SPOTLIGHT: Saudi Bags Label Dania Shinkar Delivers Playful Luxury
Dania Shinkar's bags don't just hold your essentials - they also hold attention.
The Brand
Sculptural, playful, and precise, Dania Shinkar's bags sit somewhere between accessory and object. With Saudi roots, Italian production, and an Irish HQ, the label is geographically unbound - but its identity is distinct.
The Design Language
Bold curves, clever details, and a measured dose of drama define the collection. The Mini Gaga and Mila bags, with their spherical handles, could easily pass as modern sculpture. The Dana bag plays with perspective, using a double-frame illusion to trick the eye - a quiet design sleight of hand that happens to be Shinkar's personal favourite. The Mila, slouchy and jewelled, has all the presence of a protagonist.
Dania Shinkar in Three Words
'Contemporary, nostalgic, and sustainable,' says Dania Shinkar, founder and creative director.
The Founder
Shinkar holds both a BA and MA from the London College of Fashion. Her interest in design was sparked early, watching her mother dress for special occasions. 'I was fascinated by how she paired her accessories and curated every detail of her look,' she says.
That early instinct matured into a design philosophy rooted in experimentation. 'There are no rules in fashion' is the lesson she carried from London, and it shows. Her work leans into texture, form, and silhouette - unafraid of unexpected embellishments or vintage references.
The Muse
Saudi culture is central to Shinkar's design lens. She draws inspiration from Jeddah's Al Balad district, the coral reefs of the Red Sea, and antique jewellery. 'Architecture informs my shapes, while art influences my use of colour,' she tells SceneStyled. Her bags may echo heritage, but their execution is unmistakably contemporary - thanks to the precision of Italian artisans, whom she calls the 'undisputed masters of leather goods.'
'I love revisiting classic silhouettes and giving them new context,' she adds. Her reimaginings of the '90s baguette and hobo bag offer a quiet nod to nostalgia, made current through detail and structure.
The Craft
Shinkar's work is detail-driven, right down to her choice of materials. She combines silky satin and structured Italian leather with crystal embellishments and vintage-inspired hardware. Everything is intentional: the curved handles, the metal closures, the colour palette that moves from caramel neutrals to pastel blush to deep, metallic red.
Even her sustainability practices feel specific. She uses ethically sourced leather and eco-conscious acetate, repurposing leftover scraps into sleek cardholders.
The Process
'Playful luxury' is how she frames her work - serious craftsmanship with room for joy. Ideas come quickly. 'Sometimes I see a design so clearly, I have to sketch it on the spot,' she says. From there, it's about refining proportions, prototyping with 3D paper models, and iterating until the final product holds. 'I'm always thinking about the person who'll carry it - how it feels in their hands, how it fits into their life.'
If she had to imagine her bags on anyone, it would be Carrie Bradshaw. And if you're styling one? 'Let the bag lead,' she says. Whether worn against head-to-toe neutrals or thrown over something oversized and undone, the goal is to give it room to speak.
The Verdict
Dania Shinkar's bags don't shout - but they don't need to. With a language of their own, they balance nostalgia and modernity, fun and form. They look just as at home at a gallery opening as they do on a brunch banquette - or simply sitting still on a side table, catching the light.
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