and unapologetically feminine. Intricate details such as beads, brass, pony skin, lambskin, python, and cowhide elevate every piece while remaining refined and wearable.
Haitian-born and FIT-educated, Pierre Laborde brings together his background in fashion design and graphic design to create handbags that feel artistic yet structured. The result is a collection that’s confident, distinctive, and impossible to overlook.
Playful. Authentic. Bright.
In a world of fast fashion, Melez stops you in your tracks, not just for its colour and texture, but for its soul. Founded by Ezgi, a Turkish-born designer with a background in interior architecture and furniture design, Melez is a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and meaningful creation.
What began as Ezgi making bags for herself from leftover architectural materials soon turned into a New York street-style phenomenon. “Strangers would stop me,” she recalls. “That’s when I realized this idea was bigger than me.”
Every Melez bag is handmade in Istanbul by master artisans like Kirkor, who has over 50 years of experience. Each piece takes between 4 and 8 hours to make and reflects a true collaboration between designer and craftsperson. Ezgi travels to Istanbul regularly, working directly with her makers, not just sending sketches, but building dialogue.
Funky, heartfelt, and proudly independent
Cami Citrine is proof that big dreams can start in small bedrooms. Founded by Cami in NSW, Australia, the brand began as a childhood love for creating, from selling handmade jewellery to family as an eight-year-old, to hand-sewing fluffy handbags late into the night in her early twenties.
In 2022, after years of saving, Cami launched her first jewellery collection and hasn’t looked back since. Inspired by a Citrine crystal gifted by her dad as a symbol of good luck, the brand is deeply personal and rooted in perseverance.
Today, every handbag and jewellery piece is designed by Cami herself, right here in Australia. Still a one-woman show, with help from her mum, Cami Citrine is all about funky, everyday designs that feel joyful, wearable, and made with heart.
Soft structure, effortless travel
New York–based Porto Studio refines the art of everyday travel. Founded in 2020, the independent accessories brand is known for understated luxury, cloud-like silhouettes, and impeccable craftsmanship.
Handcrafted in Tuscany using Italian nappa sheep leather, Porto’s bags and pouches focus on timeless design, natural materials, and functionality. The brand’s name comes from the Latin root meaning “carry,” tied to the Greek Peiro, meaning “to traverse.”
Porto is about movement and stillness, softness and strength. Each piece feels like a quiet companion, made to go everywhere with you, without ever demanding attention.
Timeless, intentional, quietly cool
What started as a search for the perfect evening bag turned into a full-fledged accessories brand. Founded by designer Natalie Wise, NLA Collection was born after she couldn’t find a timeless bag for her sister’s wedding, so she decided to make one herself.
Using leftover deadstock fabric from her maid of honour gown, Natalie created the now-signature NLA knot bag, setting the tone for a brand rooted in sustainability, sentiment, and sleek design. Launched online in December 2022, NLA has since become synonymous with elevated minimalism.
Every piece is handmade in Los Angeles, with fabrics sourced locally. Natalie’s vision is accessories that feel timeless but modern, luxurious yet approachable. The kind of bag you’ll reach for again and again, long after trends come and go.
Where the essentials always fit
Born by the sea, Cabarita is inspired by that feeling you can’t quite explain. The breeze, the salt air, the moment you decide to leave everything behind and start fresh.
More than a brand, Cabarita is a tribute to living lightly and carrying only what matters. It’s about listening to the pull of the ocean, honouring transformation, and finding freedom in simplicity.
These are bags made for movement, for sun-soaked days, and for the versions of ourselves we meet when we follow the shore.
The MUUZ take?
These brands aren’t about trends. They’re about intention. Craft, story, and individuality come first. And that’s exactly why you won’t find them lining the shelves of the high street.
You’ll find them on the arms of women who know.