Latest news with #DragonDiffusion
Times
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Times
Best designer beach bags for summer 2025
Since the 1930s, beach bags — totes made of straw, raffia or canvas — have been one of the most stylish summer accessories. What was once simply a practical piece used for carrying towels, picnics and souvenirs, is now a status symbol of the seaside thanks to luxury houses such as Loewe, Gucci and Brunello Cucinelli putting their designer stamps on the summery staple. Keep scrolling to see the best designer beach bags to shop this season. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Made in Italy, this Ferragamo tote is defined by its leather trim, supple handle and circular cut-out details. The bucket shape allows you to throw in all your summer essentials — but the mini silhouette prevents you over-packing. £925, Ferragamo at Net-a-Porter Founded in 1985 by the Belgium designer Craig Wright, Dragon Diffusion uses a special hand braiding technique inspired by traditional basket weaving cultures such as Japanese bamboo basketry and fibre baskets crafted from natural plants by South Pacific communities. The process involves braiding crust leather straps before using natural vegetable dyes to create distinctive, wearable shades like this cream and mint iteration. £410, Dragon Diffusion at Net-a-Porter Since the former creative director JW Anderson first adorned a raffia basket bag with Loewe's iconic anagram in 2019, the luxury house has become a go-to for beachy totes. For more playful versions, Loewe's collaboration with Paula's Ibiza features bolder styles and colours while still showcasing the brand's moniker. £1,000, Loewe + Paula's Ibiza at Net-a-Porter Crafted from striped raffia, Brunello Cucinelli's medium beach bag features a sculptural, pleated shape, optional leather shoulder strap and a secure slot for your cards inside. £1,850, Brunello Cucinelli at Net-a-Porter While mini bags are ideal for city breaks in summer, Zimmermann's capacious raffia-jacquard tote is the better option for long days spent by the sea. The leather handles and gold-tone hardware keep the bohemian brand's beach bag feeling elevated. £775, Zimmermann at Net-a-Porter A wearable work of art that arguably should be reserved for swanky seaside restaurants rather than sandy beaches, Bottega Veneta's Sardine tote, named for its sculptural, fish-like handle, is crafted from woven traffic and features a removable leather wallet to keep your items safe. £6,720, Bottega Veneta at Net-a-Porter While most beach bags feature woven raffia or straw, Missoni's vibrant tote is crafted from quick-drying terry-jacquard and reinforced with a canvas trim and showcases a re-imagining of the brand's signature chevron stripes. £495, Missoni at Net-a-Porter Unsurprisingly the quiet luxury brand The Row, forgoes bright beachy stripes for a pared-back silhouette. Free from any embellishment, the Emilie bag simply lets the natural fibres of woven raffia shine. £860, The Row at Mytheresa Founded by Simon Porte Jacquemus and inspired by his personal experience of the south of France's rich art, tourism and fashion history, you can always rely on Jacquemus for summery essentials with a sartorial twist. This beach bag is defined by its playful asymmetric silhouette and curved gold-tone clasp. £1,090, Jacquemus at Mytheresa A sweet take on the traditional picnic basket, Aquazzura's Marea beach bag features a striped canvas drawstring interior and is decorated with playful rattan embellishments inspired by the sea — from coral to clownfish and crabs. £1,185, Aquazzura at Mytheresa Crafted from natural seagrass woven to create a dinky basket-shaped silhouette, Anya Hindmarch's new beach bag features the brand's signature eyes that are also intricately woven from paper. £425, Anya Hindmarch Available in a collection of summery stripes and shades, Gucci's unisex beach bag is crafted from herringbone cotton canvas, playful fringe detailing and the brand's script embroidery across the front.£1,650, Gucci Prada's logo-embroidered crochet beach bags have become somewhat of a seaside status symbol in summer. Crafted from woven yarn, this tote is pretty sturdy, with plenty of room for towels, swimwear and more. £1,660, Prada at Selfridges While Anya Hindmarch's basket bag is very cute, for those who struggle to streamline their beach bag contents, this leather-strapped tote is a touch more roomy. £595, Anya Hindmarch
Vogue Singapore
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
The woven bag is fast becoming the accessory of the summer
British Vogue contributor Emma Spedding described her woven bag from Dragon Diffusion as one of her 'most-complimented possessions' when it secured fifth spot on Lyst's hottest product list last year. 'Investing in a beautiful chuck-everything-in bag (and saying goodbye to canvas totes), has instantly made all of my outfits look more polished and considered,' she previously remarked of the dark-green bag she bought from the brand, which specialises in woven-leather goods. 'It's an investment I wish I'd made earlier.' Bottega Veneta resort 2025. Bottega Veneta resort 2025. Bottega Veneta resort 2025. Braided accessories exude summery appeal—many people have taken to wearing knotted flats as a holiday-ready alternative to ballet flats—and woven bags are set to be just as popular; crafted from buttery soft leather, crochet and raffia. Though there's been a noticeable uptick in searches for woven bags, Bottega Veneta has dominated this space for some time: the intrecciato weave is a house signature seen across its accessories range, including the cult Jodie and Hop bags, both of which have been favoured by celebrity fans over the years. If you're in the market for a new work-appropriate tote or versatile tuck-and-go shoulder bag, then consider woven finishes an enduring investment that, while well-suited to the warmer months, will deliver sartorial elegance all year round—as Emma can attest. Here, we highlight some of the best woven bags to 'add to basket' ahead of the new season. Courtesy of Dune London 1 / 9 Dune London Extra Large Woven Shoulder Bag, $300 Available at Dune London. Courtesy of Gucci 2 / 9 Gucci Woven medium tote bag, $3,600 Available at Gucci. Courtesy of Bottega Veneta 3 / 9 Bottega Veneta Small Pinacoteca, $4,620 Available at Bottega Veneta. Courtesy of The Row 4 / 9 The Row Lilou Woven Bag in Leather, $5,092 Available at The Row. Courtesy of Loewe 5 / 9 Loewe Compact Hammock bag in calfskin, $5,900 Available at Loewe. Courtesy of Net-a-porter 6 / 9 Toteme T-Lock woven leather clutch, $1,949 Available at Net-a-porter. Courtesy of Aspina London 7 / 9 Aspina of London Tote Merlot Woven Leather, $2,392 Available at Aspinal of London. Courtesy of Métier 8 / 9 Métier Cala 32, $2,638 Available at Métier. Courtesy of Dragon Diffusion 9 / 9 Dragon Diffusion Rosanna small leather top-handle bag, $315.65 Available at Dragon Diffusion. This story was originally published on British Vogue.
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Timeless' £55 TK Maxx bag looks 'just like' £315 luxury version
A shopper found a leather handbag in TK Maxx that looked very similar to a designer version with a higher price tag TK Maxx is stocking a leather bag that's drawing comparisons to a more expensive counterpart. Known for its bargain fashion and accessories, the high-street favourite garnered attention from fashion fans after a shopper showcased her find on social media. Posting as @siikha00, London-based blogger Sikha highlighted a "gorgeous" £54.99 bag that she'd spotted in-store. As seen in her in-store clip, the shopper found a genuine leather Silviano tote bag that was heavily discounted. As per the product tag, the bag's RRP is usually £255. Sikha loved the style, and she thought it resembled another bag with a higher price tag. The fashion lover said: "Don't walk, run to TK Maxx because I found this bag that kind of looks like the Dragon Diffusion bag that I've been wanting for the longest time." She shared a picture of the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag, showing viewers her dream style. She praised TK Maxx's bag: "It's really cute. The material is a bit different of course because it is a different thing. It also has a zip, there's a few pockets inside, which is very helpful." Her caption said: "Defo get this if you're on a budget and want to buy for similar vibes but not the same type." Shoppers should note the bags have different silhouettes, but they do both share a similar woven brown aesthetic. While both brands are known for their luxury offering, the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag carries a higher price tag, as it currently retails for £315 at Fenwick. Although it is not specified in the video, it looks like Sikha found the Silviano Mayfair – Signature Handwoven Leather Shopper Tote, which is listed at full price on the brand's website. The product description for the Silviano bag says: "Timeless and functional, the Mayfair is a tote built for the modern woman who appreciates heritage detail and effortless style. Whether for work, travel, or day-to-night dressing — this bag elevates any look." Fenwick's does not offer a detailed description of the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag, but does specify that the bag is leather. The brand description notes: "Inspired by traditional basket weaving cultures, let Dragon Diffusion elevate your accessories edit with a collection of carefully braided leather bags. Expertly hand-crafted, each and every design has been borne from insatiable curiosity." Both bags are available in different shades from the respective brands. Social media users were impressed by TK Maxx's offering. One impressed fan wrote: "Omggg so cute." A similar comment read: "Omg this is gorgeous!!" Another replied: "So fab." A fourth response read: "Love it!!!" A different commenter added: "Fav shop for bags." Sadly, it doesn't look like the bag is available on TK Maxx's website. However, fans of the style can check their nearest store here. Alternatively, TK Maxx's website does offer a selection of Silviano bags, including a Deep Blue Leather Weave Tote Bag for £69.99 with a RRP of £350 and a Black Weave Shopper Bag for £49.99 with a RRP of £235. There's also a Black Weave Shopper Bag for £69.99 with a RRP of £350. Or, shoppers looking for a brown style could prefer the Mercer & Madison Dark Brown Leather Woven Hobo Bag for £59.99. While it has a distinctive shape, it boasts a woven style similar to those seen in the other brown bags. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice here.
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
TK Maxx's 'gorgeous' £55 leather bag is 'similar to' £315 style
A shopper told fashion fans to run to TK Maxx after spotting the 'cute' bag that resembles a designer version TK Maxx is stocking a leather bag that resembles a pricier version. The discount retailer has long been popular with shoppers searching for deals, and fashion lovers were amazed by one shopper's recent find. Posting on TikTok as @siikha00, London-based blogger Sikha showcased a "gorgeous" £54.99 bag that she'd spotted in-store. As seen in the video, the shopper found a genuine leather Silviano tote bag that was heavily discounted. According to the product tag, the bag's RRP is usually £255, and Sikha thought it resembled another bag with a higher price tag. She told followers: "Don't walk, run to TK Maxx because I found this bag that kind of looks like the Dragon Diffusion bag that I've been wanting for the longest time." She also included a picture of the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag, showing viewers her dream style. Sikha continued: "It's really cute. The material is a bit different of course because it is a different thing. It also has a zip, there's a few pockets inside, which is very helpful." Her caption added: "Defo get this if you're on a budget and want to buy for similar vibes but not the same type." While the two bags differ in shape, they share a similar woven brown design. There's also a price difference, as the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag currently retails for £315 at Fenwick. Although it is not specified in the video, it looks like Sikha found the Silviano Mayfair – Signature Handwoven Leather Shopper Tote, which is listed at full price on the brand's website. The product description for the Silviano bag says: "Timeless and functional, the Mayfair is a tote built for the modern woman who appreciates heritage detail and effortless style. Whether for work, travel, or day-to-night dressing — this bag elevates any look." While Fenwick's does not offer a detailed description of the Rosanna Woven Shoulder Bag, it does specify that the bag is leather. The brand description adds: "Inspired by traditional basket weaving cultures, let Dragon Diffusion elevate your accessories edit with a collection of carefully braided leather bags. Expertly hand-crafted, each and every design has been borne from insatiable curiosity." Shoppers loved the look of the Silviano bag. Replying to the TikTok video, someone praised: "Omggg so cute." A similar comment read: "Omg this is gorgeous!!" A third fan replied: "So fab." Another response read: "Love it!!!" A different commenter added: "Fav shop for bags." Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the bag is available on TK Maxx's website. Shoppers can check their nearest store here. However, TK Maxx's website does offer a selection of Silviano bags, including a Deep Blue Leather Weave Tote Bag for £69.99 with a RRP of £350 and a Black Weave Shopper Bag for £49.99 with a RRP of £235. There's also a Black Weave Shopper Bag for £69.99 with a RRP of £350. While the bags differ in style, they could be just as impressive to shoppers looking for a luxury bag for less. Get all the hottest shopping deals, cash saving tips and money news straight to your phone by joining our new WhatsApp Community - The Money Saving Club. Just click this link to join. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice here.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Dragon Diffusion and Rixo have created the perfect summer bag – and it's back in stock
For the second year in a row, Dragon Diffusion is dominating the summer wardrobes of the fashion crowd. Its popularity is part of a wider growing demand for affordable luxury. In a climate of spiraling costs, it's no surprise that interest in labels such as Longchamp (see the le pilage) and Coach is up. Founded in 1985, Dragon Diffusion uses traditional basket weaving techniques to create its designs, which are handwoven in India. From the Instagram-viral nantucket style (£390, to the egola bag (£410, all the designs cost less than £500. In a match made in bag heaven, Dragon Diffusion announced a collaboration with the beloved British fashion label Rixo last month. Naturally, the accessories and bags sold out within weeks. Now, with summer officially here, the collection is back in stock. Talking about the launch, Orlagh McCloskey, CEO and co-founder of Rixo said: 'I've long admired the brand's dedication to artisanal craft, authenticity, and modern sophistication. The vintage-inspired bags and belts are perfect for warm-weather days and designed to be loved season after season.' The seven-strong capsule includes two handwoven leather bag styles in various colourways and a statement belt, with pieces ranging from £145 to £385. Celebrating the artistry of traditional weaving, the amoria bag draws inspiration from Japanese bamboo basketry while nodding to Sixties-style French basket bags. It looks like the perfect everyday size – it's sold out in the green and tan colourway, but it's still available in black. This might be my favourite affordable designer bag I've seen this season. The lucine bag is generously sized, making it an ideal companion for beach days, long weekends or travelling. The same handwoven leather techniques as Dragon Diffusion's recognisable bags have been employed here, and it's available in two neutral colourways – classic tan (sold out) and deep dark brown – to slot seamlessly into your summer wardrobe. This statement belt has been inspired by a vintage piece discovered by Orlagh McCloskey and has been designed to be mixed and matched with your favourite Rixo dresses. Available in brown and black, I've added it straight to my basket.
